Milan have been living the
dream this season. Winning with luck and mentality primarily, this match was
always going to be a test for us. And it was a test I felt that we passed
successfully. We played the youngest starting lineup in Serie A this season
(via @OptaPaolo,)
and we played a team who have a lot more quality and experience. And we gave
them a run for their money. In fact, it really was more of a reckoning for
Roma. Could they beat a young team having a good run who have been nipping at
their heels all season long? Could they get the three points to put a bit of
distance between them? Well they got their three points, but I’m not sure they
played as convincingly as they have paid to, let alone to challenge for the
Scudetto. So for both sides, it was definitely a reckoning.
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| A bunch of kids |
Roma came out in attack,
with two shots in the first six minutes, forcing Donnarumma into saves right
away (and seeing him take a knock early on, too.) After that, the battle
commenced. Milan started to come into their own slowly but surely and it became
a very entertaining football game. Fate struck in the 26th when Lapadula was
taken down by Szczesny and a penalty rightfully given. But everyone knows now
that Niang is the first choice penalty taker, so he stepped up to take it. Now
I don’t know what he’s done in training to be first choice, but according to @OptaPaolo,
Niang’s penalty record is now four failed penalties in seven opportunities
between Ligue 1 and Serie A. That of course counting this one today, where
Szczesny redeemed his clumsiness by saving Niang’s penalty in the 27th. To be
fair, Szczesny confessed to having studied Niang’s penalties, and he noticed an
easy pattern, that Niang switched corners after each failed attempt. Niang,
meanwhile, apologized, and has said that Lapadula will absolutely take the next
one.
So that was the
controversy, otherwise known as an opportunity for shortsighted and shortfused
Milan fans on social media to pour on the hate. While a successful penalty could have earned us
a point or three at that point, I just didn’t see it like the social media armies of hate do.
Fate gave us a penalty and fate took it away (if you spell fat S-z-c-z-e-s-n-y.) It’s not like we played well
enough to deserve anything more than we got, and actually we’ve been incredibly
lucky this year before this match. Not like Bruno Peres, who left the pitch on a
stretcher because of a severe ankle injury in the 42nd, replaced by a familiar
little pharaoh, El Shaarawy. Ouch.
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| Not the way Romagnoli likes to spend his visit home |
The second half, the epic
battle continued. And in the 62nd, due to a clumsy clearance from Milan,
Nainggolan was able to capitalize and score the lone goal. 1-0 Roma. After that
there were shots, fouls, and a couple of cards. Pasalic had earned his in the
18th, but Paletta got his in the 79th for fouling El Shaarawy. Ironically, it
looked to me like Mati Fernandez’ acting skills saw Rüdiger get his yellow in
the 84th, but overall, Mazzoleni did a great job of managing a big game.
Possession was pretty even, although it differs based on where you look. Which
means really that Milan held their own with players who were bought in hopes
that Roma could win something. Which they did. They won a match vs. a team who were
young and 67% Italian. That should totally be worth their mercato purchases in
recent years (insert maniacal laughter here.)
I know it was a loss, I
had so very much hoped for a win. Especially with the Strootman controversy.
But I’m proud of how Milan played and felt like they played better than
expected, as they have most of the season. It was bittersweet to see El
Shaarawy of course, but remember that we have their Montella, Bertolacci, and
Romagnoli, so that had to hurt a bit for them, too. If there was one game that
could truly measure where we are and what we need to get to the next level,
this was it. Perfectly timed ahead of the mercato so that if anything happens
and we make some deals, it should be obvious what we need. For Roma, it was a
victory, but also a wake up call for their aspirations. Their players spoke as
if they had won against a big team. Which was flattering, but in essence, they just
beat a primavera team. So they may have the win, but Milan came out ahead in
the reckoning.
No water bottles were splashed at
opponents for this post
Our next match is
Milan vs. Atalanta
Saturday, December 17 • 18:00 CET
(12noon EDT)