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AC Milan put on one of their best showings of the season on Tuesday night as they beat Bologna 3-0 away from home.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning, Milan reached 22 games in a row without defeat. Contrary to their usual routine, they took control of the game in the first half, to move five points behind Inter and seven points above fifth-place Roma with a three-goal win.
A ‘strange’ pairing
Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christopher Nkunku (a penalty) before half-time started things well, and Adrien Rabiot’s goal early in the second half, clearly demonstrates the difference in strength and attitude.
Bologna’s aggressive energy, once a key asset, was nowhere to be seen. The hosts werere too frail at the back and very distracted on the flanks. Milan immediately saw that they could get at the Rossoblu, even with their unprecedented front two.
In the rather strange attacking duo of Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek, the second striker was the Frenchman. He moved out to the left, cut back, dropped deep, and carved out tunnels for his team-mates to run into.
Since the start of the season, Allegri has had to constantly change his forwards. Yesterday, Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic were left out, but those who position themselves up front always manage to score. Add to that the defensive solidity, and the outcome is clear.
The tactical moves
Then there are other signs of a team well-connected with the second-choice players. For the first time all season, Allegri had to do without Saelemaekers, who was injured. The great tactical and dynamic work of the Belgian fell on Zachary Athekame, making just his second start.
However, the Swiss player was very useful. He stayed on his flank and was perhaps underestimated by Bologna, but the result is that he delivers sharp crosses, including the one that ended up leading to the first goal. When he came off after over an hour, he received deserved praise.
Adrien Rabiot and Jon Rowe, on the other hand, are here because they argued last summer: an ‘English pub brawl’ as Roberto De Zerbi, who coached them in Marseille, called it. This time, there is minimal contact, but the one who has benefited from the split with Marseille is undoubtedly Milan.
Rabiot was undaunted by Ferguson. He moved everywhere, impacting the game in both phases, and got a very high grade in our player ratings. He got a goal, his fourth in the league, and an assist, also his fourth.
Not at the races
The recent transfer window hasn’t changed the face of either team, as might have been expected. Milan stopped after signing Niclas Füllkrug, who was already signed on the first day, while Bologna got Sohm, Joao Mario and Helland as new players.
None of them played, the suspended Skorupski was watching from the sidelines, as was the recovering Lucumi, but otherwise Italiano has plenty of options. However, the defence lacks the protection the Colombian once provided: Heggem, Casale and Zortea made mistakes.
As the coaches say, you defend and attack as a team, and in the 1-0 goal there were too many collective errors, starting with Orsolini’s turnover. It’s hard to point the finger at the group for the 3-0, because Juan Miranda’s wild throw-in led to it.
At one point, even from the stands, Allegri could be heard shouting ‘avaaantttiii’, urging his team to give even more at three goals up. Milan finished with a 5-4-1 formation, with Füllkrug isolated and Rabiot and Fofana in support.
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