Roma – Milan Serie A Week 22

A changed midfield with Jashari and Ricci starters overcame a poor Lecce team to extend Milan’s unbeaten run. The 20 games Serie A unbeaten run is close to the 23 games in one season unbeaten run of 1992-1993 with Capello at the helm. Allegri and the players deserve credit for this of course and the narrative that Allegri’s boring and/or defensive system is counter to football values makes little difference in the end.

Roma, four points behind, present a tougher challenge, the fourth placed team are not setting the Serie A world on fire and Gasperini’s deservedly high reputation is not exactly being enhanced in my opinion. However, extending the unbeaten run will be a good step forward and this match can be considered very important.

Jashari, De Winter and Ricci have shown better form and are benefiting and will benefit from more minutes. Whether any of the three get a start is not certain. De Winter can deputise for Tomori in case the latter needs rest or Pavlovic can heal his injured a bit longer. Fofana and Loftus-Cheek may not have done much recently but coaches have their ways. It is as likely as anything that the midfield will feature one of the the French or Englishman along with Bartesaghi, Rabiot, Modric and Saelemaekers. The latter is below 100% fit and certainly in need of rest but Athekame is the only backup and is unlikely to be a starter. The same can be said about Pulisic and Leao, both are playing with discomfort and pain. Whether Allegri should give a start to Fullkrug or Nkunku in their place is up for debate. It is more likely that the German and French forwards will remain subs.

A Maignan renewal is reportedly imminent. It has otherwise been a very quiet window transfer window and it has only eight more days left as of this match at the Olimpico. On and off mentions of Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta resurfaced this week but will require relatively big money to happen.

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