The Rossoneri are riding high at the top of the Serie A table without their talisman, but the Bianconeri are still in charge of their superstar striker
“Tick tock tick tock” – Zlatan Ibrahimovic knew exactly what he was doing with his latest social media post.
The AC Milan striker was gracefully sending a message to his fans that he was in a race against time to qualify for Wednesday’s big Serie A match with Juventus.
However, the accompanying video of Ibrahimovic’s scoring in just fan training didn’t turn into a frenzy.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli was immediately bombarded with messages from giddy reporters asking if his best front-end could be fit to face the champions.
In fact, although Ibrahimovic has almost overcome the muscular problem that has gone away since November, he had no hope of appearing at San Siro.
The widespread desire to see him play, no doubt.
This game was intended to be ‘Zlatan versus Cristiano’; a battle between two finer goals that run counter to the aging process.
Ronaldo, 35, has hit 14 times in just 11 Serie A appearances this season; even more surprisingly, 39-year-old Ibrahimovic had scored 10 goals in just six appearances before an injury interrupted his campaign.
Tick a ticket pic.twitter.com/tCDguTWeDH
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic (@Ibra_official) January 4, 2021
However, while the Swede could go out of action, Milan are still against Juventus about their superstitions. After all, the way the Rossoneri have handled without their talismanic striker has weighed on their title credentials.
As Milan and Juve’s coach Carlo Ancelotti told him Sport Gazzetta dello Tuesday, “Ibra’s absence was a test that Milan has already passed with full marks.”
Indeed, there were those who felt that when Ibrahimovic awoke with 11 minutes left in a 3-1 win at Napoli on 22 November, Rossoneri ‘s hopes of holding on to a high-four finish would be dashed.
Instead, Milan have shown that while Ibra is a major source of inspiration both on the pitch and in the dressing room, they have a squad of youngsters who are as infectious as they are talented.
Those victories were evident on Sunday, when Milan beat Sandro Tonali ‘s loss to a red card in the first half to Benevento’ s 2-0 victory.
As a result, Milan have now collected 17 of 21 points since Ibrahimovic lost to injury at the San Paolo.
It is arguably even more astonishing that the only unbeaten team left in any of the European ‘Big Five’ leagues has maintained their impressive record.
Pioli players have captured two or more goals in each of their last 17 games – the best run in Serie A history – with the likes of Rafael Leao coming into their own.
The net result is that Milan are heading into matchday 16 as Serie A leaders, and a whopping 10 clear points from defending champions Juve in the fifth.
Andrea Pirlo’s side have a game, against Napoli in fourth place, but the Rossoneri have never maintained such a lead over their rivals in the first half of the season.
Wednesday’s competition, therefore, represents an unparalleled opportunity for Milan to give a decisive blow to the Old Lady’s hopes of the 10th consecutive Scudetto.
Of course he can’t decide on the title race – the Rossoneri are just one point ahead of resurgent Inter Antonio Conte – but he could remove the Bianconeri from the account.
In that sense, it’s a much bigger game for Juve than Milan; the visitors really need to win to start their campaign.
So it’s just as well that they reach out to the Giuseppe Meazza with the argument that the most reliable game winner leads their line.
Milan may have done without Ibrahimovic, but it can be said that Juve would be lost without Ronaldo.
The Portuguese legend makes up 48 per cent of Bianconeri ‘s Serie A goals this season (14/29). In addition, they drew the three games he has missed so far, against Crotone, Verona and Benevento.
Unsurprisingly, Pirlo has made no effort to rationalize his team’s apparent confidence in the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“From the beginning we tried to take advantage of Ronaldo for his qualities,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “We wanted to be sure in the last few meters ahead of target.
“He was sure [at every club]but, so it is normal when you have a hero like him, you are responsible for it. ”
They will definitely need delivery at San Siro.
Milan may be missing Ibrahimovic, while Tonali ‘s ban for his red card at Benevento has left Pioli short of options in midfield, with Ismael Bennacer still available through injury.
However, Theo Hernandez ‘s return is a huge boost for the youngest squad in the European Premier League, as the man who has been in Real Madrid this season is competing with Andy Robertson for the left – back title. best in the world.
It’s even more important when one thinks that Juan Cuadrado – Juve’s first-right pick and one of their best players in 2020 – has contracted Covid-19 and, therefore, , administered for an unspecified period. The Bianconeri would have been banking on the Colombian international to have the speed and stamina to deal with Theo’s relentless marching down the left.
Juve’s Alvaro Morata may still be back, but Pirlo is pessimistic about the Spaniard’s chances of making the bench, let alone a start.
Instead Paulo Dybala is expected to be beaten by Ronaldo in attack, and the struggling Argentine will have been inspired by his late goal in Sunday ‘s 4-1 win over Udinese.
Juve ‘s hopes of winning, however, will depend on Ronaldo, who will know they can’t afford this opportunity to ruin the cost of the Milan title.
The Rossoneri have handled surprisingly well without Ibrahimovic, but they will be even better when he returns.
Juve’s time to take advantage of its presence is clearly running out.
Tick a tick …