Top-four chasing AS Roma will visit San Siro looking for momentum as AC Milan seek another victory to get closer to Napoli at the summit.
AC Milan, who face AS Roma next, returned to domestic action after the World Cup break and secured three points against Salernitana courtesy of a 2-1 win. Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali got on the scoresheet to help the Rossoneri get closer to Napoli at the top of the table, with only six points separating the two.
Napoli’s defeat against Inter Milan has helped matters, as it has opened up the title chase, which the Partenopei looked to be racing away with before the break. The Rossoneri will now return to the home comforts of San Siro, where they have another brilliant campaign, winning ten of the last eleven games at the venue.
Milan will be confident before Roma visit San Siro, as they have won their last three league meetings. Milan have not won four in a row against Roma since 1990, something Stefano Pioli can now target. For the Rossoneri, the ultimate target would be to reduce the deficit to Napoli at the top, something that can happen with a win at the weekend.
Jose Mourinho will be somewhat satisfied with his side’s performances this season. The manager might have wanted to mount a title challenge but may have to sit back and chase a probable place in the top four. The latter is achievable as Roma sit sixth, level on points with local rivals Lazio.
Their exploits this season mean they are only three points off Inter Milan in fourth, and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League remains an achievable target for Mourinho. The Roma boss will also be wary of the improved form of Juventus, who are now in a good place. Hence a good performance at San Siro is considered imperative for the Giallorossi ahead of this clash.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
Hard training is a recipe for success 👊
#MilanRoma #SempreMilan
Brought to you by @play_eFootball pic.twitter.com/mkhh3raPjQ— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 6, 2023
Stefano Pioli has no respite from the long list of key injured stars in his squad, with as many as nine players continuing to miss the action. There is minor relief as Mike Maignan, Ante Rebic, Simon Kjaer, Divock Origi, Rade Krunic, Junior Messias, and Alessandro Florenzi have all resumed individual training.
They could remain out for some time before making their competitive returns, but Fode Ballo-Toure and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are still some way from coming back into the fold. Hence, Pioli is unlikely to change and name an unchanged side from their win over Salernitana.
Ciprian Tatarusanu will continue between the sticks, with the back four of Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, and Theo Hernandez lining up ahead of him. Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer are expected to retain the central midfield partnership.
Brahim Diaz is well-placed to play the advanced midfield role, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao on either side of the attacking setup. Olivier Giroud will lead the line in the absence of other strikers, with a keen focus on Milan’s bench, which is expected to remain thin.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
AS Roma
Unlike AC Milan, AS Roma will take a strong squad to San Siro, with only two players missing for Jose Mourinho. Ebrima Darboe and Georginio Wijnaldum are out of action through injuries. Mady Camara is also a doubt for the clash after sustaining an ankle injury in training.
In partenza per Milano 🛫#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/QPEHF8MurO
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) January 7, 2023
There is positive news for Roma as Paulo Dybala will likely return to action after suffering from cramps earlier in the week and may be preferred from the start. Mourinho will continue to deploy a back three and play around with wing-backs in his setup.
Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, and Roger Ibanez are the preferred choices for the backline, while Zeki Celik and Nicola Zalewski will take the wings. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini are the current choices for central midfield.
A front three of Nicolo Zaniolo, Dybala, and Tammy Abraham will form the attacking setup. Abraham will lead the line, with the other two supporting the Englishman in their attempts to trouble the Milan defence.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Zaniolo, Dybala; Abraham
Key Stats
- AC Milan have won their last three matches against AS Roma in all competitions.
- AC Milan have scored at least two goals in their last five matches against Roma in all competitions.
- AC Milan are undefeated in 30 of their last 32 matches in Serie A.
- AS Roma have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last seven away Serie A fixtures.
- Roma have five away wins in Serie A this season.
Player to Watch
Paulo Dybala
💎 Every goal Paulo Dybala scored for us in 2022! 💪#ASRoma | @PauDybala_JR pic.twitter.com/0hGIfK4LHS
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 29, 2022
Dybala started a new chapter after so many years with Juventus. And after a somewhat lacklustre start with Roma, he is coming into his own steadily. While Argentina used the attacker sporadically at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was instrumental in the penalty shootout win, where he also scored.
Dybala also boasts a good record against Milan, having had a hand in seven goals and five assists so far in his career. The Argentine, however, only has one strike at San Siro, which came during his time with Palermo in 2014. He will want to improve on that record and help Roma achieve a positive result and take the march towards Champions League spots.
Prediction
AC Milan 2-1 AS Roma
AS Roma, in recent seasons, have faltered in big games, and that has been the case whenever they visit San Siro to take on AC Milan. Stefano Pioli is the only manager to win all his games with the Roma manager, and the trend is likely to continue when the two sides meet in Milan.
Milan have more at stake than Roma, with Pioli’s men chasing league leaders Napoli in their quest to retain the Serie A title. Roma have not won against the reigning champions in a few outings. And the hosts’ defence is well-equipped to handle the threat posed by Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham. Expect Milan to get three points here, although Roma may end up scoring at some stage during the game.
