Milan-Turin 1-0: Giroud’s header decides

Easy explanation: Ibra is back in the squad and Milan have started winning again. A part is also here, certainly. More complex explanation: Milan started winning again because, just as the light had gone out in the final against Roma, it came on again in the interval against Torino. The problem is understanding why. Then and now. Mysteries.

But at least here for the Devil there is a happy ending that after seven games without smiles stops the sinking and changes perspective, maintaining a strong candidacy for the first four places. It was also important to meet in a Champions League key, since this was the dress rehearsal before the match against the unleashed Conte. It’s not a healed Milan, mind you: the first half was sad and poorly played like the previous matches, but that spark that Pioli had been looking for for some time struck in the second half. Toro liked much more in the first 45 ‘, played with personality, attention and clear ideas, but he was unable to contain the shock wave – certainly unexpected, given the first half – of the Rossoneri in the second half.

THE CHOICES

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Pioli has kept faith with the indications that he himself had given by confirming the three-man defense, but with a change compared to the derby: Gabbia out and Thiaw in, in his third appearance as a starter this season (the last of which three months ago). The summer market strikes a blow. The median role is also different, with two midfielders – Tonali and Krunic – and not three. Leao is back in front after two noisy exclusions in a row and, together with him and Giroud, here is Diaz, free to swing between the lines. Juric’s most pressing problem was instead the preparation of a midfield without the injured Ricci and with Ilic forced to the bench by a precarious athletic condition. The grenade coach solved it with an announced name – Adopo, the Devil’s killer in the Italian Cup – and the big surprise Gineitis, the 18-year-old Lithuanian making his absolute debut in the first team. On the wings Singo and Rodriguez, attack entrusted to Vlasic and Miranchuk in support of Sanabria.

BUBBLES

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Ugly and boring. The first half fluctuates between these coordinates because Milan is the usual Milan of the last few weeks – slow, predictable, scared – and the Bull, who would have bubbles to uncork, after a quarter of an hour of personality seems almost content to scare the Devil only occasionally. A mistake, because this Milan is a team that gets eaten up by anxiety more or less every time they are locked up in their area and damn struggles to come out cleanly when they get the ball back. In short, Torino is definitely better than the two, but the missed lunge is a cardinal sin. Also because Milan, once again, is not working. The collective maneuver – dull, apathetic and fearful – does not work either. Leao stands out in particular, with central and non-lateral deliveries that practically erase him from the game, also because Rafa is never able to give depth. Giroud also stands out, in terrible physical condition, unable to defend the ball or even stop it. Hernandez also stands out, also with his muscles visibly exhausted. And there is also some for Diaz, who instead would have verve but wastes it by deciding to mostly play a solo score and ending up repeatedly crashing against the grenade wall. The first three defendants will make up for it, and with interest, in the second half.

HOLES

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The Bull crushes Milan for a while, then chooses to manage but still masters the situation. Gineitis clings – sometimes too roughly – to Diaz and suffocates him, Singo hammers in the wing, Miranchuk watches the shoulders of those who operate a few meters ahead and Vlasic – even if not in one of the best days – with his movements opens rather considerable holes in the Rossoneri midfield. However, he was decidedly more precise and pungent in the ball lap in front of a Devil still unglued between the departments and with a visibly discouraged attitude. The fear can be seen, he touches his hand at each stop. At each step. And he blurs his ideas when it’s time to attack because Milenkovic, apart from a few lopsided shots from Theo and Saelemaekers, doesn’t have to worry about anything. Leao, on the only free ball of the first 45, dozes off before shooting. Turin, on the other hand, dangerously shows up twice: in the 18th minute when Sanabria touches the post and in the 37th minute when Tatarusanu doesn’t come out, Kjaer trips as the last man and Sanabria is blocked by a nice reflex from the Rossoneri goalkeeper.

CHANGE OF SCRIPT

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The recovery offers another script. With a precise interpretation: Hernandez decides that the time for contemplation is over and he starts pushing. Toro drops, Singo with him, and Milan starts creating those dangers that haven’t been seen for a while. Two strong rings: Giroud for Leao in the 9th minute and Diaz for Giroud in the 11th minute call Milinkovic to two important interventions, especially the second with the ball dancing one step away from the line. And in the 18th minute the Devil passes: Theo’s cross on Giroud’s head, who steals Djidji’s time, twists – sorry, he turns – and sticks the grenade door in with a subsequent kiss on the shirt. It is the redemption of the two disappointed in Qatar. Juric throws in Karamoh, but it is still Milan who push in the half hour with Hernandez who on the counterattack throws a goal scored after a perfect assistance from Leao into the trash. Hands in hair turned platinum blonde. It’s another Devil, however, also because Leao returns to the side with a good leg and one wonders what was blocking all the Rossoneri until the interval. Fear, obviously just fear.