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Monza-Milan, the Saturday Night of the tenth round of Serie A, will never be a game like any other: especially at this moment.

It is impossible for this Milan to experience a moment of serenity. The long-awaited victory in the derby against Inter had temporarily cleared the clouds created by a decidedly difficult start to the season. But then the horrible 70 minutes against Leverkusen and the debacle in Florence, along with the outburst (the first of a long series) of Fonseca in the press conference, broke the spell. Then two consecutive wins, before the “Leao case” exploded.

Since Okafor (who came on in place of the Portuguese) broke the game against Club Brugge in the Champions League, things have become increasingly difficult for the Portuguese at Milanello. Leao (unless there are unlikely last-minute surprises, given that Fonseca was blunt in the press conference) is expected to be among the reserves tonight, with the difficult (almost impossible) relationship between the two compatriots that risks becoming a theme.

The former Lille coach continues to be on the verge and is putting everything on the line in the next three games. Three away matches, two in Serie A (tonight in Monza, then in Cagliari) interspersed with the one in Madrid against Real: a game that could put an end to the Devil’s European ambitions. It will be a week marked by returns and strong emotions in the red and black house. External pressures, in addition to internal ones (obviously).

First the departure to Brianza to face Alessandro Nesta’s Monza and Adriano Galliani’s Monza, once also Silvio Berlusconi’s, and then the one towards Santiago Bernabeu: where the Rossoneri will face Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. An evocative schedule that could make (in one way or another) a definitive turn in Milan‘s season. Confidence in Fonseca (never high) is now at an all-time low.

If things were to go badly, the Portuguese would certainly be sacked during the international break, but if things were to go well, he would come out of this tour de force with such awareness that displacing him later would become complex. In mid-November, with Milan ninth in the standings (albeit with one game less, that of Bologna) and only 14 points earned, the time for reflections has already prematurely arrived.

Upon returning from the “break,” there will be the highly anticipated home match against Juventus. Probably the last chance to make sense of the Rossoneri’s season, after the bad defeat in the other direct clash: against Napoli of the midsummer dream Antonio Conte. For Milan to play its cards with Fonseca on the bench, it is urgent to start immediately: starting from Monza-Milan. Today (perhaps) without Leao, tomorrow without Fonseca?

Monza-Milan, official lineups

MONZA (3-4-2-1): Turati; Izzo, Marì, Carboni; Pedro Pereira, Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota; Djuric. Coach: Nesta.

MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Terracciano, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Okafor; Morata. Coach: Fonseca.