Sunday’s
match is the final match of the season, and for some of our players, their
final match for Milan. Only time will tell who is leaving or even how many are
leaving, but there are 90 minutes left in this strange and slightly healing
season. It’s hard to know if people will even watch, with the game having been
moved back and forth so many times in the schedule, and with so many fans
having stopped watching anyway. It feels more like it’s approaching closing
time at the local pub than a sporting event. More like a familiar voice saying
“last call.”
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| We know it's Honda's last match, but who else? |
Cagliari
are in 13th place, but that could change depending on the results of this
weekend. So I guess they have something to play for. Also, if they continue
their recent form of L-W-L-W-L, then they are due for a win. Especially after
the 6-2 loss to Sasssuolo last week, they’ll be hungry for victory. For that
match, Rastelli lined up Rafael; Alves, Pisacane, Murru, Isla, Sau, Padoin,
Tachtsidis, Borriello, Farias, and Pedro. Unfortunately, he will be missing a
number of players. Ceppitelli, Melchiorri, Dessena, Barella, and Colombo are
all injured, with our pal Gabriel also Capuano in question due to fitness
issues. Additionally, Sau and Alves are suspended. So Rastelli will have to be
creative to put together a starting eleven.
Montella
is likely to be a little creative again himself, starting a 3-5-2 again. My
theory is that he realized the only safe bet when putting Montolivo in the
starting eleven is to pack the midfield, kind of like bubble wrap or something.
Nevertheless, he’s got some players out as well. Abate, Antonelli, and De
Sciglio are definitely out, and Plizzari is injured, while Romagnoli is
unlikely to play either due to that same knee injury. Deulofeu is unlikely to
play due to a new injury picked up in training. And while Bonaventura has been
back in training now for a couple of days, he is unlikely to play at all, let
alone start. But having secured sixth place last week, and no chance of moving
up or down, the results of this match are merely for pride.
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| Our forever on loan young keeper... where will he be next season? |
When
Cagliari came to the San Siro, we broke
their hearts with a late goal. Meanwhile, that horrific
keeper swap I complained so much about looks to be ending exactly as I
predicted: Gabriel has played exactly three games for Cagliari, making six
saves and conceding seven goals. That’s some experience right there. And now
he’s injured and can’t even face us in his last game on loan there. Storari has
gratefully not played at all for Milan, but there were mentality and discipline
issues that coincided with his return, as predicted. Even Donnarumma made more
errors and conceded more goals after training next to him. More frighteningly,
though, reports just began that he is working on a renewal. (I told you so.) At 40 years old. And
having played only ten matches with Milan ever. I hate when my predictions are
correct in situations like this.
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| Last call for this stadium |
But this
match is bittersweet for Cagliari fans, as it is the final competitive match
that will be played in the Stadio Sant’Elia. The stadium will be torn down to
build a new stadium, so it should be more sweet than bitter. However, just like
the final 90 minutes of this season, or even the final match for some players’
Milan careers, this one will truly be a last call.
This post was
inspired by the music of The Sundays’ “Here’s Where the Story Ends”
Cagliari vs. Milan
Sunday, May 28 •
15:00 CST (9am EDT)
This match will be
NOT shown LIVE in the U.S.