AC Milan Find Confidence in Key 2-0 Win over Cesena

In a rare outcome, AC Milan kept the lead and the clean sheet against Cesena on Sunday. It is cause for celebration after a season full of false starts and lost points.

On the surface, a 2-0 win over a 19th-placed opponent does not look like much. But the manner of Milan’s victory should give some confidence to a team lacking so much of it.

Goals from midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura and forward Giampaolo Pazzini sealed the three points—only the second time in nine Serie A matches that the Rossoneri left with the full haul.

With that said, every Milan player on the field—including defender Daniele Bonera—put in a solid shift. Not one area of the pitch was lacking.

Even the unfamiliar back four of Luca Antonelli, Adil Rami, Salvatore Bocchetti and Bonera looked rather comfortable. They made timely blocks and challenges, and were tidy on the counterattack, clearing balls without hesitation.

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The front three benefitted from the new 4-3-1-2 formation, particularly Bonaventura and Jeremy Menez, who connected on the first goal. The two were flying around the field, interchanging and probing—Menez with his speed and Bonaventura with a game-high four shots. 

The biggest improvement came in midfield, however, and the presence of Nigel de Jong was the obvious factor.

De Jong registered the most tackles of all the players and intercepted the ball at crucial times. He was calm and timely. After missing several games through injury, the 30-year-old has brought back some serenity to an often schizophrenic midfield.

With everything coming together, Milan were able to maintain their lead, a rare feat in itself.

The Rossoneri have lost 16 points from winning positions this season and have a tendency of dropping those points against the provincial sides.

This game was a reversal of that trend and proof that they can hold their own at home, take command of the game and play it their way.

Midfielder Andrea Poli actually scored three minutes in. It was offside only because forward Mattia Destro had blocked the goalkeeper’s line of vision, but it was an indication that Milan had come to play.

The biggest knock against the Rossoneri has been their utter failure to impose themselves on teams below them in the standings. After losing that early goal to an offside ruling, they risked dropping back into the same old habit. Milan started to give Cesena some space.

They bounced back, though.

Menez was the trickiest player on the field. He frequently beat his man, leaving several opponents in the rear view. His assist for the first goal was crucial, but it was his running that kept Cesena’s defenders on alert throughout the game.

All these moving parts were functioning. That’s what happens when Milan play like a team. They don’t put on enough of these performances, which is the reason why they are so far out of a Champions League spot. They currently sit eighth in the table.

Milan have two more manageable games against Hellas Verona and Chievo. Consecutive wins could propel them into the European race, and suddenly things would not look so bad.