Milan and Roma will meet in the Europa League quarterfinals, and Football Italia examines three key battles that could determine the semifinalist.
Serie A giants Milan and Roma were paired together in the Europa League quarterfinal draw earlier this month, and although the Rossoneri emerged victorious in the previous two Serie A meetings with the Giallorossi, many things have changed at the Stadio Olimpico, starting from the coach. Therefore, it will be particularly interesting to monitor the International soccer odds for this match.
The latest encounter between Rossoneri and Giallorossi was also the final game in charge of Roma for José Mourinho, who was sacked only two days after a 3-1 loss at the Stadio Meazza this past January. Daniele De Rossi has had a tremendous impact at the Stadio Olimpico in his second-ever appointment as a professional coach, his first in Serie A.
The Giallorossi legend has won nine games from 13 at Roma, collecting just two draws and two defeats.
Roma has drastically changed their playing style under the 40-year-old, relying more on short and vertical passes and switching to a four-man defence that will predictably force Milan to look for new options to hurt their opponents.
Roma’s new tactical system means Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao will probably struggle a little more to find space down the left flank, where they will find Rick Karsdorp and Bryan Cristante ready to stop their forward runs. It is no secret that Milan strongly relies on the French and Portuguese stars to create goal-scoring opportunities, and the battle on the left flank will determine the winner across the two legs.
Gianluca Mancini will also play a key role for the Giallorossi. Roma’s defensive leader will cope with Milan star Olivier Giroud, the Rossoneri’s best scorer this season who’s been capable of contributing to 23 goals for the Rossoneri in 2023-24. The more times Mancini manages to nullify Giroud, the more chances Roma will have to win the battle with their Serie A rivals on European soil.
However, Roma won’t only rely on their defenders to beat Milan. Their best and most decisive player, Paulo Dybala, will be the main threat for the Rossoneri in the Europa League quarterfinals. The Argentinean has 14 goals and seven assists in 28 appearances across all competitions this season, and Milan’s defensive approach will be crucial in nullifying La Joya.
The Rossoneri must keep tight lines to stop Dybala, with central midfielders tasked with helping central defenders close all the available space for the ex-Juventus striker. Ismael Bennacer will predictably have a leading role on the pitch against Roma, alongside Fikayo Tomori, who has recently returned to action after a hamstring injury that had forced him to the sidelines for over two months.
The first leg will be played at San Siro on April 11, while the decider will be staged at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome the following week on April 18.
More must-reads: