Serie A, Milan’s point should not be despised

Not all AC Milan matches can be a carousel ride at the amusement park. Every now and then you have to get off, deal with tougher, tough, mangy opponents who do not allow you that festive unpredictability that remains one of the Rossoneri’s trademarks. And that was not seen yesterday. The match in Bergamo leaves us with three considerations: 1) When it’s not your best day, if you can’t win you must at least not lose. These are not two lost points for Milan, but a well-deserved one. It was not a brilliant Milan, but the dribble slowed down the physicality of Atalanta. The Rossoneri did not risk much but they lacked the flashes and unpredictability, despite Pioli having changed men and dispositions during the match.

2) Atalanta is no longer or at least, we wish it, it is not yet the spectacular team of the past years, which amazed everyone by often asphalting their opponents, even those more equipped than her. But Gasperini’s team is there, it will annoy everyone and while waiting for the ancient spectacular maneuvers it seems, in this beginning, to have found the solidity that was lost on the road last year. Gasp asked this year to modify a group that had perhaps run out of energy: it will take time to rebuild the perfect toy, but there is room for a solid season not conditioned by midweek European commitments. In a very busy calendar it will be a weapon not to be underestimated.

3) This championship is likely to be split in two even more than the past ones, with nine teams (to the top eight of last year we add Torino) very competitive and all the others that risk acting as sparring partners. So let’s get used to seeing the big players win in a large, easy way, giving a show against the small-medium ones, without letting ourselves be too influenced by some beautiful goleade. The championship will be decided in the direct clashes between those nine teams: and whoever loses points with the others risks not having a way to recover them.

Napoli steals the eye and scores repeatedly: after the five goals in Verona, here are the four at Monza that showcase the talent of the young Georgian Kvaratskhelia, who has already scored three goals and a new and interesting face of our championship. The goal with a shot in the first round at the Maradona is a tribute to Insigne who is called upon not to make us regret. Osimhen also scored. The other signings Raspadori and Ndombele remained on the bench. Spalletti’s Napoli is very intriguing, but faithful to point 3 of our analysis, we are waiting for more popular opponents to weigh their strength and understand what they can aim for. Certainly the attack is strong and well matched.

Despite a list of injuries from the “bad luck prize” at the beginning of the season, Max Allegri does not hide: Juve’s goal is to win the Scudetto. So no missteps are allowed in the away match against Sampdoria. The starting line-up will suffer from absences, starting with Pogba and Di Maria, Allegri will rely on the Serbian couple Vlahovic-Kostic. Rabiot holder after being with the suitcases ready. Juve have yet to enrich their squad with a striker (Depay) and a playmaker (Paredes): they will be judged when they are full.

And speaking of bad luck what to say about the blow suffered by Rome? The fracture of Wijnaldum’s tibia deprives Mourinho of one of the two flagships of the purchasing campaign (the other is Dybala) and forces Pinto to get back to work after having made a perfect transfer campaign that was missing only Belotti as icing on the cake. The Dutchman has unique qualities in the squad and allowed Mou to change the tactical set-up of the team by being able to go from 3-4-2-1 to 3-5-2 with Matic or Cristante low top, Pellegrini and Wijnaldum inside and Dybala ( or Zaniolo) near Abraham. The Dutchman was ready to make his debut at the Olimpico, but he will see him again only in 2023. A serious blow. Space today for the Fab Four with Zaniolo on the pitch, but the match against Cremonese, which was supposed to be a party, was tinged with anger and sadness.