Serie A, Milan-Roma 1-1: Reijnders, Dybala. Fonseca expelled, then sacked

Nowadays not even eating panettone is enough to keep you calm. After this lackluster draw against Roma, Paulo Fonseca has reached the end of his AC Milan adventure. Panettone yes, New Year’s lentils no. Even before the match there were whispers that not even one victory would be enough. Imagine a draw that doesn’t move the rankings, that doesn’t allow Juve, Lazio and Fiorentina to gain important points from a Champions League perspective. But, above all, there continues to be a lack of strong signals regarding a reversal of the trend: this time there were some flashes of intensity and the attitude has partly improved: but at the end of December it is no longer enough. Roma, especially in light of a largely dominated second half, left San Siro with a certain regret. Also because this draw doesn’t do the Giallorossi much good in terms of standings either. Sad, like the Devil’s.

the choices

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In recent days at Milanello the suggestive option with Morata behind Abraham seemed to be back in fashion, then nothing more happened. The Spaniard placed himself in front and, as in Verona, Fonseca placed Reijnders behind him. Other confirmations from Bentegodi: Jimenez high up in place of Leao, Terracciano in the midfield next to Fofana. But the real news was obviously Hernandez’s return from the first minute: rehabilitated after the face-to-face meeting with the coach, complete with an armband. On the bench, Bennacer is back after a lifetime. On the eve of the game, Ranieri had one big doubt: more offensive weight with El Shaarawy or more compactness with Pisilli? The second was good, even if Pisilli also moved a lot in the attacking midfield. For the rest, the former Saelemaekers wide on the right and the attack entrusted to Dybala and Dovbyk.

recipe

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The dawn of the match enticed the Meazza, because the first quarter of an hour was more like a final match: fast and deep verticalisations on both sides, sharp counterattacks, few tactical reflections and foot on the pedal gas. A mirrored attitude which, although commendable, exposed their respective defensive gaps. Which are many and obvious. Roma on the right have damnably suffered from the black holes into which Jimenez has sucked Mancini several times, Milan – as has often happened in the past – has not been able to find the right recipe to limit Dybala, skilled as usual in taking away his opponents by freeing spaces or inserting oneself without giving reference points. Fofana and Pisilli – the guard deliveries on sight of the Frenchman were evident for the Giallorossi – danced the paso doble together on the same turf, while Reijnders repeatedly found a way to slip inconspicuously into the heart of Roma. The Dutchman was once again the most dangerous man for the Rossoneri, also because Morata was unable to protect half the ball in front. Perpetually late, invariably early.

loneliness

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Script of the first half: Milan aggressive and quick as it hadn’t happened for a while and Roma tending towards defensive slips, even if the Devil was saved by the post (11′) on a dirty left-footed shot by Dovbyk on which the Ukrainian could have do much better. Milan progressed in the quarter of an hour: a perfect restart with the ball passing from the left (Morata) to the center (Fofana) to the right, where Reijnders was able to kick in total solitude: Roma with their left flank very exposed. What failed at the rear, however, found the correct application at the front. With the merit of having put the match back on its feet in just eight minutes: central pocket by Pisilli, Dovbyk raised it with his heel and Dybala put it in the corner pocket on the fly. Everything executed to perfection. At that point darkness fell on the match. But total darkness. Roma satisfied their hunger for a draw, Milan suddenly lost all the certainties of the first twenty minutes, a clear sign that the patient still needs a lot of treatment. A Devil subject to sudden and dangerous dizziness, with consequences also on his nervous system: in the 42nd minute Fonseca was sent off after a contact in the Pisilli-Reijnders area.

whistles

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At the beginning of the second half, Pellegrini (Koné) and Celik (Hummels), i.e. the two yellow cards, and Bennacer (Terracciano) were inside. Milan partially emerged from their slumber and tried with Bennacer and Chukwueze (watch out for Svilar), but at game time they lost yet another man: Chukwueze out due to muscular problems, Abraham in (heavily booed by his old fans). That is 4-4-2 with Jimenez on the right and Reijnders on the left. A team with too many patches in too many areas of the pitch and in fact at a certain point it became a Giallorossi monologue. Milan saved first by Maignan on El Shaarawy and then by the crossbar on Shomurodov. In the ninetieth minute, the now usual whistles from the Meazza. It’s difficult to think of a worse scenario in view of the Super Cup.