The Italian championship is very nice and difficult, with excellent coaches and very strong teams. For circumstances that I cannot know, the Italian national team is not making, however, at the club level, I have a lot of respect for Italy.
With Rabiot, Milan have played 21 total matches (15 wins, five draws, one defeat), for a points per game average of 2.38. Without Rabiot, the Rossoneri have played nine matches (three wins, four draws, two defeats), for a points per game average of 1.44.
Ever since the early part of preseason, it became apparently that Massimiliano Allegri not only wanted to use a 3-5-2 system, but that he saw Leao as the spearhead for it. He foresaw a deadly pairing in transition with Christian Pulisic, notwithstanding the arrival of a natural centre-forward.
Estupinan smashed the ball into the net leaving Yann Sommer surprised and frozen. Allegri's tactical tweaks taking advantage of the wide areas - occupied by Luis Henrique especially - paid off. The gap to first place and Inter was reduced to seven points.
We didn't see the Barça of 1,000 passes in Newcastle. Did you see the 1,000 passes Barcelona makes every week in Spain? No. Newcastle are exceptional in their intensity and high pressing, playing man-to-man and with a wide range of tools.
The rigid gameplan that was supposed to evolve to suit the players available has been increasingly rumbled and results have spiralled downwards. As their hosts France prepare to try to clinch back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time since 2007, England will do well to avoid finishing in the bottom two.
Everyone knows how much talent the young German has, but patience can only last so long. It has been enough time that people will start becoming more critical of Musiala, and unfortunately, he did not take advantage of a major opportunity starting in this match.
Of course, we would like to, we all want revenge against Barça. They don't usually show any mercy to their opponents. If they beat you by a large margin, it's for a reason. They are the current champions, leaders and favourites to win the league again.
