If you have watched both of AC Milan’s games this week, you would be forgiven for thinking there were two different teams playing in that famous red and black kit.
We had the side who were sterile in possession, unable to break down the defensive block of city neighbours Inter and vulnerable when defending counter-attacks, and then, three days later on the same pitch at San Siro, one creating chance after chance in transition, threatening with crosses towards the far post, and looking as solid as they could be without the ball — shutting down Newcastle United’s attacks in the process in the clubs’ first match of this season’s Champions League group stage.
Come the return fixture at St James’ Park on December 13, Stefano Pioli’s side will be hoping that the two points they dropped at the San Siro last night won’t be needed.
On the other hand, Eddie Howe and his Newcastle staff will surely be watching the game back seeking better attacking solutions against Milan’s intelligent marking.
Milan defended against Newcastle’s 4-3-3 shape in a 4-2-3-1, with their midfield three of Rade Krunic, Tommaso Pobega and Ruben Loftus-Cheek man-marking Sandro Tonali, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes…
… even when their recent team-mate Tonali tried to move towards the right side a couple of times during the first half:
Controlling Newcastle’s midfield helped Milan limit the wide combinations Howe’s side thrive on, and also neutralise the off-ball runs into the box that were a key feature of their attack in the Premier League last season.
At times, man-marking is a double-edged sword, especially if your midfielders are getting dragged all over the pitch as the opposition exploit the space in the middle. But every time striker Alexander Isak tried to drop into that space, one of centre-backs — Malick Thiaw or Fikayo Tomori — followed him closely:
As for the vacant space that movement created in Milan’s back line, it was smartly covered by their midfielders if any of Tonali, Longstaff or Guimaraes made a forward run into it.
In this example, Loftus-Cheek, Pobega and Krunic (out of frame) are marking Newcastle’s midfield three. As Isak drops across halfway to offer defender Fabian Schar a progressive passing option, Thiaw follows him:
Under pressure from Thiaw, Isak then plays the ball wide to Kieran Trippier, but it’s important here to note Krunic’s positioning behind Tonali in the centre circle:
Before the ball has got to Trippier, Pobega is signalling for Tomori (out of frame) to pick up Longstaff…
…because he is about to leave him and move out to press Newcastle’s right-back.
After Trippier combines with Jacob Murphy near the touchline, the England international realises there’s not a clear forward passing option — even with Thiaw near halfway and Pobega wide, Krunic has dropped off to provide cover and Tomori has taken over marking Longstaff:
Something else that made Milan’s man-marking in midfield effective on the night was their ability to switch markers when needed.
Here, Tonali moves out towards the left and Anthony Gordon drifts infield, but Krunic is aware and picks him up while Loftus-Cheek and Pobega maintain their roles:
When Isak drops deep again, Thiaw follows him again, and Loftus-Cheek and Krunic are ready to cover the space in Milan’s back line, anticipating the runs by Guimaraes and Gordon…
…and preventing them from attacking the space Thiaw has left.
Here’s another example, from the second half.
By now, you know the drill: Krunic, Pobega and Loftus-Cheek tightly marking Newcastle’s midfielders…
… and when Isak tries to move into the midfield space to offer a passing option…
… he is followed by Tomori. Pobega drops to cover the space this creates in their defence and prevent Longstaff from attacking it:
Another feature of Milan’s defensive performance was how they limited Trippier’s time on the ball down the Newcastle right, even when Rafael Leao was positioned away from him — to either provide a threat on the counter-attack or try to press Schar.
When Newcastle were looking to switch the ball to Trippier…
… Theo Hernandez immediately pushed forward to press him…
… and Tomori shifted across to mark Murphy — and, later, Miguel Almiron when he came on.
Here, the proactiveness of Milan’s left side allows them to intercept a Trippier pass to Murphy:
In another example, Trippier is trying to offer a passing option in the right half-space with Almiron providing another near the touchline. Schar manages to bypass Leao with a pass to his right-back…
… but Tomori and Hernandez are in the correct positions…
… and the English centre-back presses Trippier, whose only solution is to play a ball in behind the Milan defence, which Thiaw easily collects:
In the last five minutes of normal time, there was a sequence that summarised Milan’s off-ball organisation perfectly.
As Schar starts an attack by playing a ball over Leao to Trippier, substitutes Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah are continuing the marking of Newcastle’s midfield after coming on for Pobega and Loftus-Cheek:
Once Trippier controls the ball, Hernandez is right there with him. Trippier tries to play a pass into the space in midfield…
… but Callum Wilson is followed by Thiaw, and Tomori has shifted towards the far side to mark Almiron. Meanwhile, Krunic is keeping an eye on Elliot Anderson, who replaced Tonali, near the centre circle:
Wilson then plays the ball back to Guimaraes as Anderson makes a run into the space…
… but the young midfielder is closely tracked by Krunic, whose job is made easier by Guimaraes over-hitting the pass:
This defensive approach from Milan isn’t novel — they have used it multiple times before under Pioli with varying degrees of success. Yet, it did work last night, with Newcastle being limited to a couple of half-chances. Even on the transitions, the pace of Milan’s back line made it tough for the visitors.
The two clubs will reflect on this goalless draw differently, but Pioli will definitely be happier than Howe about his team’s performance.
Now, the question is: which Milan side will show up in their next games?
GO DEEPER
AC Milan 0 Newcastle 0: Howe’s pressing problem, Milan’s misses, Tonali’s quiet return
