AC MILAN v ROMA: THE DEBRIEFING

Adli, Giroud and Hernández on the scoresheet for a victory worth more than just three points. AC Milan v Roma was the big showdown on matchday 20 in Serie A, and the Rossoneri deservedly ran out 3-1 winners. At San Siro, three goals by three Frenchmen decided an intense encounter where, all in all, Coach Pioli’s men played well, despite the fact that the Giallorossi got back into it from the penalty spot. All good things come in threes, and, through our Debriefing, we look at three factors that proved key against the team from the capital.

SET-PIECES
Eight headed goals in Serie A, strong in aerial duels and on set-pieces: on the eve of the game, the Rossoneri were fully aware of Roma’s characteristics and the threat they tend to pose from dead ball situations. However, AC Milan effectively neutralised this danger and, at the other end, created problems for their opponents. At the start of the second half, Gabbia got on the end of a Theo free-kick but headed wide. Then, in the 56th minute, a corner-kick routine led to the team’s second: Adli and Leão combined to pick out Kjær, who knocked the ball down for Giroud to nod home from close range. In this match, set-pieces turned out to be a pleasant surprise.   

UPPER HAND IN MIDFIELD
AC Milan’s 4-2-3-1 created real problems for Roma, who lined up with five in midfield and were happy to sit deep. However, Adli, Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek were often able to gain the upper hand in midfield, finding different ways to disrupt the compact nature of the visitors. Continuous movements, quick combinations, as well as positional interchanges with forward runs: this was the right formula to surprise Paredes, Cristante and Bove in the centre of the park, as proven by the game’s opening goal: Reijnders found Adli in space in the final third, and the Frenchman fired home with his left foot to score his first AC Milan goal. The Rossoneri controlled possession and the tempo for long periods, while the quality of the team’s midfielders was also decisive in slowing down Roma’s momentum after they’d made it 2-1.

HOLDING FIRM AND PUTTING THE GAME TO BED
The Rossoneri needed to hold firm, and they did just that. After pulling one back, the visitors started to enjoy their best spell of the match, but AC Milan responded with pride, held them at bay and killed off the game in the closing stages. Up until Roma’s goal, Pioli’s men had dealt with their opponents well, with Lukaku very rarely involved in the match. The penalty incident changed things, allowing Roma to get back into it. The Giallorossi were encouraged by their goal against a Rossoneri side who, however, dug in and found the strength to react to the unexpected. So far this campaign, the Diavolo have already let two-goal leads against Napoli and Lecce slip, and they also did so last season in AC Milan v Roma. This time around, the Rossoneri withstood the blow and put the game to bed thanks to Theo’s goal, which was a real liberation and a vital step in the right direction as the team look to find consistency with their results.

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