Atalanta-Milan Preview: Even God Herself Has Enemies

Tuesday night, Milan travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta, where they have not won since the Scudetto season in October of 2021. But that was like three Cardinale Year Zeros ago, when Pioli was still here and Gasperini was still leading the Nerazzurri. Now we have Allegri back at the helm, and La Dea has a new leading man in Ivan Jurić. That does not change the animosity between our two sides, though, especially after the catastrophic Christmas Massacre of 2019. Even God herself has enemies.

De Ketelaere, Pašalić, and Daniel Maldini are all former Diavoli pretending to be Goddesses now.

Milan 2, Pisa 2: The Plight of Sisyphus

In Greek Mythology, Sisyphus is eternally condemned to pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down every time he reached the top, so he would have to start all over again. Allegri seems to have been similarly condemned. He has managed to struggle and get this team to the top of the league, only to be knocked down by the very bottom. Milan nearly lost this one, but were able to manage a 2-2 draw with 20th place Pisa thanks to a stoppage time goal. Much like the inexplicable loss to newly promoted Cremonese, Milan are caught in Allegri's struggle, the plight of Sisyphus.

A winning manager destined to struggle against the newly promoted sides.

Milan-Pisa Preview: Return of Gilardino

What could be better than facing the bottom of the table newly promoted side on a Friday night? Especially with so many players out injured? After the painful loss vs. newly promoted Cremonese in August, even Allegri clearly has his concerns. However, this one is welcoming back an old friend, Alberto Gilardino. And the Pisa fans just made it even easier for us by earning themselves a three match travel ban, giving us the chance to have a sold out all-Milan San Siro, complete with flags and banners again. So, maybe this one won't be so bad. After all, if we can avoid the danger of a team with nothing to lose, we could go into this weekend with a four point advantage at the top of the table. Kinda seems like the perfect way to celebrate the return of Gilardino.

Returning to the San Siro with a nothing to lose.

Milan 2, Fiorentina 1: Raising the Question

Sunday's match raised more questions than it answered. What happens when you have more outfield players injured in the stands than you have healthy outfield players available on the bench? Why is Allegri insistent upon forcing Leão to play as a lone striker? Why must Milan suffer so much against a team that is winless in Serie A this season, even with such a superior roster? I mean, Milan pulled off the 2-1 win over Fiorentina. But some have questions about the validity of the second goal, the one that also put Milan top of the table. Was the foul on Gimenez a clear and obvious error for the VAR team to point out to Marinelli? Should players be punished when they "enhance" their reactions to minimal contact? Should referees be better about reviewing incidents when players do not react at all? And why can the AIA not just give a straight answer? The result may say that Milan took all three points, but it really just created more controversy and saw everyone raising the question.

Was it a penalty? Should players react? Are these Allegri's starting attackers? Just raising the question.

Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Pioli's Birthday Bash

On Monday, Stefano Pioli turns 60. The night before, he will manage his 500th Serie A match as he returns to the San Siro and the handful of players that remain from the team he won the Scudetto with, the one he got tattooed on his arm. In honor of his return, Milan have five players definitely out injured, and one still doubtful as of this writing. And, to make extra special, Milan's Curva Sud will be able to have their flags and banners again at San Siro for the first time in nearly a year, and will be singing in full voice as well. Hopefully, they'll make a banner or sing one more round of "Pioli is on Fire" for the man who managed Milan for nearly five years, even if he went back to his old team now. Hopefully, it will be one to remember for Pioli's Birthday Bash.

How Pioli would probably much rather have celebrated his 60th birthday.

Juventus 0, Milan 0: Remorse

Following a very tense match, Milan left Turin with just one point and plenty of remorse after their 0-0 draw with Juventus. While Juve did well to match Milan's intensity, Milan did not maximize their chances, and it was two points dropped, not a point gained. With a pitch that seemed very slippery, players from both sides having slipped during the match, it just made things that much more difficult. And, whenever there is a missed penalty, of course, there is always an extra helping of regrets stirred in with the disappointment. There was no need for individual criticism, however, everyone knew they could have done more, could have done better. The entire team will look back at this one with remorse.

A strong performance, yet not enough, there will be remorse.

Juventus-Milan Preview: Returning to the Scene of the Crime

Playing for Juventus is a crime. That's why they wear the black and white striped prison shirts. And we have players in our squad who are past criminals. Not only that, but Allegri committed his biggest crimes at Juventus as well. Going to J Stadium, this will be a homecoming for players like Rabiot and De Winter, but it will also be a "what might have been" for current criminals and former Milan players like Kalulu and Locatelli. But Allegri won five Scudetti and six  other trophies with Juventus after his singular Scudetto and Supercoppa at Milan. And he left Juve ugly, too. So emotions will be high for all of these players, but especially for Allegri, as they are returning to the scene of the crime.

Not sure if Juve are prepared for the way Pulisic has been playing.