Palermo 1, Milan 2: Another One Bites the Dust

There’s this thing that Milan has been doing lately that I’m not sure what to do with. I think it’s called “winning.” Like even when we don’t play that great, we pull it off somehow. Just when our opponent least expects it. I mean Palermo are kind of the opposite right now, where they are more likely to do the opposite. But it certainly doesn’t stop them from trying. Or even scoring. But when the final whistle blows, the story is the same: another one bites the dust.

So much win

I will start by saying that Suso does not take no for an answer. I am going to guess that 53 of our 12 shots (6 on goal) were his. And that Posavec could create a detailed sculpture of Suso from memory after today. And that’s not even from his opening goal in the 15th. Which was delightful, of course, 1-0 Milan. Palermo reacted after that goal, though, and didn’t make life easy for us. Not that we made life easy for ourselves, either. But at least the new mentality keeps us in the game, unlike recent years.

That kind of mentality was especially useful in the 71st, when Nestorovski finally broke through Donnarumma’s virtually impenetrable goal to tie it up, 1-1. Ouch. Then Montella brought on his super sub, Poli, for Kucka. That’s when Suso started trying to take matters into his own left foot and he tried to wear Posavec down. Which seemed impossible. But as Bacca was subbed off for Lapadula, Suso kept trying to break him down. And suddenly, in the 82nd, after all of the amazing shots, Lapadula, with his back to goal, magically backheel-flicked one of Suso’s many attempts past Posavec for his debut Serie A goal. 2-1 Milan. Amazing.

Just can't hold Lapadula back

There wasn’t any coming back from that for Palermo. But with more possession and more shot attempts, they had to feel like they had been robbed. Also, I think I’ve finally figured out Montella’s scam. He talked so much about possession-based football that he got our opponents to believe that that’s what they are up against. Then they are so worried about the possession, thinking they’re beating us at our own game (Palermo had 52% possession today.) Then BAM! Just when they least expect it, we turn the screws. And then it really becomes a question of who has the better strikers and who has the better goalkeepers. Maybe Montella has his assets all summed up after all.

So we waltzed right into the Stadio Renzo Barbera, took our foot off the pedal for a lot of the match, then walked right back out with all three points. Sounds kind of like a dream. I mean, maybe it was, being at 6am here and all. But even after waking up, it seems to be real. But I’m not complaining. It’s great to watch a match with the hope of our team winning on a consistent basis. As for Palermo, sorry, guys. Another one bites the dust.

This match inspired by the music of Queen

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