By the time Sunday evening arrived, Serie A Matchday 15 had produced seven red cards, a shed-full of goals and enough drama to make you need a lie down until Christmas. But, there was one more game to be played, a mouthwatering tie between Gennaro Gattusos AC Milan side and Walter Mazzarris Torino. Both teams sit in the European spots in fourth and sixth, respectively, and have shown enough this season to suggest they may well end up there come the end of the season. A win for either side would put down a marker as serious Champions League or Europa League contenders. With that in mind, it was a match high in drama, but disappointingly low in quality.
Free-flowing Torino frustrate stubborn Milan
Mazzarri set up his side in a 3-5-1-1, with Milan setting up in a 4-4-2 featuring the return of the Partick Cutrone-Gonzalo Higuain partnership. At the start of the match, it would have to be said that Torino won the tactical battle and started much brighter. Their midfield trio of Soualiho Meite, Tomas Rincon and Daniele Baselli was set up to pressure and limit the influence of Milans combative duo of Franck Kessie and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
With the middle of the park congested, the three at the back allowed wing-backs Christian Ansaldi and Chelsea loanee, Ola Aina, to fly forward on the break, or tuck in to make a five-man defence when needed. Usually, this would leave the space in behind the wind-backs exposed, but with Milans wingers not known for their defensive play, it was a gamble that paid off against Milans Davide Calabria and Ricardo Rodriguez.
Torinos shape and energy caused havoc from the outset. Within a minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced into a fumbling save, before having to pull off a world-class stop three minutes later to deny an Iago Falque header.
Falques position as a second-striker allowed him to roam around Milans rigid shape and find pockets of space. With the midfield duo occupied by Torinos trio, he exploits Ignazio Abates inexperience in central defence and peels off him to find an excellent spot between the defence. Within the opening five minutes, the 19-year-old Donnarumma is forced to make a contender for Save of the Season, managing to stick out a hand and somehow tip the effort over the bar. The young Italian has come under fire for his mistakes, particularly on the ball, and this match was no different. However, this is an example of what the youngster is capable of and why so many European giants have their eye on him.
Chance after chance goes begging
This wouldnt be the last time Torino exploited Milans tactical stubbornness. By the time Milan had their first shot in the 33rd minute, Torino managed six.
