Cagliari vs. AC Milan: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie A Game
Filippo Inzaghi's Milan takes on Zdenek Zeman's Cagliari on Wednesday in a match that could really go either way for the Rossoneri.
Just take a look at some of Cagliari's scoreline's this season and you'll see why. The Sardinian outfit managed a 4-1 victory away at Inter, shocking Europe but not ardent fans of Zeman, who know that his sides produce this kind of magic or upset.
Milan is coming off a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina at home, and will need all three points when they travel to the island if they want to make a serious push into the top three.
Here are some key issues and decisions that will shape the match between Cagliari and Milan:
Getting Three Points Against a Provincial?
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Losing four points of this magnitude will come back to haunt the Rossoneri in the long run, especially in such a tight battle to get one of the top three spots that gifts a Champions League entry.
Against Cagliari, nothing else other than a win is acceptable. The Scudetto isn't won by defeating Juventus, but by acquiring the necessary points against all the mid-table teams, especially in tricky away fixtures.
Cagliari won't be an easy opponent, and the Rossoneri saw what a Zeman-led side can do when they defeated Inter 4-1 at the San Siro earlier in the season.
Stopping Zemanlandia
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Zdenek Zeman has always played with one of the more offensive minded mentalities you'll see anywhere in world football. His 4-3-3 constantly uses the full-backs as attacking wingers, and can dazzle and catch even the toughest of opponents by surprise.
This season, Zeman has led a rather modest Cagliari side with plenty of youth and inexperienced scattered throughout.
Up front, Marco Sau was reunited with the coach that launched him at Foggia in the Serie C, and has repaid the continued faith by being the top scorer for the club with four goals.
Milan's wingers but constantly drop back and be wary of the overlapping runs from the full-backs, and also the advanced movements from the midfielders through the middle.
Fernando Torres Dilemma Wages On...
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Fernando Torres wasn't given the start against Fiorentina. He only featured in the final 10 minutes, and failed to get going.
The latest reports from La Gazzetta say that El Niño will start against Cagliari, leading the front-line instead of Jeremy Menez, who was used as a false No.9 against Fiorentina.
Torres only has one goal this season, and hasn't been able to do much since scoring that fantastic header against Empoli in the 2-2 draw.
He needs time with Milan. Time to settle into his new surroundings and finally get going along with his new teammates.
Against Cagliari, he could see plenty of chances, especially on the counter as Cagliari will play a high line under Zeman.
Getting More out of the Midfield
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While Nigel De Jong has been one of Milan's best performers, the other midfielders have really been lacking in comparison.
The biggest problem is that the champagne football Filippo Inzaghi wants to play requires a playmaker or two in the center of the park.
With Riccardo Montolivo still out injured, there isn't really a truly gifted passer in the midfield who can accurately find the attackers in space with a well timed through ball.
Sulley Muntari and Andrea Poli have gotten forward successfully at times, but have given up possession a bit too easily at times, leading to dangerous counter attacks.
Coaching Battle
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The tactical battle between the inexperienced Filippo Inzaghi and the old veteran Zdenek Zeman should be an interesting one. Both coaches prefer using a 4-3-3 to play an attacking brand of football, and both enjoy sending the full-backs and midfielders up the pitch to join in on the attack.
These few factors really have all the makings to produce a genuinely entertaining match of football that will be easy on the eye.
Similar to Milan's 5-4 victory over Parma, this upcoming match against Cagliari could have some of the same sloppiness and entertainment value.
For Cagliari, Zeman will have to find a way to balance the side so he doesn't leave the two center backs exposed to Milan's counter. For Milan, absorbing the pressure and trying to pin the Sardinians in their own half will be Inzaghi's main strategy from the first minute.
