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Massimiliano Allegri had an incredible chance to mark his rebuilding of Milan with a Supercoppa Italiana triumph, but the club squandered the opportunity following their semi-final defeat to Napoli. The Rossoneri did not stand a chance against The Partenopei as strikes from David Neres and Rasmus Hojlund knocked Milan out of the competition.
Milan’s fate in the Supercoppa Italiana was shared by their neighbourhood rivals, Inter. The Nerazzurri fought hard till the end, but eventually lost the game 3-2 in the shootout to Bologna. The trophy will now be decided between Napoli and Bologna tonight at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Rossoblu are set for an impressive feat if they can clinch the Supercoppa after lifting the Coppa Italia by beating Milan in the final by a 1-0 scoreline.
While Allegri has not made any explicit claims about a title charge this season, Milan’s early form raised fans’ hopes for a piece of silverware this campaign. Since they are not participating in European competition, the Supercoppa Italiana was a good chance to make the most of it. The Rossoneri have also departed from the Coppa Italia after a 1-0 loss to Lazio earlier this month, and now, Serie A is the only competition left for them to focus on.
Due to the cup competition this week, most teams in the league will approach Matchday 17 having played a game more than Milan. The Diavolo face Hellas Verona, a team struggling in the relegation zone, and a comfortable victory over them is expected. Three points are necessary if they want to pose a real threat to league leaders Inter.
Milan’s direct top four opponents, including Inter and Napoli, will also have a game-in-hand. However, Roma became a bit distant from being a potential challenger as they suffered a 2-1 loss to Juventus. Allegri’s men could end up as Serie A leaders post Matchday 17 as the Nerazzurri face a tough battle against Atalanta, and it could be the match where they slip and drop points. Should Milan win, they will not be overtaken by Napoli if they earn three points from their own fixture, as the Neapolitans are a point short of them.
It’s a long and hard season, but matchdays like these ultimately prove to be potential title deciders, and Allegri has been in the game too long to know the importance of these clashes to gain an advantage.
Category: General Sports
