An important away match for the Turin team will determine the results of this start of the season.
About Milan
– Two Milan clubs are the two main contenders for the title in the new Serie A season. Inter’s arguments are the competent signing of free agents and loans. But the Rossoneri didn’t have to be so sophisticated. The team calmly spent the money and became the first in terms of investments to strengthen the last offseason (114 million euros). The main thing is that none of the deals can be called unjustified: the Italians strengthened the right flank of the attack, the center of the field, took a central defender for the future and a striker to replace Olivier Giroud. They all appear early on with varying degrees of success.
– Stefano Pioli’s team started the championship confident: in the first 8 rounds they only lost against Inter. And obviously the 1:5 in the derby is very disappointing. But the Rossoneri will find something to console themselves with, being in first place in the league. The Nerazzurri then stumbled twice at the same time: 1:2 against Salernitana and 2:2 against Bologna. This is why they are 2 points behind Milan.
– By the way, it is more difficult in European competitions. If in Serie A the team is limited to minimal losses, in the two opening rounds of the Champions League Milan drew goalless with Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. The English, despite making their debut in the main European Cup, looked confident against the Italian giants. Without obvious scoring opportunities – the match took place mostly in the center of the pitch – but with promising attacks. As for the clash with the “yellow-blacks”, the Germans surprisingly had the territorial advantage. They also had more shots on goal. In any case, 0 goals in 2 matches for the semi-finalist of the last draw Champions League – at least undignified.
– Now it will be very interesting to watch the Rossoneri. Aiming for the scudetto with a summer signing is one thing, confirming your ambitions with facts is another. Three days after the home match with Juve, the Pioli gang will have to go to Paris Saint-Germain, then continue the tour in Naples – meeting with the current Serie A champion. And immediately after, Udinese, the same PSG and Lecce as rivals. Championship contenders cannot fail in any of these matches.
Milan’s provisional lineup (4-2-3-1): Nava – Hernandez, Tomori, Thiaw, Florenzi – Musa, Adli, Reynders – Leau, Giroud, Pulisic.
On Juventus
– The absence of European Cups so far is also good for the “old lady”. Massimiliano Allegri’s team makes fewer mistakes: draws with Bologna, Atalanta, defeat against Sassuolo in the first eight rounds, 17 points and 3rd place, 4 points behind Milan. It wasn’t a bad start, but over a longer distance the competitors will accumulate further fatigue playing on two fronts.
– The Turin team found themselves in a formation with three central defenders: they now play with the “3-5-2”, while the formation does not change in the slightest from match to match. A further ace up the team’s sleeve: Dusan Vlahovic, it seems, is finally becoming Juve’s best finisher. Initially, the oversized Serbian did not fit into Allegri’s structure, over time a series of injuries was added to this: the bosses of the Italian giant even thought about selling their asset while the deal could be concluded profitably. We decided to keep him, the striker has formed a partnership with Chiesa on the front line: now both have 4 goals and 1 assist. Both are in the top 10 scorers of the current championship. By the way, there is a problem: both have missed the last few games due to injuries. They are not serious: Dusan has already returned to duty, Federico should recover soon. But the team’s coach is unlikely to risk the health of the main attacking force. Furthermore, there are few alternatives – Keane and Milik, if you look at the profile of the attackers, and the midfielder Miretti – Allegri used him on the front line against Torino.
– It is partly surprising how calmly the “old lady” spends the opening period, when several artists important for the team were unavailable at the same time. They are captain Danilo, the expert left side Alex Sandro, and Fagioli, who was trapped in the bets. Let’s take the ever-problematic Pogba out of the equation: he hasn’t been more useful in any way since his return. And that’s fine: they’re in the top 3, they’re waiting for the Milanese to fail.
Juventus’ provisional lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny – Gatti, Bremer, Rugani – Kostic, Locatelli, McKennie, Rabiot, Weah – Keane, Miretti.
About the fight
– Starting from 2020, the Rossoneri take the initiative in direct clashes with the Old Lady: only 1 defeat in 9 games
– However, if you take a longer period, 20 matches, the Turin team has an advantage. Juve took 3 points from the Milanese 11 times, Milan themselves 5 times, and another 4 draws.
– At the same time, on the road, the Turin team plays with the Rossoneri with extreme confidence – in the last 12 matches they have won 7 times and drawn twice. The hosts have only achieved 3 victories in this period.
Forecast Soccer.ru: Juventus, despite the general negative context surrounding the team, cannot be defined as a scapegoat. Yes, the “mess” on the calendar will come later: the “old lady” won the matches against “Torino”, “Lecce”, “Empoli”, and drew against “Atalanta” itself. But in lower-level matches, Massimiliano Allegri’s players have developed confidence – and now it’s time to use it against a high-level opponent. The result is not obvious, but we bet on a draw. The Rossoneri are still the same formidable force, and then the team plays at home. But the people of Turin will have a surprise in store.
