The midfield is the area making the difference for Milan.
Partly because Allegri brought order to last year’s confusion, partly because when players like Modric and Rabiot arrive, things inevitably change. Juventus, on the other hand, has some issues in midfield. If Tudor tonight also has to go without Thuram’s energy, the challenge becomes much harder for the Bianconeri. McKennie has dynamism, he runs, he works, but he is not Thuram when pushing forward. Also keep in mind that Locatelli-McKennie was the pairing on Wednesday in the Champions League against Villarreal, a very intense match, and they could suffer from some fatigue. There is also Koopmeiners, but in a match like this against Milan, but it's unlikely that coach Tudor would risk him in midfield, more likely further forward, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
According to the newspaper, Milan should control the midfield more, also because of the absences for the home side. The Rossoneri have more momentum and less fear thanks to recent results, and Modric plays for only one of the two teams. The Croatian, despite his age, is a professor. We do not only refer to his technical skills but above all to his reading of situations and moments in the match. Juventus does not have a player like that. For this reason, it is natural to expect Milan to dictate the rhythm of the game. Tudor will have to ask his wing-backs to help out, otherwise they risk being outnumbered or forced too deep. Milan’s midfield also has a unique quality: it keeps balance while being quick in transitions and lethal with runs from the mezzali.
Now to Rabiot...
The Frenchman is well known to Juventus, but in Turin he was never seen at this level. Perhaps he is in the best moment of his career and will be even more motivated by facing his ex club. Rabiot and Fofana (even if the latter should improve his finishing) are good at attacking space, and Juventus has shown vulnerability against this kind of movement from opposition midfielders.
One last detail, which is not a small one: Juventus has serious problems defending set pieces, and if someone like Modric is taking corners and free kicks, good luck. In modern football, corners and free kicks decide points.
