AC Milan: 5 October Targets the Rossoneri Simply Must Meet

October looks set to be a crucial month for AC Milan. Writing this on the eve of a three-point Champions League haul, I can safely say that the Rossoneri have put themselves back in control of their own futures.

Welcoming players back from injury in a steady fashion and picking up a couple of wins with some clean sheets will go a long way in helping their season finally get up and running.

This article contains five objectives that, if met, would see AC Milan climbing swiftly toward the top of the Serie A league table where they belong and be a threat this season.

The fixture list for October is by no means easy, but the calibre of the squad at the San Siro means these objectives are well and truly realistic.

Please read on! I hope you enjoy the slideshow.

Avoid Defeat to Juventus

It may seem like an unambitious target to kick off with, but it really is imperative that AC Milan avoid defeat at the Juventus Stadium this weekend. The Old Lady are unbeaten so far and sit top of Serie A. They have started well and possess a feel-good factor with a new stadium.

Antonio Conte is a talented young manager who has used the summer transfer market well to build a talented squad. The midfield additions of former Rossoneri legend Andrea Pirlo and Bayer Leverkusen star Arturo Vidal have given them extra bite in the centre of the park. They certainly look like title contenders.

If AC Milan can avoid defeat in this game, it will be seen as a good result. After a sticky opening period, holding Juventus away from home will be another stepping stone in their rise to form.

Achieve a Minimum of 2 Clean Sheets

AC Milan's pride-and-joy defence simply hasn't been up to it so far this season. 

Two early goals conceded against Lazio and three against Napoli show there are some uncharacteristic leaks in the formidable pairing of Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta. To be truthful though, it is AC Milan's full-back situation which is the most uncertain.

Gianluca Zambrotta and Luca Antonini remain a little suspect, and Taye Taiwo is only just returning to fitness and trying to thrash out the errors to regain some form. You do get the impression with Taiwo at his best and Ignazio Abate on the right that AC Milan's defence will look significantly more solid.

Achieving some clean sheets in October is imperative in making AC Milan look formidable once more.

Win the Home Games with Convincing Score Lines

Beating Cesena at home 1-0 got AC Milan up and running but it was nothing more than a start.

Lowly Cesena, who have yet to acquire a point this season, would have been billed an easy win had AC Milan not hit poor form and endured such horrific injury luck.

The important thing is, AC Milan won. But they must use this as a spring board and regain their confidence. They have the talent and belief to win games and they must put away their opponents at the San Siro during October with considerable ease.

They don't have the easiest home games in the world, but they are certainly winnable by a two-goal margin. Palermo and Parma are very beatable teams this season. An October clean sheet at home is direly needed too.

Avoid Further Crippling Injuries

Now this one is not in AC Milan's control, but they'd be hard pressed to discover the same bad luck they've had so far rolling into the next month.

At one point last week nine first-team players were out injured. For the Plzen game, AC Milan had Simone Ganz and Mattia De Sciglio on the bench but were able to welcome back Zlatan Ibrahimovic at least.

When captain Massimo Ambrosini and midfield destroyer Gennaro Gattuso return from injury too, the Rossoneri will be in much better shape to take October by the scruff of the neck and make it theirs to shine.

Most importantly, other teams will fear them again. To some extent that is happening again already since Ibrahimovic has made a goal-scoring return in the Champions League.

Crush BATE Borisov

AC Milan picked up 3 points against Viktoria Plzen this week with a 2-0 win. That's a clean sheet and perhaps most critically, a goal for Antonio Cassano. With Pato and Robinho still out, Cassano will partner Ibrahimovic up front moving into October and confidence in front of goal will be crucial.

They need to really crush BATE Borisov though. They're no slouches, they really do have some decent players, but Barcelona just put five past them and AC Milan need to match that. A draw at the Nou Camp for Allegri's men was a great result but it's quite feasible the same could happen at the San Siro.

Goal difference is key in topping this group and AC Milan could make life a little easier for themselves but crushing the Belarusian reigning Champions.

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@stighefootball