The draw for the Final 8, scheduled to take place in Bologna from November 18 to 23

Italy will make its debut against AVia la giacca, su l’armatura: no one in Europe has a better defense than Allegri’s Milan

The numbers that explain the solidity of the Rossoneri’s defense

The jacket bothers him, he prefers to go out at night wearing armor. Max Allegri has changed Milan, and so far we are seeing the positive side of the change: defensive solidity. The third league game, the first against a top-level opponent, confirmed that these days it is difficult to shoot at Milan’s goal, let alone score. The comparison with last year’s team, which started very badly defensively, is striking. By the third matchday, Fonseca had already conceded 53 shots and his opponents were averaging 1.79 XG per game. It was impossible to win games like that. Those numbers have changed: in this championship, they have only shot 16 times at Milan’s goal, and the XG figure stands at 0.23 per game. It’s a different world: we are at a third of the shots and an eighth of the danger compared to 2024.

Defensive solidity is the be-all and end-all for Allegri: everything starts and ends with that. Milan now play with three center backs, defend with two lines of four, and use only one pure striker. The mechanisms are not well-established, but they work: Rabiot spreads out to defend as a fourth midfielder, Saelemaekers on the right works for two, and Gimenez helps out even without the ball. Above all, the collective focus has changed. Milan is present and does not make individual mistakes: against Cremonese, it had moments of distraction that cost it dearly; against Lecce, it allowed only a few threatening moves; against Bologna, everything went well.

THE BEST IN EUROPE—   Let’s keep it simple. Milan is the best defensive team in Europe at the start of this season. The level of their opponents, who are modest or having a bad day, has an impact, but the trend is very clear and not coincidental. In the five major leagues—Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1—there are 98 teams, and the other 97 are nowhere near as good. The second-best team in terms of shots conceded is St. Pauli, second in the Bundesliga: 23 conceded between shots on target, off target, or blocked. Roma and Barcelona are at 25, Newcastle at 26. Milan, stuck at 16, looks great. With expected goals, which weigh the chances created, the comparison is even more impressive. Milan is at 0.23 XG conceded per game, Nantes is second at 0.46, Athletic Bilbao third at 0.50. Newcastle and Bayern are just above that mark. The conclusion is obvious: every team in Europe concedes at least twice as many scoring chances as Allegri’s side. Maignan and Terracciano, keep it up, you can apply for unemployment benefits. Austria in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup Final 8. The draw took place this morning in Bologna, in Piazza Maggiore. The defending champions, led by Filippo Volandri, will begin their title defense on Wednesday, November 19. In the semifinals, if they win, the Azzurri will face either France or Belgium on November 21. Carlos Alcaraz’s Spain can only be met in the final, but in the quarterfinals, David Ferrer’s team will face the Czech Republic, while in the lower half, the other quarterfinal will be between Germany and Argentina.

Italy will make its debut against Austria in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup Final 8. The draw was held this morning in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore. The defending champions, led by Filippo Volandri, will begin their title defense on Wednesday, November 19. If they win, the Azzurri will face either France or Belgium in the semifinals on November 21. Carlos Alcaraz’s Spain can only be met in the final, but in the quarterfinals, David Ferrer’s team will face the Czech Republic, while in the lower half, the other quarter will be between Germany and Argentina.

binaghi—  The draw ceremony was attended by Feliciano Lopez (director of the Davis Cup Final 8 tournament), Angelo Binaghi (president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation), Andrea Abodi (Minister of Sport and Youth Policies), Giammaria Manghi (sports policy coordinator – Emilia-Romagna Region), and Roberta Li Calzi (councilor for Sport and Budget – Municipality of Bologna). “All the players who represented their countries in the second round of qualifying last weekend gave their all on the court and all deserve the chance to repeat their performance in the Final 8. It was fantastic to be present at today’s draw, which produced some very exciting matches. After three successful years in Malaga, I can’t wait to start this new chapter of the Final 8 in Bologna and return in November,” said Lopez. “Returning from Malaga as world champions for two consecutive years was one of the most exciting experiences of our leadership. The Davis Cup is a historic tournament, loved around the world, and hosting its final phase in Italy is a real source of pride,” said Binaghi. Bologna has built a special bond with this event: the warmth and energy of its audience have already fueled our past triumphs. And after the ATP Finals in Turin, we are ready for more unforgettable days, thanks to the joint effort of all of us. We are ready to write a new chapter in our tennis history, with a unique spectacle and an even more solid foundation for the future of our sport.”

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