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Juventus: 4 keys to victory against AC Milan

By James Cormack

STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILAN, ITALY - 2021/01/06: Federico Chiesa of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC. Juventus FC won 3-1 over AC Milan. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILAN, ITALY - 2021/01/06: Federico Chiesa of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC. Juventus FC won 3-1 over AC Milan. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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Contain Milan’s left-hand side

Theo Hernandez is an exceptional attacking full-back. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Theo Hernandez is an exceptional attacking full-back. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

A ploy throughout much of Pioli’s reign in Milan was to overload the right-hand side in a bid to isolate Theo Hernandez down the left and establish a qualitative superiority.

However, the dynamic of their wide play is beginning to change. Much greater emphasis has been placed on overwhelming opponents through the talent they possess down the left, with the right-hand side now considered a workhorse flank.

This season, 38% of Milan’s attacks have come down the left, where Hernandez and the mightily talented Rafael Leao typically reside. Number ten Brahim Diaz will also drift over to the left in a bid to overload the opponent and combine with the aforementioned pair.

Juventus must make a concerted effort to slow Milan’s play down this flank. This can be done in one of two ways. The first: engage Hernandez high and prevent any surges into the Juve half, as Liverpool did on Wednesday, or, secondly, deploy Juan Cuadrado as a man-marker. The Colombian is one of the few players in Serie A who can cope with the power and drive of the Frenchman. Cuadrado, though, will have to be at his diligent best due to the variance of Hernandez’s off the ball runs.

So far, Juventus have struggled to defend in wide areas and we can once again attribute a lack of off the ball intensity for their woes. This season, Juventus have allowed the most crosses into their box in Serie A – with 35 in only three games.

Juve are playing with fire if they fail to stop the cross considering the aerial phenoms Milan possess.

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