Tactical analysis

So Milan won their  crunch midweek  game against Parma 3-1 thanks to goals from Kessie, Çalhanoglu and Romagnoli. Milan further their credentials for Europa League and was helped by Napoli drawing against Bologna. Here is a small tactical analysis of the game

1. Parma’s deep block: We all knew that Parma would sit deep and defend against Milan and use their explosive pace upfront to launch counters. Parma had a blow early in the game when Cornelius was injured. They defended in a 4-5-1

2. Milan to counter the deep block played a 3-4-2-1 as against the 3-4-3 they usually play. Smooth short passing and excellent off the ball movement from Ibrahimoviç, Bonaventura and Hakan made it difficult for Parma. As shown in the image below, Hakan would drop deep into midfield to collect the ball and would be followed by Grassi or kulusevski creating space for Theo to make a run or Bonaventura to occupy the space created by parma’s shift. Ibra would then take up Bona’s position

3. Parma counter attacks: Parma as is their modus operandi, counter really fast. In this particular instance, Karamoh plays a quick vertical pass to Gervinho and continues his run. Kjær is distracted by Karamoh’s run while theo is occuped by Kulusevski. This puts Gervinho 1v1 against Alessio who isn’t the fastest defender. Gervinho beats Alessio and goes on against Donna but shoots it well off target.

4. Parma goal: Once again a vertical pass finds Gervinho and he runs into the right wing. Kulusevski makes a run on near to the touch line and draws Theo away. This in tandem with Kjær following Gervinho and that creates a space behind Kjær and Kulusevski. This is spotted by Grassi who makes a run from behind Kessie and darts past a slow to react Biglia. Gervinho spots the the run and puts it to Grassi who crosses it to Kurtic for Parma’s only goal

5. Kessie goal: While the shooting was brilliant individual piece of work, it was borne from some brilliant off the ball movement from Kessie Theo and Hakan. Hakan is in posession in the left wing. He has darmian to his left and Kulusevski blocking his passing lanes. Theo comes from behind Kulusevski and plays a quick 1-2 with Hakan and draws Kulusevski away to open up a passing lane. In the meantime Kessie falls back from his advanced position and recieved the ball which he take a few touches and shoots