On August 18th at 2:45 AM, the 2024/25 Serie A season will kick off with AC Milan hosting Torino at the San Siro. Following last season’s disappointing second-place finish, Milan parted ways with former coach Stefano Pioli, welcoming Portuguese manager Paulo Fonseca to the helm. Torino, who finished ninth with a strong defensive record but struggled to find goals, saw their manager Ivan Juric depart after 122 games, replaced by Pierpaolo Bisoli, who recently guided Venezia back to Serie A.
After being outdone by city rivals Inter Milan last season, AC Milan is in a period of renewed ambition, driven by both management and fans. This summer saw the Rossoneri embark on a significant squad revamp, investing over €50 million. Key acquisitions include Álvaro Morata, a €13 million arrival from Atlético Madrid, who offers a more complete skillset than departed striker Olivier Giroud. Emerson Palmieri, a €15 million signing from Tottenham Hotspur, strengthens the left side. Milan also secured the services of “hexagon” midfielder Luka Pavlović for €18 million from Red Bull Salzburg. The club is also on the verge of announcing the signing of Abdoulaye Fofana. Notably, Marko Lazetic returns after a successful loan spell at Bologna, adding another option to the midfield. Departing players include Charles De Ketelaere, sold to Atalanta for €22 million. Milan also saw Rade Krunić move to Fenerbahçe for €350,000 and Marko Simić join Anderlecht for €3 million.
Torino, sticking to their usual strategy of minor tweaks, made a significant move by acquiring Duván Zapata from Atalanta for €8.5 million. They also added central defender Coco from Las Palmas for €7.5 million and midfielder Machín from Udinese for €1 million. However, the loss of defensive stalwart Armando Izzo to Napoli for €35 million will be a major blow. Overall, Torino’s squad appears slightly weaker than last season, especially defensively, posing a challenge for new manager Bisoli.
AC Milan played six friendlies during the break, with a 3-2-1 record. Victories over last season’s Champions League winners Real Madrid and Premier League champions Manchester City are noteworthy. While friendlies shouldn’t be overanalyzed, these results offer a glimpse of Fonseca’s tactical vision and a desire to dethrone Inter Milan’s dominance in Serie A and their own city. Their final pre-season match saw them beat Monza 3-1, with goals from Lazetic, Reinier, and Jovičić, showcasing the progress made under Fonseca.
Despite playing just four friendlies, Torino’s new manager Bisoli has instilled a renewed sense of purpose. They drew 0-0 against Lyon and won 3-0 against Metz. Their most recent outing was a 2-0 win over Cosenza in the Coppa Italia, with Zapata scoring a goal. A unique defensive philosophy combined with a growing attacking threat suggests a potential for bigger things for Torino.
In terms of the schedule, AC Milan’s first five opponents are Torino, Parma, Lazio, Venezia, and Inter Milan. This provides a relatively favorable start for the newly-led Milan to find their rhythm. Torino, on the other hand, face AC Milan, Atalanta, Venezia, Lecce, and Verona in their opening five games – a tougher run that could lead to early-season pressure and potentially unexpected losses.
Ahead of the match, Milan manager Fonseca confirmed that Luka Pavlović, due to limited training time with the squad, is unlikely to feature. The same goes for Reinier. Jović, who impressed in pre-season, is likely to start. With the imminent signing of Fofana, Milan’s transfer window will close, and the focus will shift towards clearing out surplus players.
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