Serie A Superthread

Big night for Milan. In dreadful form but playing another team in the same boat. Think playing in the San Siro first leg suits them better, they'd lose in London and be chasing a 3 goal lead probably in Milan, over compensating on the attack to catch up and getting caught on the break.

This way, with the away goal gone, the pressure is off slightly and with the stadium behind them, might be able to get a win and a lead to hold onto in London.

Either way, it's finally time for them to prove their worth in Europe. Of Europe's traditional big 5, they've had to watch Liverpool, Real and Bayern win over the last 15 years, and even see Ajax competitive again. Their fans deserve better than watching the 15 year slump they've had to endure, bar a slight reprive circa 2011.

Not good enough for a club like Milan, they're out of excuses at this stage. They need a huge performance tonight

Impressed with Brahim Diaz. Seen him last year a few times and he was hot and cold as a playmaker, great to see him step up to the mark. When he's on song, Milan are generally firing, he links it. Needs consistency. Struggle when he's not on his game. He's the fulcrum really.

Hopefully he gets a permanent move to Milan, he wants it, but Madrid refuse to sign off he's such a talent. He's bought into the Milan philosophy though, he's Milan through and through now I think. They've started to build a team around him, disaster if he left. Milan's shining light. After Reus, the most gifted playmaker active

Problem I often feel for playmakers, if they don't have moments that stand out, people start saying they do nothing. Whereas, even when quite, their role is still the most important, giving structure and tempo to the teams play.

You'd often look at guys like Riquelme or Aimar and people complaining they did nothing in a game, because they didn't get a goal or give a defence splitting pass, but even when quite are linking it all up.

I suppose big things are expected by guys playing in the traditional 10 role, and when quite are often criticised or seen as luxury players which is often unfair, their influence often going unnoticed. Think about how hard it would be to conjure up moments of magic every game, and that being expected of you as a given, as your the playmaker?

You look at Xavi and Iniesta, even Pirlo, and even when they're quite, we're told you should accept they are the geniuses pulling the strings. Which they are, but it's hard for other playmakers, playing in weaker teams to get that benefit of the doubt I often find.

Even Aaronson getting panned at Leeds, people saying he's too weak and getting pushed off the ball. Yet since he's been benched, they have become completely rudderless in structure, he was doing the quite but important work, linking everything.

Edit, Diaz like Collado deemed too good to sell, yet parent club refuses to play them. That limbo situation not fair. If your on loan two years, parent club should be forced to sell if that's what player wants

Really disappointing match tonight

Atalanta have been absolutely woeful