Roma 1, Milan 1: To the Death

Milan went to the Stadio Olimpico with the intention of playing football. Roma, on the other hand, had other plans. It was clear that Mourinho had coached his players to play a very physical match and do everything to interrupt play, which would interrupt Milan's rhythm. That plan worked for this game, but resulted in more injuries for Roma, so maybe not the brightest plan. Orsato did nothing to stop the melee, which made matters even worse. So the match was left to stoppage time, where Roma were given a taste of their own medicine when a late goal was equalized with an even later goal from Milan. We needed to break the curse from January, and although we did not take all three points, it felt like we may have switched places. Even if we left it all to the death.

To the death.

Roma-Milan Preview: Breaking the Curse

Milan's 2023 started out fine. Then we faced Roma at the San Siro. The last few minutes of that match saw us drop points, and our mentality and results have struggled ever since. Additionally, Milan and Roma go into this match tied on points, so a win would be important to secure a top four finish and qualify for Champions League next season. While a couple of freak injuries are creeping back into Milan's bench, it is now Roma who are in real injury trouble. Also, unlike our last meeting, Mourinho is available for this match. So with a little luck and some laser-focus from everyone in the team, as well a hopefully an even better performance than the 2-0 win over Lecce last week, this match could just see us break the curse and finish the season on a high note.

Tomori is pumped to see his good friend Tammy Abraham again

Racism in Serie A Is More Than Skin Deep

In Italy, racism is always there. Sometimes, it lies in thinly veiled "tributes" like nicknames or other references for black players that contain chocolate references. Other times, it is blatant and primal, like the monkey chants from fans aimed at black players. And it is not limited to only black players. Our own Ibrahimović has been racially abused throughout his career, while also being accused of racism by the racists. Even Maldini was subjected to racism at times for his Slovenian roots. But no matter how much the world calls for change, or even UEFA or FIFA call for sanctions unless action is taken, Serie A can never bring themselves to get it right. Because the truth of the matter is that racism in Serie A, or even Italy as a nation, is more than skin deep.

Often in Italy, players only have each other for support when racial abuse occurs

Milan 2, Lecce 0: The Leão Show

Some wins are memorable, others are largely forgettable. This one falls primarily in the latter category, save for the two goals. In fact, while Theo Hernández clearly chose his hair color for this match in hopes of being the most shocking thing, the most shocking thing was Milan's 2-0 win over Lecce itself. Milan took all three points. But in the long run, what people will remember from this match was a singular sublime performance. Fans were treated to the Leão Show.

A superstar performance

Milan-Lecce Preview: ...Seriously

Once again, Milan are on a high after qualifying for the Champions League Semifinals midweek. Once again, they are facing a team just above the drop zone. While Milan have specialized in dropping points this calendar year, it feels like they particularly play poorly after a spectacular performance like that. Lecce will no doubt be aware of this, and with nothing to lose and everything to play for, I'm sure will take advantage of it. But if Milan are going to get back into the top four, they absolutely must win every match. It is time to stop with this inconsistent nonsense and show up in every match, not just the big ones... seriously.

Let's try to play some actual starters this time please, Pioli... seriously

Past, Present, Future: The Milan-Inter Champions League Semifinal Derby

The Champions League semifinals are set. Milan will face Inter in a two leg Derby della Madonnina semifinal next month. For many, this matchup conjures up epic images of a fiery confrontation that are disturbingly celebrated. Those images actually have a very dark history behind them, involving an injury to a player and abandoning of the match as well as sanctions. As far as successes, both teams won the trophy the last time they each made it this far, but both teams are struggling with their league form right now. Additionally, the future of both clubs are on different trajectories, particularly financially. This storied matchup highlights the intersection of the past, present, and future of both clubs.

People forget the damage behind the "epic images" in 2005

SSC Napoli 1, AC Milan 1: Love Triumphs Over Hate

Milan are back int the Champions League Semifinals for the first time since 2007. They have exceeded all expectations in this competition this year. While the 1-1 match was intense, and a late equalizer detracted from Milan's impressive performance against a relentless Napoli side, having the goal advantage was enough to send us through. Two saved penalties, an apparent transfer of Milan's injury curse to our opponents, and a breathtaking Leão performance kept us riveted to the action. But it was the narrative going into this match as well as our unified team and fans that demonstrated the best lesson of the night – that love triumphs over hate.

Returning the love

Champions League Quarterfinal • SSC Napoli vs. AC Milan: Football

There have been so many distractions about this match. Both teams have been talking about referees, with the referee from the first leg being suspended by UEFA. So UEFA are sending one of their best for this one, who refereed the World Cup Final. The Napoli fans have sunk to all new levels, both in the stadium and online. Pioli has become obsessed with this matchup, and has gambled our league results away and behaved in ways we have not really seen before. Amidst all of this psychological and emotional drama, I am hoping that this match will be able to focus back on the football.

Let's move past all of the drama and just enjoy an intense, amazing game of football

Bologna 1, Milan 1: Upping the Ante

No surprises here, Milan drew 1-1 away to an in-form Bologna. Well, Pioli had some surprises. Ten surprises, to be exact. He made ten changes to his starting lineup from midweek, something that had been widely rumored he would do. That experiment went better than expected, actually, because if it were not for conceding a goal in the first minute, Milan might have actually won this one somehow. Well, that and the referee. Pioli has gone from the classy manager who would not talk about the referees to that guy who is whining about not getting penalties when he made ten changes to his starting lineup. He took a huge gamble, again, and it did not pay off. Shocking. That is what happens when you go upping the ante.

Stefano "The Gambler" Pioli

Bologna-Milan Preview: Beating the Away Match Blues

Milan may have defeated league leaders Napoli for the second time in ten days on Wednesday when they faced them in the Champions League Quarterfinal first leg, but now they face a bigger test. On Saturday evening, they must travel to Bologna and do something they have only managed to do in three of their eight away league matches in 2023: take all three points. Bologna are only nine points behind Milan, sitting in eighth place on the table. Rumor has it that Pioli plans to rotate a lot of players, something that completely backfired on him last week at home vs. Empoli. If not, he risks injury or exhaustion of his starters ahead of the decisive match vs. Napoli on Tuesday. However, it has never been more important to our challenge for top four to take all three points and maintain mentality in beating the away match blues.

The players deserve to lose those away match blues

AC Milan 1, SSC Napoli 0: Our Destiny Is In Our Hands

Milan's Curva Sud shone once again at La Scala del Calcio, with an incredible coreo featuring the words "Our destiny is in our hands." The images were of a devil's hands surrounding Pulcinella, a famous Neapolitan character that dates back to at least the 1600's. Little did they know that it would literally be Maignan's hands that would keep our clean sheet, stopping Napoli's every chance. Although the character that unfortunately took center stage was the referee, Kovács. Still, with the 1-0 victory at the San Siro, and Napoli with two players suspended for the second leg next week, Milan's destiny is in our hands.

Il Diavolo taking Pulcinella into his hands

Champions League Quarterfinal • AC Milan vs. SSC Napoli: Una Serata a Teatro

The San Siro stadium is often referred to as "La Scala del Calcio," kind of a theater of football, named after the world famous opera house in Milano, La Scala. This all-Italian Champions League quarterfinal has plenty of drama, from Milan's inconsistent form, to Napoli's recent injuries, and the astonishing 4-0 smackdown Milan gave to Napoli at the Maradona less than ten days ago. This match is shaping up to be the football equivalent of a night at the theater - una serata a teatro.

La Scala del Calcio will be ready for all of the drama of an all-Italian quarterfinal.

Milan 0, Empoli 0: Unnecessary Suffering

Milan had a chance to have two positive results in a row in Serie A, but Pioli singlehandedly undermined that chance. On a day bizarrely observed by Christianity as "Good Friday" for intense suffering and the ultimate sacrifice, Pioli sacrificed all reason and caused great suffering by making five changes to his lineups from what was nearly the perfect game on Sunday. As if those hideously traumatizing kits were not painful enough. The scoreless draw with Empoli was completely avoidable, two points dropped in a crucial run for Champions League qualification next year. Definitely not a good Friday. For the club, the team, and the fans, this was completely unnecessary suffering.

The players and the fans deserve better (so do our eyes.)

Milan-Empoli Preview: Back to Earth

Milan played an other-worldly match on Sunday away to Napoli for all three points, but on Friday, they must return to earth. Hosting 14th place Empoli, who are just six points above the drop, could actually be more difficult than facing the league leaders, as mentioned on the latest podcast. With gli Azzurri desperate for points and Milan needing every point possible to qualify for Champions League next season, this Good Friday match could easily bring the Rossoneri back to earth.

Sunday was great, but the guys need to come back to earth for Friday's match

Podcast: The Perfect Storm

Sometimes things, big things, happen in life that stand in the way of getting things done. Other times, everything just converges and creates the perfect storm. The first reason is why this episode is being published literally a week late. Bu the second was the point of our whole discussion. Milan have faced a perfect storm this season, and we needed some good luck, as well. To that end, last week, I invited Frankie to talk about everything that has contributed to Milan's bizarre form this season. The good news that one week later, we can see that his good luck is already working...

The results this year are due to a perfect storm.

Napoli 0, Milan 4: Champions League Declaration

This was a statement win. Milan were stating that they were going to finish in a Champions League spot by finding their identity again and focusing on just this match, one match at a time. They were also sending Napoli a message: that their progression to the Champions League semifinals is nowhere near a guarantee, and they could not take anything for granted against a team like Milan. This 4-0 win over the Serie A leaders was a Champions League declaration.

Leão surfing through this one with his teammates

Napoli-Milan Preview: April Foolishness

Sunday night, Milan travel to the Stadio Maradona to face Napoli for the second time in the league this year. Our first meeting this season was marred by a poor ref decision the previous week that saw Leão suspended, and still, it was incredibly unlucky that we did not get a result. Napoli will be missing Osimhen for this match, but if you'll recall, he was also injured when we met before, so thinking that this is some kind of massive boost for Milan is really just a fool's hope. In fact, after being winless once again in our last three league matches, to expect a win away against the league leaders is just April foolishness.

April foolishness