Thursday's match vs. Bologna was originally scheduled for the weekend of October 27th. However, there was heavy flooding in Bologna that week, and despite many different efforts to play the match without fans, in a neutral venue, etc., a political move by Bologna's mayor saw it postponed after all. And personally, I know that people lost lives as well as property in those floods, so I was okay with postponing the match, even if other events went ahead in Bologna that same day we were scheduled to play. Although it did affect suspensions that impacted our match with Napoli instead, which we lost. However, now our captain was pushed out and is playing for the enemy, which makes this one even more intriguing. All the way around, this will be the one that got away.
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| I wish him well... just not on this occasion. |
When Thiago Motta left Bologna at the end of the season last year, many expected them to fade into midtable obscurity once again, especially playing in the Champions League for the first time in 60 years. However, despite crashing out of the Champions League in 28th place in the League Phase, they bowed out gracefully. Bologna had draws on either side of their singular win in their final three matches for a total of one win, three draws, and four losses. They also knocked Atalanta out of the Coppa Italia in a shock 1-0 win in their Quarterfinals match earlier this month. Their form also translated to Serie A, where they were unbeaten in the league since January up until their 2-0 loss away to Parma with their new manager on Saturday.
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| A Pobega appreciation post from the official Bologna English social media. |
For that match, Vincenzo Italiano lined up a 4-3-3 of: Ravaglia; Our former captain up until three weeks ago, Calabria, Beukema, Lucumí, Miranda; Freuler, Moro, our own on loan Pobega; Ndoye, Santiago Castro, and Cambiaghi. Italiano has recovered his first goalkeeper, Skorupski, who should be available for this match. Odgaard has also made his list of players called up, while Holm and Pedrola are still out injured. Upon arriving at Bologna, Calabria said of this match that he wished his former teammates the best "but not on that occasion," and the feeling is mutual for me. (So look for a Calabria assist on a Pobega goal, because that is my luck.)
This match is massive for both teams, who both have 41 points, even if Milan are in seventh place, just ahead of eighth place Bologna on goal differential. A win in this match, which is currently the last game in hand to be decided in Serie A, would allow the winning side to leapfrog Fiorentina for sixth place. Milan also play fifth place Lazio on Sunday, so winning both matches would put them level on points for fifth place, and that much closer to the current fourth place team, Juventus. It cannot be said how important this match is for our season, and I'm sure that Bologna and Milan are not the only teams invested in the outcome, either.
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| Which Santiago will triumph? Ours or theirs? |
That being said, Milan are also coming off of a painful 2-1 loss away to Torino on Saturday. Fans and the media are spinning out, denouncing all that has improved since Conceição arrived less than two months ago, after Milan lost their chance at the Champions League Round of 16 with their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord midweek last week. However, the painful, elementary errors that led to both disappointments are less likely to occur again if fans support the team, rather than contribute to the toxic and destructive narrative surrounding them.
Milan still have the stronger team on paper, even while missing Florenzi, Loftus-Cheek, Emerson Royal, and Walker to injury. Players like Pulisic, João Félix, and our Santiago (Gimenez) have all had minor issues of late as well. Álex Jiménez will undoubtedly deputize once again for Walker. Reports vary on the rest of the probable lineups, although there is a consensus that Conceição may not start with all four attackers of the "Fab Four." And we still have not seen Bondo play a minute, although he has been available the last two Serie A matches, so perhaps he will make his debut at some point in this match?
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| Will it be one or the other to start? Or both? |
There have been other distractions this week, including learning that our Coppa Italia semifinal opponents will be Inter, so we will have two more Derby della Madonnina matches in April. It feels like I just finished mopping up the Interisti tears from the first three Derby matches this year. Now we have to risk our perfect unbeaten record on the ridiculous two leg Coppa Italia semifinals? (All other matchups in the Coppa Italia are single elimination matches. I know, it's so Italy.)
And the club FINALLY sacked Daniele Bonera as manager of Milan Futuro, bringing in another former Milan defender of questionable coaching credentials, Massimo Oddo. Tassotti will remain as an assistant. Oddo will only have ten matches to save Milan Futuro not only from mathematic relegation, but also a dreadful Serie C anomaly known as the Playout, which would require us to jump up past 15th place to avoid. Juventus NextGen changed their manager in November, they are in 12th place in their group. Honestly, our management are so, so, so, so, so very, very, very, very bad at their jobs.
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| Is this even an upgrade? And does he have enough time for a miracle? |
But I digress. While it's nice to keep up with the myriad players Milan have out on loan, including Pobega, who has four goals and two assists so far this season for Bologna, and it will be emotional seeing Calabria, our last hope of a Bandiera (someone who only plays for one club in their career,) wearing a different shirt, we have a match to focus on. All emotions aside, this will be as important mentally for Conceição and the team as it will be for our goal of finishing in the top four this season. And if we give this one away to individual errors or red cards, then we will likely look back with regret for the one that got away.
Primavera Defeat Atalanta Primavera, But End on Ten Men Again
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| Celebrating a fantastic opening goal from the sub, Ossola. |
Milan Primavera defeated Atalanta Primavera 2-1 on Monday, but there was still the misfortune of a late red card. For the second match in a row, Guidi's Primavera ended on ten men due to a second yellow for Parmiggiani in the 90th minute. There was also an early injury, as Victor Eletu, wearing the captain's armband, had a muscle issue in just the 11th minute. Ossola subbed on to replace him, which ended up being fortuitous, as he scored a stunning goal in the 25th minute to put Milan Primavera ahead 1-0.
After the half, Maximilian Ibrahimović doubled the lead with his goal in the 58th minute, 2-0 Milan Primavera. Atalanta pulled one back in the 63rd minute to bring it to 2-1 Milan Primavera. Brief highlights of the match are available. Milan Primavera sit solidly in fifth place on the table and are away to Verona on Sunday.
This post inspired by the music of Jane Siberry's "It Can't Rain All the Time"
Serie C Week 28
Reviewed by Elaine
on
7:30 AM
Rating:
