Didn't we just play a match? Why yes, yes we did. The matches are coming at us so quickly, it's hard to even remember to breathe in between (take a deep breath, let it out–slowly.) And Milan were missing seven players to injury on Sunday, now we have eight players out injured (breathe in, breathe out.) Somehow, magically, Amorim is keeping this team in the running, as Milan are in fourth place, one of four teams who are still unbeaten in Serie A after the first eight matches (picture a calm, soothing place.) But hosting Bologna will be our second of three matches in seven days, our sixth match in less than three weeks (feel your body relaxing beginning with your head and washing over your body.) Plus, we have the Derby on Saturday (just try to breathe, you're having a panic attack.) With such an intense schedule and our players dropping injured like flies, it's enough to give anyone A-N-X-I-E-T-Y.
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| Don't worry, be happy. |
While there has been some bad blood with Bologna in recent years, including losing the Coppa Italia to them in 2024-25, last year, this fixture was won by Modrić and his first Milan goal. This year, Bologna travel to the San Siro in 13th place on the table, with only two wins, two draws, and four losses. Their most recent match, though, was a 2-0 win away to Cagliari on Saturday. For that match, Palladino lined up a 3-4-3 with: Skorupski; Darmian, Theate, Casale; Zortea, Ferguson, former Milan Champions League Star and Milan youth player Pobega, Miranda; Bernardeschi, Odgaard, and Cambiaghi. Palladino will be missing Orsolino, Piccoli, and Holm to long term injuries.
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| Still surreal to see Pobega in that shirt, he's one of the good guys. |
Amorim has an injury nightmare on his hands, and Halloween is not even until Saturday (breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts; repeat.) The players unavailable for this match due to injury are: Saelemaekers, Gabbia, Pietro Terracciano, Gila, Rabiot, Moreira, Chukwueze, and the newly injured Loftus-Cheek, who had to be subbed off on Sunday a little over 15 minutes after subbing on (splash cold water on your face.) I don't even know where they are stacking all the bodies at Milan Lab.
There are also reports that he will rest players like Modrić, Pulisic, and Pavlović (hold a smooth stone in your hand; notice how much it weighs, notice how smooth it is... screw it. Just throw it at something, you'll feel much better!) There is also talk that he may start Camarda ahead of Ramos to allow the Portuguese striker to complete his recovery from last week's calf issue. He is likely to call up players from Milan Futuro again, despite the fact that they will be playing vs. Pavonese in a match that overlaps the first team's by one hour. So good luck to Navarro's team as well.
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| Is he ready to be our leading man? |
Honestly, Amorim deserves a hero's medal for how he has managed this crisis thus far, and particularly because he is still undefeated in the league after eight matches, which has only been done three times in the last 20 campaigns, according to Opta Paolo. But, like all good things, that winning streak will eventually have to come to an end. And Bologna definitely enjoy stealing things from us. Plus, Amorim is not one of those managers to talk endlessly about "focusing on one match at a time." You know he's got the Derby on his mind as well. That means we could easily suffer in this midweek matchup. It's enough to give you A-N-X-I-E-T-Y.
Pavonese vs. Milan Futuro
Wednesday, October 28 • 17:30 CET (12:30pm EDT)*
Wednesday, October 28 • 18:30 CET (1:30pm EDT)*
Reviewed by Elaine
on
Rating:
