Milan have once again dropped points at the Mapei Stadium, with Sassuolo defeating the Rossoneri 2-0 and putting a serious dent in their Champions League hopes.
For three seasons, Sassuolo have faced Milan in a contest with serious implications at the Mapei Stadium. Each of the past two times, Sassuolo have defeated Milan which has resulted in the dismissals of two managers, Max Allegri and Fillipo Inzaghi. Now, with Champions League positions on the line, Sassuolo may have ended Milan’s push for a return to Europe’s grandest stage.
An Alfred Duncan screamer set the tone early, before Nicola Sansone doubled their lead in the 71st minute. Gregoire Defrel was sent off moments later, but the game was already put to bed. Milan now trail Roma by nine points who occupy the third and final Champions League position and are also four points behind Inter. Meanwhile, Sassuolo have closed the gap to only three points adrift of the Rossoneri.
Bacca ineffective, lack of support the key
Carlos Bacca has predominantly been Milan’s go-to man up front this season.
The Columbian has scored 15 goals in all competitions but the common trend with his goal droughts has been the lack of support.
It has now been three games without a goal for Bacca and his faltering partnership with Mario Balotelli must be examined. With Mbaye Niang in the lineup, Bacca has been more effective but the link between Balotelli and Bacca was largely anonymous in this match. To add on to that fact, Niang is out for the rest of the season, which leaves Bacca in need of a solid striker partner.
Giacomo Bonaventura, who has been Bacca’s major provider from midfield struggled, leaving the $30 million man with little to no service for the full 90.
Zapata proves inconsistencies
Yes, in the past two weeks, we have talked up Cristian Zapata. This was with good reason as his performances against Napoli and Torino were sublime. Against Sassuolo, he was back to his old habits. Beaten easily time and time again by Defrel and Berardi, he struggled and his passing from the back was extremely poor. Zapata has replaced Milan’s main man at the back in Alessio Romagnoli, who originally was out with the flu but has since returned to the side. Zapata was replaced at the 68-minute mark and do not expect to see much more action from the Columbian in the near future with Romagnoli back to full fitness.
Balotelli’s case to start decreasing further
Everybody knows the best and the worst of Balotelli.
He returned to Milan from Liverpool on loan in an attempt to resurrect his career which has had extreme potential but at the present time, has not been fulfil.
Upon return, he looked reinvigorated and scored a splendid free kick against Udinese partnered, with fantastic work ethic on the pitch. Soon after, he was injured and since he has made his return, Super Mario is back to old habits.
He has been lacking a strong attitude along with poor performances on field. Balo had the chance to earn a starting spot this past game against Sassuolo but failed miserably once again, struggling to get on the ball and beaten easily by Francesco Acerbi.
Soon after half time, Balotelli was replaced by Jeremy Menez, who is looking the most likely candidate to replace him in the starting XI next week. With Bacca, Menez, Niang and Luiz Adriano among those who seem to be creeping ahead of Balotelli, his case to be signed permanently looks to be diminishing every week, along with his hopes to be a part of the Italy Euros squad.
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Sassuolo still in with a shot to make Europe
Sassuolo are Italy’s version of Leicester City.
Not to the full extent, but are taking big steps every season.
The minnows only entered the Serie A for the first time in 2013 and have defied the odds each and every season since promotion. The Neroverdi had to relocate their home games to the Mapei, as their actual home stadium is too small for Serie A competition. Now, Sassuolo are only seven points off a birth in the Europa League. They are slowly starting to close the gap on Milan and Inter, with their pursuit of obtaining that final Europa League position gathering momentum.
Sassuolo’s best players are going to be subject of major interest in the summer, including Berardi, Nicola Sansone and Acerbi with Defrel and Sime Vrsaljko among those who will be shopped by bigger clubs. Three of those players are chances to be part of Conte’s squad which travels to France in June with each of them having experience with the Azzurri.
Expect Vrsajklo to also be a part of the Croatian setup as he has been in their best XI the past couple of years. If Sassuolo can keep these players and add a little more quality in certain areas on the field, they could make heavy waves in the Serie A or even the Europa League come next season.
Milan back to square one
This loss to Sassuolo has most likely ended Milan’s Champions League hopes. A nine-point gap has sufficed and their chances are very slim, with Roma in blistering form. With 10 games to go, Milan’s season is not effectively over either. They are still occupying the final Europa League position which has been opened up due to Milan’s participation in the Coppa Italia final.
Sinisa Mihajlovic is still defiant in that Milan will return to the Champions League this season and it is not a far off fantasy just yet. The Rossoneri will have Ignazio Abate, Riccardo Montolivo and Adriano returning to the squad next week along with a start more than likely for Romagnoli and Menez. This will provide Milan with a stronger squad for their clash with Chievo, shaped as “must-win”, along with the other nine games for the season proper.
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