Tonight, AC Milan and Juventus are set to clash in their third meeting of the season, with both clubs aiming to secure a decisive step towards the top four of the league standings.
According to reports, the first two clashes went in favor of AC Milan, who remain undefeated against their rivals. Their latest clash in Riyadh saw them become only the second team to beat Juventus this season, after Stuttgart.
Since their last match on November 23, where the teams finished in a frustrating 0-0, a lot has changed. Juventus have clearly struggled, having managed just three wins in 11 games since that disappointing performance, suffering from a case of drawitis and losing their strong defensive reputation.
With the exception of their only defeat against Milan in the Super Cup, Juve’s victories came against Monza in the league, Cagliari in the Coppa Italia, and notably against Manchester City in the Champions League.
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Unfortunately for Juventus, they have since settled for draws against teams like Aston Villa in Europe, and several Serie A clubs such as Lecce (1-1), Bologna (2-2), Venice (2-2). , Fiorentina (2-2), Torino (1-1) and Atalanta (1-1). Their defensive problems emerged after the Milan match, with a total of seven goals conceded in 13 games, bringing the average to one goal per game.
On the other hand, a lot has changed for Milan over the last fifty days. The team’s performance, which drew whistles from fans in November, has seen a renaissance. Following this match, coach Paulo Fonseca faced criticism for his conservative tactics, notably for fielding Yunus Musah as a winger instead of seeking an attacking approach during a crucial home match.
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Since then, the introduction of a strong central defender duo, Thiaw and Gabbia, has strengthened the defensive line. Additionally, the departure of Fonseca and the arrival of Sergio Conceição revitalized the team, leading to dramatic changes in both form and mindset.
Milan celebrated two Champions League victories against Slovan and Red Star, propelling them to the latter stages of the competition. In the Coppa Italia, they qualified for the quarter-finals with a crushing 6-1 victory over Sassuolo. However, the domestic championship proved difficult, marked by a crushing defeat against Atalanta and an uninspiring draw against Genoa on the club’s 125th anniversary.
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Conceição made an immediate impact, guiding the team to their 50th major title, beating their biggest rivals in the process. He notably improved the form of key players such as Rafa Leao and Theo Hernandez while securing comeback wins against Juventus, Inter and Como in his first four matches.
Under Conceição’s leadership, Milan became more compact and aggressive, demanding greater effort from their players. However, this may have contributed to the injuries to Thiaw, Pulisic and Morata in the match against Como. Looking ahead, the challenge facing Conceição is to improve the team’s performances against lower-ranked opponents and strengthen the first halves – a persistent obstacle for Milan. Tonight’s game is a timely opportunity for the team to address these aspects.
