Chievo-Milan Preview: Flying High

The worst time to face the bottom of the table team is when you are flying high. It is dangerous because they literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Meanwhile, we have a very precarious hold on third place that would be amazing to take with us into the Derby next week. However, with confidence high and back to back performances not so high, the Flying Donkeys could ground us and take all three points. That’s the trouble with flying high.

False confidence?

Chievo have only won one game, drawing ten and losing 15 this season. Last weekend, they faced the 3-0 wrath of a rising Torino. Even Simone Zaza scored on them. Ouch. For that match, Di Carlo lined up Sorrentino; Schelotto, Bani, Barba, Joroszynski; Leris, Rigoni, Diousse; Giaccherini; Meggiorini, and Djordjevic. Rigoni is suspended for this match, and Di Carlo has some injury problems, too. Schelotto is out for the season after injuring his knee against Torino. He is also missing Seculin, Tomovic, and Frey, with Pelissier doubtful for this match as of this writing.

Gattuso is also missing Rodriguez to suspension, Laxalt will undoubtedly deputize for him. Bonaventura, we didn’t forget you, we are looking forward to your return next season. Zapata trained with the team a few times this week, but is still not fit. Caldara has been called up for the first time since his injury five months ago, although likely won’t see much time if any. Gattuso hinted at some changes for Chievo, let’s hope he makes the right choices.

Never forget where you are

The Bentegodi is a formidable stadium to play in, even when the host team is dead last on the table. The Flying Donkeys, in addition to being one of the more ridiculous mascots in football, have a way of turning other teams into a comedy within the space of 90 minutes. While most people would expect Milan to take all three points from this match easily, those people haven’t watched the poor performances of our past two matches. And perhaps they didn’t watch our flawed victory against Chievo in October. So let’s hope Gattuso and the team take this very seriously and give us a more convincing performance heading into the Derby. Then we would be justifiably in third place and flying high.

This post inspired by the music of “Higher Ground” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Serie A Week 27

Chievo vs. Milan

Saturday, March 9 • 20:30 CET (2:30pm EST)