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. |
The first half slowly built in intensity until the pressure had to be released and things started to happen. Santi Gimenez had a shot that was easily grabbed by Di Gregorio. In the 17th minute, Fofana went down in the box, but a VAR review determined there was not enough contact for a penalty. In the 22nd minute, Pulisic made a great run, but got no help, then shortly thereafter slipped and fell in the box.
 |
| Despite a great performance, Santi Gimenez was unable to be the difference maker. |
At the other end, Locatelli, against his former club, had a laughable bicycle kick attempt. In the 25th minute, there was a curious moment when Jonathan David and Maignan collided. Technically, Jonathan David impeded Maignan, and Rabiot had come flying across in an attempt to get him out of the way, too. But at the same time, Maignan barreled into him with abandon, although it could be argued that he had forward momentum and was just doing his job. No foul was called either way, but it was dangerous. Unlike Kalulu's shot a minute later, who tried to catch his old friend Maignan off his line, but his shot went woefully wide.
Rabiot had a shot from distance that went wide at the other end, but only just barely. Then Santi Gimenez made a great run and took a shot that was saved. At the other end, Jonathan David also slipped in the box, the pitch really was not acceptable. And for some unknown reason that did not seem to be shown on camera, Gatti's nose was bloodied, and he had to come off and change his shirt. A couple of minutes before the halftime whistle, Santi Gimenez's glancing header from a Pavlović cross went just barely wide. So close. Oh yeah, and Fofana earned a yellow card for fouling Locatelli.
 |
| A very promising performance from Bartesaghi in Estupiñan's absence. |
Gabbia gave rightfully gave credit to Bartesaghi after the match, who had the difficult task of trying to keep Francisco Conceição in check, as Estupiñan was suspended from the last match. And honestly, that may have been providence, because I think Bartesaghi is stronger defensively, even if he does not get forward in attack as much or have the experience of the Ecuadorian. That was evident by his great block on Conceição in the 47th. Then came Maignan's time to shine.
Here in America, we have the most pathetic excuses for commentators. The lead soccer analyst and commentator for CBS Sports, who was doing the color commentary for this match, does not even know enough about goalkeeping to recognize or describe an excellent save. When Maignan made his breathtaking point blank save on Gatti in the 48th minute, which literally earned him Player of the Match from Serie A and MVP from the Milan fans, the CBS Commentator was describing it: "Maignan just made himself as wide as possible" and "closed his eyes and prayed" (neither of which happened, actually) and then on the replay, "Maignan just trying to make himself as big as possible." This is like something that maybe an American U8 coach might say about a save they saw a child make, that is the extent of his knowledge about goalkeeping. And he is literally their lead analyst and commentator. (And this is only one tiny example of his incompetence.)
 |
| Brilliant save, moronic American commentators. |
If only CBS Sports would just use the IMG World Feed, which they actually do use for the matches when the embarrassing Americans aren't spouting their nonsense, because the World Feed's English speaking commentary is unparalleled. Their lead Serie A commentator was also doing the commentary for this match, and this is how he immediately described what actually happened: "What a save from Maignan!" Then, on the replay, "How good was that save from Mike Maignan?!" Because he has the expertise to recognize that Maignan is a world class goalkeeper with incredible reflexes, who positioned his body well to make that save. And he also knows how to properly pronounce "Maignan," as well as all the other players' names. Which should be a baseline requirement for someone to have a job as a commentator, really (even if he and the other World Feed commentators exceed the mark every time.)
Then came the heartbreak moment. Lloyd Kelly fouled Santi Gimenez in the box, and Milan were amazingly awarded a penalty. Christian Pulisic, of course, stepped up to take it, as he should. And for the first time ever in his senior career, he completely skied the ball over the bar. Last season, he infamously had his first penalty saved vs. Torino, but this was far more painful. Particularly when it would have been the game-deciding goal had he scored it. Certainly, I don't blame him, no one is perfect, but you could see how angry he was with himself as he came right back with a dangerous shot that forced a save from Di Gregorio. After Milan Futuro's bad luck with the referee and a penalty earlier, it was just not a good day for Milan and penalties.
 |
| Odogu and others tried to console Pulisic after his unfortunate penalty miss. |
Santi Gimenez also had another shot saved shortly thereafter, then Fofana took a shot from distance a few minutes after that which Di Gregorio had to grab as well. Bartesaghi finally earned a yellow card for a foul on the slippery Francisco Conceição in the 59th minute, and Saelemaekers took a shot that went very wide before Allegri began making substitutions.
In the 63rd minute, Leão replaced Santi Gimenez, who had been great in this match, and also Loftus-Cheek replaced Fofana. Just a few minutes later, Leão took an incredible shot from just past the halfway line, trying to catch Di Gregorio off guard, that actually almost made it in the net. He had another shot just wide just before Nkunku replaced Pulisic, whom Allegri gave a hug to as he came off, because he, too, could see how angry the American was at himself for that penalty miss.
 |
| Rabiot, unpopular on his return to J Stadium, chased by a former Milan defender and fellow Frenchman. |
Leão also had Rugani trying to tackle him from the front and Gatti grabbing him from behind, sandwiched in a bad foul, earning the Juve number 4 a yellow card. And Gatti didn't really learn, fouling him again from behind a few minutes later, but Guida showed him mercy by not giving him a second card. Leão closed out the match with a final shot in the 90th minute that forced Di Gregorio into one of his best saves of the match. But it was regrettably not enough.
And yet, the floodgates of the toxic Italian media opened after the match. Leão's been out injured most of the season, has not even played a full 90 minutes the entire season, and they are acting like he is a complete failure for actually being incredibly dangerous for Juventus when he came on. But it does not matter what Leão does, it will never be enough for so many. He is already "on trial." As one journalist pointed out, "It's his fate, a fate that condemns him to be compared by the short-sighted–or those in bad faith–to Cassano or Balotelli, with whom he truly has nothing in common in terms of character, much less behavior."
 |
| As always, all eyes are on Leão. |
Nonetheless, at the final whistle, the match was scoreless. Either by sins of omission or sins of commission, Milan had fallen short, despite looking solid against a solid Juventus team playing at home. Not a loss, and still a point, but at any given point in the match, players could look back with regrets, wondering "what if?" And they had to carry those questions into the international break before having a chance to redeem themselves, too. It was definitely an evening for which they will be filled with remorse.
Milan Futuro Suffer Their First Loss with an Illegitimate Penalty
 |
| A demoralizing loss that should have at least been a point. |
Playing away to Virtus Ciserano Bergamo, the match was never going to be easy. But it is one thing when your opponent wins fair and square. It is another thing entirely when they win because of a goal that should not have been awarded. So it was a bitter 1-0 loss to Virtus Ciserano Bergamo for Oddo's Futuro. The match was one of few chances, and Branca's free kick near the end of the first half was the closest Milan Futuro came to scoring, just grazing the post. Torriani, on the other hand was forced into action a few times to keep the home side off the score sheet.
 |
| You don't need VAR to see that encroachment, ref. |
That included the penalty taken in the 75th minute, which he saved, but number 11 Viscardi came in too quickly and scored on the rebound. However, he was seen very, very visibly encroaching on the area before Lucenti took the penalty, so the goal should not have been awarded. But this is Serie D. Had our incredibly inept management lifted a finger to keep Futuro in Serie C this season, Oddo would have had a chance to challenge the goal with an experimental VAR system known as Football Video Support (FVS) that is being tested in that division this year. But they didn't, it wasn't, so he couldn't, and the goal unfortunately not only stood, but also was the deciding factor, giving Ciserano all three points. The full match can be viewed here, with brief highlights here. That had to be particularly demoralizing for such a young squad to lose their first match this season like that, but they will have a chance to bounce back at home vs. Caldiero Terme in their next match.
Milan Primavera Score Late for a 2-2 Draw at Home with Monza
 |
| La Mantia's first goal of the season opened the scoring for Milan Primavera. |
Slowly but surely, the Primavera are starting to show up in home matches. In this one, they actually scored first, but then conceded two, leaving it late for Plazzotta's equalizer. The 2-2 draw with Monza Primavera was actually not the worst result, as they at least grabbed a point at home once again. The first half saw Milan Primavera with a few chances, but it ended 0-0.
 |
| Plazzotta gave a man of the match performance, assisting the first goal and scoring the second. |
La Mantia opened up the second half with his first goal of the season to give Milan the lead, 1-0. Unfortunately, though, they conceded an equalizer a few minutes later, and despite creating some dangerous chances again, Monza Primavera went ahead with a scrappy goal in the 73rd. But after another rally of dangerous shots, finally, in the 89th minute, Plazzotta slotted home the equalizer to ensure the point for Renna's Milan Primavera. Brief highlights can be found here. Milan Primavera currently sit 9th in their table, and are away to Atalanta Primavera next.
Reviewed by Elaine
on
Rating:
