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For AC Milan and Napoli, the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final has an awful lot riding on it, and it could change the course of the season.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report this morning, there is great motivation for both teams. Aligning a third defeat with two in the Champions League (Benfica) and the league (Udinese) wouldn’t go unnoticed in an environment as sensitive to events as at Napoli.
Only after the defeat in Torino against the Granata had Napoli followed up with a defeat, the resounding one in Eindhoven by a scoreline of 6-2. After other setbacks, they have always bounced back with a victory so far.
Just two games ago, Milan were top of Serie A and 10 points clear of where they were last season. The Rossoneri are enjoying a small Renaissance with satisfaction and confidence, a newfound technical and managerial solidity, the fruit of the arrival of Allegri and Tare.
However, after their exit from the Coppa Italia, if they were to find themselves at Christmas with two of their three objectives already crossed off, Milan’s cake would taste different. As bad as they were, last season the Rossoneri reached the Coppa Italia final and took home the Supercoppa.
True, the big target is the Scudetto, which Allegri can now pursue with a completely free schedule, but Max would certainly like to repeat Sergio Conceiçao’s journey home from Riyadh, with the cup in his arms, perhaps after winning another derby.
Leao waits
Conte (three) and Allegri (five), the first relay runners in Juventus’ golden cycle of 9 league titles, are similar in their ferocity in the technical area. They are excellent pilots on the pitch and in the essentiality of their play, very attentive to defensive work.
In the summer, Conte tried to break away and dared to explore new seas, more international waters, with the Champions League in mind. He tried for a more aggressive and possession-based style of football with an extra playmaker (De Bruyne).
The Napoli team that lost at San Siro were still in a 4-1-4-1 system, with McTominay wide to facilitate the new idea. The Belgian’s injury and the tactical change, after the defeat in Bologna, brought the Azzurri back in tune with the Rossoneri.
Now Neres is darting like Pulisic in the spaces freed up in front, there is a regista for build-up (Lobotka like Modric), and midfielders to attack the penalty area (McTominay, Rabiot, Loftus-Cheek). So, similar attitudes and structure, aside from the center forward.
Conte has Hojlund, Allegri’s forbidden desire. The latter hopes to see further improvements from Christopher Nkunku in Arabia after his assist against Sassuolo, while awaiting the imminent arrival of the German Niclas Fullkrug.
Napoli and Milan are partners even in emergency situations. Absences like those of Anguissa, De Bruyne and Lukaku, or those of Fofana, Leao, and Gimenez, are not ideal. For this reason, the choices of the two coaches, who have reduced squads and must take into account a possible final, are not easy.
This is especially true for Allegri, who must manage the return of Leao and calibrate the energies of Modric and Rabiot, who struggled on Sunday. For Rafa, who has not trained, at most an appearance in the possible final is on the cards.
The Croatian and Frenchman – who are key man – will be back this time around. Fofana, who has fully recovered, will start on the bench. The possibility of starting him immediately, moving Loftus-Cheek up to Pulisic, is also being considered. But ultimately, Nkunku should retain his spot.
A chess match?
What kind of match should we expect? While both teams are looking to bounce back from poor results, they will do so without mass aggression from kick-off. Instead, the teams are most used to waiting and navigating by sight.
It’s not out of the question that the two helmsmen will surprise us. After all, Max already did that at San Siro in the league clash, with an authoritative first half, perhaps Milan’s best of the season. Allegri should dust off that spirit, cultivate it, and preach it more often.
The Super Cup is a good opportunity. Transforming a Milan that reacts to deficits into a Milan that acts first and doesn’t back down after scoring could be the key to avoiding crashing into the walls of the smaller teams and squandering all the points lost so far.
A display of character, worthy of the Italian champions, would also be vital for Napoli to restore their morale and self-esteem. For this reason too, Conte should step up his game on the right: the more attacking Politano on the flank, replacing Di Lorenzo.
This shift is balanced on the left by Elmas, who should start ahead of Lang. Finally, seeing those two penalty saves between the posts, without extra-time, how can one not think of a penalty shootout? Then, it would be the battle of the giants: Milinkovic-Savic versus Maignan.
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