AC MILAN v SPEZIA: KEYS TO THE MATCH

It is the first in November in Serie A and the second home game in a row- after the Champions League match - in a short and fast month. The Spezia challenge must be passed, but first they need to prepare in detail having spent a lot of energy on the European qualification. The match at San Siro has be a chance to return to winning ways, all the more so in a weekend where all the other big names fighting for the top spot face each other. It is imperative not to underestimate the challenge and the opponent, a necessary element in order to have the right approach and demonstrate their excellence on the pitch. AC Milan vs Spezia, the keys to the match:

DESIRE FOR REDEMPTION
AC Milan must redeem the set back in Turin. In a fixture not to be missed, motivation will have to make the difference as the first ingredient to take the lead. Pioli's team will need anger and hunger: to approach it in the best way possible, to command the score, to score goals; it is far too important to score first and then get driven on by San Siro. As a result, an already struggling opponent might have even less confidence and courage in the hope of getting some points. The task for the Diavolo is to unleash their best football. But the Ligurians will also want revenge, they the need to recover from a difficult period and a negative season n general that sees them in the relegation zone. Spezia at San Siro has already gone badly in a mocking and polemic evening and they will have to try the trick again.

STRIKERS COMPARED
AC Milan and Spezia rely a good deal on their striker. Their solutions and methods are quite similar: from the goalkeeper's throw to the cross, often vertically and thanks to the support on the wings. If, however, for the Bianconeri the pass to Nzola - the most in-form in his team - is a more predictable offensive weapon, the Rossoneri prefer to involve Giroud or Origi in a less obvious way. Experts in the department, endowed with great physicality, they will have an essential role in possession: finishing but also holding it up for the runs of their teammates. The key work of the forwards alongside them must therefore be stressed, because their offensive performance will depend to a large extent on the performance and service of the breakaway and fantasy players: Leão and Verde, in particular.

DEFENSIVE FOCUS AND CLARITY
Gotti's Spezia showed that there is work to be done in the build-up phase, but also that they know how to contain with the reactivity and physicality of the personnel at their disposal. The Bianconeri don't tend to use set plays as the main means of creating goal-scoring opportunities but prefer to play on the restart. The Ligurians are a side that are very adept at taking advantage of their opponents' lapses in concentration in order to launch the quick counter of their forwards. AC Milan, who have only managed three clean sheets so far, are no stranger to defensive carelessness, especially in the moments of greatest passivity and control: the centre-backs, with the support of the midfielders, will have to maintain high concentration with the aim of keeping the goal spotless.

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