AC Milan vs. Juventus: Key Issues That Will Shape Serie a Game
Juventus travel to Milan on Saturday in what is already a top-of-the-table clash. The teams are joined by Roma as the only sides to have gleaned maximum points from the opening two rounds of Serie A.
While the Bianconeri have seemingly sat atop the division without interruption for the last three years, it has been a very different story for the San Siro giants. Following their Scudetto triumph in 2010-11, Milan finished second in 2011-12 and third in 2012-13, but endured a truly dire 2013-14 campaign.
Limping over the line as low as eighth, the Rossoneri fired both Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf, the two coaches who had overseen their fall from grace. Filippo Inzaghi has now been given an opportunity to show he can improve upon his predecessor’s failings, and the signs so far are encouraging.
With victories over Lazio and Parma, the former Italian international has enjoyed a buoyant start, but the visit of the reigning champions will provide a much sterner test. The coach recognises there is still much work to do, but he believes that his players are ready to take on Juventus this weekend.
"In a one-off match we can have our say and make up for the quality gap with other things," Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) this week.
Supporters of Milan will certainly hope that is true, and over the following pages is a look at the issues that will shape this encounter.
Nigel de Jong vs. Arturo Vidal
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While Arturo Vidal’s continued excellence—discussed at length here—has been well documented, Nigel de Jong’s impact at Milan has been much more understated. The Dutch midfielder joined the Rossoneri two years ago, but he endured an injury-hit first campaign on the peninsula, making just 12 starts.
De Jong became an essential member of the team upon his return last season, with stats site WhoScored.com showing he averaged 2.2 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per game. The same source also highlights his 91.4 per cent pass completion rate, connecting on an average of 58.4 attempts per outing.
Placed in the centre of the pitch, he will be tasked with shadowing Juve’s all-action Chilean star, and the winner of their battle could well decide the outcome of this meeting.
Milan’s Defensive Woes
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Inzaghi will have to resolve the defensive problems which have blighted his side's first two matches of the season.
After gifting Lazio an own goal and a penalty, the Rossoneri back line was in an even more generous mood against Parma last weekend.
While the 5-4 result provided excellent entertainment, the performance of the Milan defence was cause for much concern. Daniele Bonera will be suspended following his red card, while Alex is likely to miss the match with injury, which leaves Adil Rami and Cristian Zapata as the likely starters.
If they can jell and provide a solid performance against Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, then the home side may be able to contend.
Should they fail, however, the Bianconeri have the weapons to make them pay heavily for any mistakes.
Filippo Inzaghi vs. Massimiliano Allegri
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While the two teams are certain to provide an entertaining spectacle, fans should perhaps keep at least one eye on the sidelines throughout the match. Massimiliano Allegri was a surprise choice by Juventus, and his past with Milan is the focus of the interesting matchup between the two coaches.
An injured Inzaghi was omitted from the Rossoneri's Champions League squad back in 2011, news Allegri said the striker did not take well, per Forza Italian Football. That dislike only grew as the player retired and took a position in the youth sector, ending in an angry exchange at the club’s training ground.
Inzaghi reportedly told Allegri that he was not taking his job seriously, while Allegri retorted by accusing the younger man of trying to take his job, per Football Italia. He has now done just that, making their first head-to-head meeting one not to miss!
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