Sassuolo brings out a problem for Milan and a nightmare for Massimiliano Allegri

In Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan, which has revived after years of difficulties and mixed results, a problem endures. This was demonstrated by Sunday&#8217s match at the San Siro against Sassuolo, terminated 2-2 after Davide Bartesaghi&#8217s double had allowed the Diavolo to recover the guests’initial lead. This is not the first time: in fact, if the Rossoneri are giving themselves an enviable roster in this beginning of the season in direct clashes, quite different is the performance with the small ones of Serie A. And this is compounded by a small, personal nightmare for the Tuscan coach.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Let’s start with the data. In addition to the Nov. 23 derby against Inter, Milan has so far beaten Lazio, Roma, Bologna and reigning Italian champions Napoli in the league, drawing in Turin with Juventus and in Bergamo with Atalanta. Three points also came with derelict Fiorentina, which also finished last Serie A ahead of the Rossoneri. On the other hand, against Cremonese, Pisa and Parma, as well as Sassuolo, the points collected were just 3 out of 12 available. And taking into account that the top of the standings is just one point away, it is precisely the poor performance with the small ones that is currently decisive for the loss of the leadership.

The fact that the overtaking suffered by Inter’s side comes right at the same time as a flop with Sassuolo, then, seems to resemble an eternal curse with Allegri himself. Easy to recall the 4-3 that the Emiliani thrashed his Milan team on January 12, 2014, causing his first farewell to the Diavolo. Even in more recent times, however, big disappointments have come to the Livorno coach when he has faced the neroverdi. Suffice it to say that in both of his last two seasons at the helm of Juventus came a knockout at Mapei Stadium, including a 4-2 loss in September 2023 that made a lot of noise. Of course, the hope is that this season’s San Siro draw will not have domino effects as it did then.

“We knew this match would be very difficult – Allegri said Sunday after his Milan team’s disappointing 2-2 draw at home. Sassuolo is a team capable of conceding goals and then scoring them, at any time. Still, we take the point, it can be useful to reach our goals. The reality is that we could have also lost”.

All Milan’s league journey now comes to a halt, to make way for the Italian Super Cup challenge against Napoli scheduled for Thursday. The next Serie A one will come after Christmas, against the ’fatal” opponent par excellence: Verona. A’golden opportunity to challenge at least a couple of curses that are slowing down a seasonal march that would otherwise be only and only extremely positive.