AC Milan will tackle fierce rivals Juventus tonight for a spot within the Supercoppa Italiana ultimate, and will probably be Sergio Conceicao’s first recreation in cost.
After the 1-1 draw towards Roma, Milan made the decision to sack Paulo Fonseca after simply 24 video games in cost following a 1-1 defeat to Roma. Just some hours after that assertion, Conceicao was named as his substitute, signing a deal till 2026.
His first recreation won’t be at San Siro and even in Italy, however in Saudi Arabia and within the semi-final of the Supercoppa towards Juve. In he definitely appeared up for the problem, albeit battling a fever himself.
The 5 key battles
Trying into the place this recreation is perhaps received and misplaced, there are a selection of particular person duals which could possibly be decisive. What’s attention-grabbing is that Conceicao is seemingly .
Juventus’ hazard man stays Dusan Vlahovic, who has 12 objectives and two assists this season throughout all competitions and is predicted to guide the road in a 4-2-3-1 for Thiago Motta’s aspect. He has scored simply twice in eight video games towards Milan although, each of which got here in a 4-3 win for Fiorentina.
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Given the bodily presence that he has, it’s possible that his opponent can be Malick Thiaw. The German was one of many optimistic notes of Fonseca’s brief tenure as , and he’s anticipated to accomplice Tomori with Matteo Gabbia dropping to the bench.
On the different finish, Alvaro Morata would little question love to attain towards his former membership, having represented Juve throughout two completely different spells. He has 5 objectives to his identify since becoming a member of Milan and plenty of hoped that quantity could be larger after scoring over 20 final season with Atletico Madrid.
Federico Gatti is predicted to be the person who the Spaniard can be up towards. Given the centre-back damage disaster the 26-year-old Italian has been capable of maintain down a spot within the beginning XI, partnering Kalulu who we’ll come onto.
Teun Koopmeiners has been concerned in 4 objectives in his final 4 video games towards Milan (three objectives and one help). Towards no Italian opponent has he scored extra objectives in all competitions (three additionally towards Hellas Verona, Mona and Torino).
The Dutchman although has not precisely hit the bottom working at Juve given they paid over €50m to signal him from Atalanta. Youssouf Fofana is tipped for an anchoring midfield function within the trio which implies he can be tasked with limiting him, but additionally creating possibilities as he has together with his six assists this season.
The return of Christian Pulisic can be essential for Milan provided that he has eight objectives and 5 assists throughout all competitions this season, making him the main offensive contributor. Having come again from damage, Conceicao will hope that he could be the provider and the attacking spark in transition.
On condition that Pulisic likes to play in off the proper, it’s possible that he’ll come up towards Pierre Kalulu, his former team-mate. Kalulu has an opportunity to impress towards his mother or father membership having fared a lot better by way of alternatives since leaving in the summertime, and due to this fact a chance to extend .
Lastly, we finish with one other midfield battle: the one between Manuel Locatelli and Tijjani Reijnders. In some ways, Milan’s previous will face off towards the current and future, given Locatelli – a Rossoneri youth academy graduate – departed for pastures new and ended up at a rival following a spell at Sassuolo.
Reijnders in the meantime has undoubtedly been the most effective midfielder in Italy up to now this season, with 9 objectives to his identify. This explosion in scoring type got here below Fonseca, so will probably be fascinating to see if he may even additional develop below the brand new coach and – crucially – a doable new system.