Roma-Milan Preview: A Fox in Wolf's Clothing

It is no secret that Gasperini's Atalanta gave Milan some brutal defeats in recent years. But the question always was, what would he do at a bigger club? Well, so far, this season, he has done quite well, despite that club being Roma, who never win anything anyway. Coming into this match just four points behind Milan on the table and sitting in fourth place, Gasperini made it no secret this week that he was focused on this match even before their Europa League match on Thursday. While Milan did manage to defeat Roma 1-0 in November, Allegri knows this will be a very tough match. Gasperini may be cunning like a fox, but this time, he is a fox in wolf's clothing.

The team will have to be united and to beware of the fox amongst the wolves.

Milan 1, Lecce 0: Füll-proof

Allegri may have finally found a cure for the small team syndrome Milan have been dealing with this season. And that cure was a giant, muscle-bound German striker who was willing to play with a broken toe, even after being robbed of €500,000 in valuables only a few days before. While I certainly prepared for the worst against a relegation-threatened side, and most of the match was pretty dreadful football, Lecce were missing players to injury and were unable to score. So, Milan finally got a 1-0 win over Lecce, not dropping points to a team in danger of relegation. And even though plenty of players put effort in, it was "Lücke," ironically the one who filled in our gap, who made the difference. You could say that the plan was Füll-proof.

A Füll-proof way to earn three points.

Milan-Lecce Preview: Hostage Situation

Sunday night, Milan host the currently 17th placed Lecce at the San Siro. And if you've been paying attention at all this season, that means we will struggle and drop points. Because that is how Allegri rolls. He will make too many changes, especially since he does not always sub well during the matches and we have had this crazy run of playing so many matches so close together. It's like we are being held hostage. And Lecce will obviously play their best game of the season against us, even if we have already faced them twice and won both matches. But this one has another element, as the two teams are negotiating over Camarda, who has a shoulder injury. Milan claim it is serious and could require surgery to heal properly, while Lecce officially claim he only needs rest. Milan have asked to end his loan early, while Lecce want to keep him. So this is not just a football match, but a hostage situation.

Will Camarda's future be held hostage by people more interested in money than his development?

Como 1, Milan 3: Our French Heroes

This match began as dreadful as the last two, if not worse. Como were clearly playing much better than Milan, much more possession, and creating more chances. Or, as Fabregas pointed out, Como "made 700 passes to their 200." But, our Frenchman Nkunku converted his penalty to equalize at the half, Maignan made superhero level saves, and their compatriot, Rabiot, scored two brilliant second half goals. So Milan defeated Como 1-3 at their lakeside home, thanks largely to three of our French players, our French heroes.

Our two biggest heroes of the night.

Como-Milan Preview: Making up for Lost Time

Thursday night, Como host Milan in a match that was meant to be played in December, but Milan were too busy seeking riches in Saudi Arabia. Not only does the Lega Serie A have zero morals when it comes to who hosts their Supercoppa, but they are really, really bad at scheduling. And for Milan, despite the prize money they were given for the purpose of the Saudi government's sportswashing of their human rights violations, this match comes at a more difficult time than originally scheduled in terms of both injuries and mentality. Still, the match must go on, so both teams will be making up for lost time.

Time to rally the team and make up for lost time... and points.

Fiorentina 1, Milan 1: Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

When they say that Milan cannot catch a break, the Lega Serie A took that very literally. They scheduled this match less than 72 hours after our Genoa match on Thursday night. UEFA is working to make that against UEFA rules for the health and safety of players, but Serie A does not care about their players. I don't know that more time would have made a difference in the result, as Allegri truly has a problem with the lower table teams this season. To be able to finish with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Fiorentina thanks to a late goal was likely in the cards already, but the toll that playing matches so frequently takes on our players is another issue. And our recurring injuries show that. But it's football, and we are Diavoli. There ain't no rest for the wicked.

Dropping points along with too many matches may be taking its toll on the players.

Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Rock Bottom

If you feel like Milan just played, you are right. The Lega Serie A, also known as the Marotta League, scheduled Milan's games less than 72 hours apart (but "according to the rules it's possible.") And if one lower table team was not enough for you this week, Sunday evening, we play the team just below Genoa, who we barely managed a draw with on Thursday. That's right, Fiorentina, one of the Seven Sisters of Serie A is actually having a much worse year than Milan had last year. Given the controversy the media whipped up around our last meeting with Pioli's Fiorentina in October, and the way Fiorentina seem to suddenly be rising from the dead, yet Allegri plans to rest our best players, this one could easily be Milan's rock bottom.

Things could get better, or they could get much worse...

Milan 1, Genoa 1: Lower Table Mentality

Milan have dropped all their points this season to newly promoted or lower table sides. (Okay, Juve are fourth and Atalanta are seventh, but with a little  historical context, you can understand the mischievous implication of them being lower table sides.) Sure, I warned about the hazard this match presented in the preview. Genoa fall well within the Allegri Danger Zone™, so it really should not have been a shock to drop points yet again to a lower table team. It is almost as if the team lowers their mentality for these matches, and the opposing teams raise their mentality to compete with a top team. And only a stoppage time goal from a quality player like Leão saved us from complete humiliation, giving us the 1-1 draw with Genoa. Other than that, it was 90 minutes of lower table mentality.

Even our best players did not have enough to push past the 17th place team.

Milan-Genoa Preview: Hazard

Thursday night, Milan will be hosting Genoa at the San Siro for the final match of Round 19. Thanks to some help from the referees Napoli (whomever you believe,) Milan will maintain their second place spot on the table, but a win will keep us within one point of first place. However, Genoa sit in the precarious 17th place, also known as the Allegri Danger Zone™. As a team in the lower half of the table, especially so close to the relegation zone, they pose a very real threat for Milan to drop points. Even Allegri spoke in his press conference of Genoa's performances since De Rossi was hired as their manager. Despite this being a formality on paper, that makes this match a potential hazard.

If you've seen De Rossi's tattoo, you'll know we have been warned.

Cagliari 0, Milan 1: Checkmate

This match was not going to be easy. Allegri knew that, and anyone paying attention knew that. In addition to the tensions between the two clubs and the fans, the away match to Cagliari has never been easy. And Pisacane has shown that he is a young coach to be watched. While I have seen many fans describe this match as "boring," for me, it was more like watching a chess match between the two managers, both having played and managed for Cagliari. One young, one more experienced. And this was a match that Milan was not necessarily favored to win, either. But for once, Allegri read the game and subbed like a chess master, leading Milan to the 1-0 win over Cagliari. Checkmate.

Allegri played this one like a master.

Cagliari-Milan Preview: Facing the Music

Playing away to Cagliari is never easy. Last season, immediately following what was arguably Fonseca's best win, Cagliari met Milan goal for goal in a tense 3-3 draw. Even when Conceição met them at San Siro immediately after winning the Supercoppa, Cagliari managed to earn the 1-1 draw. However, this time, Cagliari have a serious point to prove after Cardinale insulted their club in an interview back in October. And for Allegri, he is returning to the club that launched his Serie A career, where he won the won his first Panchina d'Oro (Golden Bench) award for best Serie A manager for the 2008-09 season, as voted by his peers. Cagliari will be facing some angry Milan fans after violating the regulations and not giving them enough tickets while also charging them double what the home fans are paying. Needless to say, emotions will be running high as everyone is facing the music.

Gabbia returns to lend a hand, but only starting from the bench.