9 hours ago
26
If the Supercoppa Italiana between Napoli and AC Milan finishes all square after 90 minutes, the game goes straight to penalties.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall, the idea of penalties being the decider has been swirling around the dunes since yesterday’s press conferences. Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo was asked, and replied: “We want to reach the final in 90 minutes.” In any case, it must be in the minds of all involved.
Vanja saves and scores
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Napoli’s goalkeeper, knows how to both save and score spot kicks. In his career, he has saved nine of 45 penalties (20%) in the league. The last two to be thwarted with his giant frame were Morata and Camarda.
In the past, with Torino, he also kept out Dzeko, Insigne, Pulisic, Castro and Retegui (all four last season alone). Against Cagliari, in the only match of the current season that went to penalties, he took and scored the seventh penalty in the shootout.
He had already done so in a Milan-Torino Coppa Italia match in 2021. This is thanks to a past as a striker from which he occasionally draws inspiration: eight years ago, he hit the crossbar with a free kick during Torino-Carpi, also in the Coppa Italia.
Vanja has previously said: “I only train to stop them. We have good shooters, there’s no need.” He’ll have one more fan in the stands: his brother Sergei plays for Al-Hilal, so he should be in the stands at Al-Awwal tonight.
More magic?
Maignan’s record is even better: 15 out of 67 penalties saved (22%). He secured important scalps this season like Dybala and Calhanoglu, as well as Kvara, Falcao and Salah before that.
Mike previous said: “It’s a psychological duel, it’s all in the eyes and in the head.” The secret is Claudio Filippi, the goalkeeping coach who arrived this year. The man who brought him back to the good old days, darting from post to post.
He also spoke about him yesterday in the press room: “He instilled serenity in me.” And the opponents are now biting their nails, especially because Maignan’s coolness could be Max’s extra weapon if the match were to go to penalties.
Until two years ago, the Rossoneri goalkeeper had an enviable average of saving spot kicks, then it dropped a bit. With Filippi, he’s back to his normal level.
Who will take them?
Leaving aside substitutions and unforeseen circumstances, Conte’s picks are likely to be: Hojlund, McTominay, Politano, Lang and Neres. Stats show: Rasmus has scored two of three attempts, Scott one of one, Noa seven of nine, Politano 10 of 14, and David none, but he shoots well.
Also keep an eye on Elmas (one of two) and Lobotka (two of two). Lukaku is among the players called up, having scored 41 of 48, but the chances of him coming on to kick are slim to none, Conte has been clear.
For Milan, however, the five players could be Pulisic, Modric, Nkunku, Rabiot and Saelemakers. For CP11, he has scored 13 out of 15 penalties (he missed against Juve this year) Modric has netted 24 out of 30, Nkunku 12 out of 15.
Rabiot and Saelemaekers have both scored zero penalties inside normal time. Leao is doubtful, but his average is good: four out of five scored.
English (US) ·