Europa League Disappointment and Squad Rotation
AC Milan’s Europa League journey commenced with a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Benfica, a result that followed two consecutive draws in Serie A. The match saw significant squad rotation by coach Ruben Amorim, who gave several players their first starts of the season. New signing Omari Hutchinson, Filippo Terracciano, and Alphadjo Cisse were all in the starting XI, with Davide Bartesaghi also returning from injury [1]. Notably, Diego Moreira, despite scoring two goals in the previous league match, was dropped from the starting lineup [2]. Gonçalo Ramos, Milan’s most expensive summer signing, also started, though he has only scored one goal in four Serie A appearances so far [3]. Christian Pulisic, who has a history of injuries, played only 45 minutes, coming on as a substitute at the start of the second half [2]. The heavy rotation and the subsequent loss have put Amorim’s tactical decisions under scrutiny, especially given Benfica’s strong form, having won seven consecutive matches across all competitions [4].
Tactical Adaptations and Player Performances
Ruben Amorim has expressed his openness to adapting his tactics for AC Milan, emphasizing the need for a strong squad capable of rotation to compete in multiple competitions [2]. He dismissed the idea of setting minimum targets, stating that Milan must always aim to win [5]. The coach highlighted first-half performance issues and a lack of creativity near the opponent’s box in the Benfica loss [2]. In recent Serie A matches, AC Milan has shown a tendency to score goals in short bursts during the second half; all but one of their goals in the first five games were scored within a five-minute spell from the 64th to the 69th minute [6]. Luka Modrić, an important figure in the squad, was an unused substitute against Benfica and was not a starter in the recent match against Lazio, where he played the full 90 minutes for the first time [2]. Yunus Musah has become a starter, and Diego Moreira’s performance has been highlighted as a positive turnaround [5].
Recent Form and Upcoming Challenges
AC Milan’s recent form has been mixed, with two wins and two draws in their first four Serie A matches, placing them sixth in the league table with 8 points. Their goal difference stands at 7 goals scored and 4 conceded. Before the Benfica defeat, they had drawn 2-2 with Lazio and 1-1 with Juventus FC in Serie A. The draw against Lazio saw them come back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half [5]. The team’s struggles to score in the first half and their reliance on second-half surges are becoming a pattern. The Europa League match against Benfica was scheduled on a Wednesday due to fixture congestion, highlighting the demanding schedule AC Milan faces [7]. As they navigate both domestic and European competitions, the ability of Ruben Amorim to manage squad rotation and maintain tactical consistency will be crucial.
What it means
AC Milan currently sits in 6th place in Serie A with 8 points from four games, having won two and drawn two, scoring 7 goals and conceding 4. Their recent form shows two consecutive draws in the league, indicating a slight dip after two initial wins. The 2-2 draw against Lazio, where they came back from a 2-0 deficit, suggests resilience but also defensive vulnerabilities. The upcoming Serie A fixture against Lecce on September 20th will be a critical opportunity for Milan to regain momentum and improve their league standing, especially after the Europa League setback. The site’s forecast for this match will be available 24 hours before kick-off, providing further insight into their expected performance.
Sources
- Football Italia: Bartesaghi: ‘Milan have important players, they are ready against Benfica’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Amorim: ‘Milan not in the game during first half, I’m ready to adapt’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Goncalo Ramos: ‘I don’t feel pressure of being most expensive Milan player’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Europa League Liveblog: Milan vs. Benfica football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Amorim: ‘No minimum targets, Milan have to win, can’t rely on just 14 players’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Saelemaekers: ‘Milan have no excuse’ for 2-0 defeat to Benfica football-italia.net ↩
- BBC Sport: Why are there Europa League matches on Wednesday? bbc.co.uk ↩
