GdS: ‘Damn, what a jump’ – Milan take step towards top eight but big question marks remain | OneFootball

AC Milan won again in the Champions League last night and are heading towards the knockout stages of the competition, yet there isn’t much positivity.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, it is a third consecutive victory for Milan in Europe and Paulo Fonseca’s side are now well placed to push on for a top eight finish, which would mean direct qualification to the last 16.

The only good news though is the result, which continues the positive run after beating Real Madrid and Club Brugge prior, because there were plenty of worrying signs yet again.

It certainly can’t be said that Milan won easily yesterday in Bratislava, against the side who are bottom of the table. Indeed, am inferior side (on paper) put them in serious difficulty, keeping the game open until the final whistle.

More Stories / The Match

GdS: ‘Damn, what a jump’ – Milan take step towards top eight but big question marks remain

27 November 2024, 10:39

Gallery: ‘Leao wakes Milan up’, ‘Paulo, no progress’ – Today’s front pages in Italy

27 November 2024, 10:19

Pulisic admits it’s ‘difficult’ to say how far Milan are from their best: “We have to improve”

26 November 2024, 21:23

The Slovakians had scored two goals in four games in Europe before yesterday, a figure that explains everything. It was yet another game in which the Rossoneri went in bursts and never gave the impression of doing what could be expected: total domination against a lesser side.

What dragged Fonseca’s team along was more the plays of individuals (the assists from Tammy Abraham and Youssouf Fofana, the dribbles of Rafael Leao) or the errors of the opponents (the back pass from Strelec).

The three points arrived anyway and with games against Red Star, Girona and Dinamo Zagreb to come it is mandatory to think about being able to repeat the streak and gain direct access to the round of 16.

On paper, the next three games should be three victories for Milan , but we know that this season it has become impossible to predict their performances. This is also due to the total lack of balance in the defensive phase.

Even yesterday, the rearguard were in total difficulty and the open space left to the Slovakian champions for the first equalising goal is inexplicable. In his post-match comments, Fonseca underlined how the cause is more linked to incorrect individual readings.

It may be true, but it seems that the whole team are too unbalanced, with Fofana often left alone in the middle of the field having to hold the reins of everything. With 22 goals conceded in 17 games, a deep run in the competition is impossible at present.