AC Milan: 5 Things We Learnt from the Serie A Opener

Serie A is finally under way. AC Milan vs. Lazio marked the start of the new season and the eagerly anticipated game lived up to its billing.

Reigning champions AC Milan will have been feeling the pressure to get off to a get start in a campaign they are fancied as favourites to win. That pressure told as they slipped into a two-goal deficit in almost no time at all.

Fighting back, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano ensured that the spoils were shared at the San Siro last night with 2 goals apiece.

For a decent recap on the game, visit this link, for a look at what we learnt about AC Milan last night please begin the slideshow!

Allegri Has Strength in Depth

On Friday evening, AC Milan lined up as follows (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Gattuso, Ambrosini, Aquilani; Boateng; Cassano, Ibrahimovic.

They gave new-boy Alberto Aquilani a start, who I shall mention in more detail later, Nocerino was introduced cautiously and van Bommel—a fitness concern prior to the game—made a substitutes appearance and picked up a customary yellow card.

With Gianluca Zambrotta, Taye Taiwo, Robinho, Mathieu Flamini, Clarence Seedorf and Philippe Mexes all missing the game through injury or suspension, AC Milan were still able to field a formidable team.

They drew, which was a disappointing result when launching a title retention campaign, but pressure at home on the opening day is always tremendous and difficult to cope with. Coming back from a two-goal deficit is worth an applause.

Nevertheless, despite multiple absences, AC Milan fielded a near title winning team and that bodes well for the season.

Taye Taiwo Can't Get Fit Quick Enough

On the subject of strength in depth, AC Milan do have a weakness or two.

The comments section of this article contains worthy debate over players to replace and players to sign and there seems to be a consensus - full-backs represent an issue. But even with right-back far from secure (Zambrotta an ageing backup, Abate not even close to world-class), left-back remains the primary concern for now.

How Taye Taiwo fares at left-back this season is up in the air at this moment in time due to his injury, but one thing is certain; Luca Antonini doesn't quite cut it.

It was clear AC Milan needed to make a move in the transfer market this summer after having to use Zambrotta at left-back last season at times and Taiwo's fitness can't return quick enough - even if he doesn't set the world alight.

Both Lazio's goals last night came from good work by Stefano Mauri on AC Milan's left side.  

Antonio Cassano Looks Integral to Success

Antonio Cassano, able to play up front, wide left or supporting the striker, changed the game for AC Milan last night.

While many call for him to play in the supporting striker / advanced playmaker role, he filled in nicely up front alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and dragged AC Milan back into the game by the scruff of the neck.

A wonderful through ball from Alberto Aquilani saw Cassano break the offside trap and provide Ibrahimovic with a simple tap in following a square ball across goal.

Less than 10 minutes later, an accurate glancing near-post header from a corner taken by Aquilani brought them level, proving Cassano was more than instrumental in their come back.

If this is the impact he can have as a striker, watching him in his favoured trequartista role will be a joy to behold. 

Your Never Beaten with Zlatan in Your Team

Perhaps Serie A's best player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic showed his class and quality again last night.

You'd be mad to suggest AC Milan won't win the title this year simply because they have him. His record of league wins is as following:

Ajax: 01/02, 03/04. Juventus: 04/05, 05/06. Internazionale: 06/07, 07/08, 08/09. Barcelona: 09/10. AC Milan: 10/11

Since winning the Eredivisie with Ajax in 03/04, Ibrahimovic has gone on to win the league title with his current club every year since (although the wins with Juve were wiped).

Not only is he immensely talented, but he clearly finds a way to win. He showed his talent yet again by providing some stunning passes and incisive moments of play along with a striker's goal. 

Alberto Aquilani Looks a Great Piece of Business

Having failed to shine for Liverpool and failing to secure a permanent deal with Juventus last year, Alberto Aquilani's promising career has stagnated. Since switching Rome for Merseyside to replace Xabi Alonso, injuries and poor form have plagued him.

Given the chance to impress on a first start since arriving on loan at AC Milan last night though, he was impressive.

His debut was near perfect and had he converted the one-on-one chance he had in the opening minutes of the game it would have been. That said, his corner delivery for Cassano's goal was quality and the through-ball he played to make Ibrahimovic's oozed quality.

He's clearly not short on confidence or quality and if he can maintain his fitness, AC Milan will desperate to snap him up. The agreed fee is reportedly very low, circa £7m, and if this is the case, Aquilani just took one big step towards a new permanent home.