Currently, the Rossoneri sit quite gridlocked in 20th position with three teams on either side of them also on six points. The 3-1 victory on Tuesday has now put Paulo Fonseca’s side onto a positive goal difference as well, which could be pivotal.
Only three points separate the Diavolo and a place within the top eight, a favourable task considering their opponents (more on that slightly later). However, should they not reach those automatic advancement spots they will hope to finish between 9th and 17th to ensure a home-leg in the play-off places.
The standings at the halfway point of the league phase 👀#UCL pic.twitter.com/4jRHTj92uZ
Milan’s next game sees them travel to Slovakian outfit Slovan Bratislava – who currently sit bottom of the league with a -13 goal difference. With only two goals (scored against Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb), the Rossoneri should be able to maintain a focus on the Juventus game prior to that meeting.
Following this, the Rossoneri welcome Red Star Belgrade to San Siro in the middle of December, and with the Serbian outfit having a similarly depressing record so far, another victory will be expected. Again, the European fixture follows a difficult Serie A fixture (Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium), so rotation could be afforded.
The penultimate game of the campaign sees Girona travel to San Siro, and once again the Rossoneri will face Juventus before, so Fonseca’s rotation will be scrutinised before the fixture. At present, the Spanish outfit sit in 29th, after only recording one win against Bratislava.
Finally, Fonseca’s side will travel to Croatia to face Dinamo, a week after the fixture against Girona. Once again, the squad will have to be considered, with the Derby della Madonnina taking place on the following weekend.
All in all, Milan are in a fairly good position to challenge for the top eight, and that will be the expectation from the club, especially considering some of the other teams in the mixer.
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