There is a Brazilian proverb that goes: “When life only gives you lemons, have a caipirinha”. This applies to Milan and Leao. Rafa arrived in Cagliari with an inflammation of the right adductor that could degenerate into pubalgia: it means no acceleration, no changes in direction, basically no Leao. And instead, look at the goal that decided Cagliari-Milan: Leao doesn’t sprint, as in the whole match, but controls from a standstill with his right and kicks hard with his other leg, the left. Allegri can be proud of it because Milan, like his 10, were very concrete and did the most with what they had: they started very badly, with a censorious Estupinan, but stabilized early, lowered the pace of the match and took little risk. In the end, that matters. That and a number: 38, like the points in the standings. Milan, waiting for Inter and the usual Bologna of destiny, are first in the standings.
LEAO’S GOAL Let’s review the goal, because the match didn’t offer much else that was spectacular. We are 5′ into the second half and Milan are walking on a thin line. Fofana receives from Saelemaekers and plays vertically for Rabiot, who looks for Leao from the right. Rafa, serene like a Zen master, touches with his right and kicks hard with his left. Too strong for Caprile. It is the seventh goal of the season and the seventh of his career at Cagliari.
MILAN: DEFENSE FOUND AGAIN The defense, in the second game in a row without conceding a goal, did the rest. Milan kept the ball to freeze the pace, closed well and often left an unimaginative and under-paced Cagliari running in circles in the second half. Two numbers, to give some context. Milan is one of the three teams in Greater Europe unbeaten away from home (the others are Bayern and Betis) and has won 11 matches out of 18 matches: in the 23 seasons in which they have done so in the past, they have never finished lower than fourth place. This will please Allegri and Furlani.
THE MATCH How was the match? Cagliari started strong. Minute 1: wide shot by Prati. Minute 2: Palestra escapes to Estupinan and kicks out. Minute 3: high recovery and shot by Prati without aiming. Chills in half of Milan. Without oxygen to breathe, with Estupinan in great difficulty with and without the ball, Milan however did well to find a bit of balance and not take risks until the 32nd minute, when Adopo managed to deflect his header (low and central) into the area with an insertion. Allegri remained calm, did not protest when Zappa kicked a ball on his arm (a non-punishable case) and only had a shiver in injury time, due to a foul by Rodriguez on Loftus-Cheek in the area which would have been a penalty, if Leao had not started the action (slightly) offside. The match, not exactly a Broadway show, didn’t change much in the second half even with the substitutions. Pisacane sent Borrelli in and for five minutes he played with Esposito behind him and Kilicsoy, then he tried with Gaetano. Allegri gave 20 minutes to Füllkrug and to take as few risks as possible he closed with Gabbia and Pulisic, who are not very well or even very well. The theme has not changed: Milan in control and no shots on goal. Indeed, Milan risked scoring the 2-0 with Pulisic, who kicked on Caprile four minutes from the end, and with Modric, who kicked a free kick to the near post in the 90th minute, not enough to surprise Caprile. If you’re looking for the best on the pitch, logic dictates that Rabiot and Leao – the men behind the goal – will be celebrated, but spare a thought for Saelemaekers and Modric. Alexis ran with two oxygen tanks, Luka seized the ball and decided that, this evening, everyone would play at his pace. When he does this, what do you want to tell him?