The highlight of Matchday 10 will be played Sunday night at San Siro: Allegri vs Gasperini, a clash of opposite football philosophies.
On Sunday evening, Allegri’s Milan will host Gasperini’s Roma at San Siro — a true top-of-the-table showdown, with the Rossoneri entering the match in third place and the Giallorossi, surprisingly, joint leaders alongside Napoli.
After Matchday 7, Milan had climbed to the top of the table alone, taking advantage of simultaneous defeats for Roma and Napoli against Inter and Torino. But two consecutive draws, against Pisa and Atalanta, slowed the Rossoneri’s momentum. Now they desperately need three points to close the gap on their rivals.
During the summer transfer window, a Gimenez-Dovbyk swap deal seemed on the verge of happening — and it’s a move still rumored for the upcoming winter market. Last year, the two clubs completed a similar (loan) exchange involving Abraham and Saelemaekers, proof that relations between the two front offices — both representing American ownership groups — remain more than cordial.
Both strikers are expected to start on the bench Sunday night but arrive with very different mindsets: Gimenez hasn’t scored in ages and, despite Allegri’s public reassurance, is clearly feeling the psychological weight all strikers carry during a long dry spell. Dovbyk, meanwhile, found the net with a brilliant goal against Parma last weekend — one that proved decisive for Roma’s win.
The odds slightly favor Milan, who have rediscovered the best version of Leão and can count on the San Siro factor. But Roma will have their chances too, as highlighted in the Match Analyst column on SMIT by Pietro Dell’Anna.
Serie A is currently going through major upheaval. The headline of the week was the sacking of Tudor by Juventus and the arrival in Turin of Luciano Spalletti, the man many hope will spark a Bianconeri revival. However, his short-term contract feels oddly modest for someone who, in his last club job, led Napoli to the Scudetto. It’s surprising that Spalletti accepted such terms — sure, the chance to return to Serie A through a big club was tempting, but given Juve’s chaotic situation, it feels like he could have secured better conditions more in line with his stature.
Elsewhere, Patrick Vieira resigned as Genoa’s head coach after the team fell to the bottom of the table, while Daniele Pradè stepped down as Fiorentina’s sporting director. Speaking of the Viola, Stefano Pioli’s job could be at risk if they fail to beat Lecce at home — and it wouldn’t be surprising if more coaches (and executives) come under fire over the next month.
In Italian football, it seems the most luxurious item of all is the panettone — the traditional Christmas cake that symbolizes a coach surviving until December. Lucky will be the ones who actually get to eat it.
L’articolo Serie A: The Match of the Week is Milan-Roma — Coaches and Directors Keep Falling proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
