AC Milan vs Frosinone Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

AC Milan must target a win over Frosinone at the weekend to stay in touch with the top two on the table as Stefano Pioli seeks consistency.

Since beating PSG at home to revive their Champions League chances, AC Milan, who face Frosinone this weekend, have been everything but consistent. A draw against Lecce, followed by a narrow win over Fiorentina and then the midweek loss to Borussia Dortmund, shows their current plight.

The win over Fiorentina did help their cause in Serie A as Inter Milan and Juventus played out a draw, which let Milan close the gap to six and four points, respectively, to the top two sides. Now, they face Frosinone at home, and Stefano Pioli will certainly demand consistency from his players.

Milan do have a long list of injured players to rue about, but the quality available to Pioli must show the ability to see games through. While their Champions League future hangs by the thread, the Rossoneri must now focus on matters in the league and get another win in their bag.

Frosinone made the trip back to Italy’s second city after conceding a defeat to league leaders Inter Milan a few weeks ago. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side may have lost their last four away games in the league, which they are witness to on the road this season.

Frosinone can count themselves as one of the in-form teams based solely on their home form, and that has kept them at a healthy distance from the relegation zone. They have taken 16 points from their seven home matches while only managing two from their six on the road.

In their four meetings with AC Milan, Frosinone have never won a game, but Di Francesco will hope for an air of change in that regard. With the Rossoneri struggling with injured personnel, the visiting side will sense there is a chance to make amends and get the first away win of their season.

Team News & Tactics

AC Milan

AC Milan’s injury crisis deepened after Malick Thiaw was forced off with an injury against Dortmund in midweek. The defender reportedly has a long-term problem, as per Pioli, and the manager must find a solution to replace him in the backline.

With Thiaw unavailable, Milan will miss up to nine first-team stars for the Froninone game, including Olivier Giroud, who remains suspended. The Frenchman will miss this game and the next, meaning Luka Jovic will once again deputise for the forward.

Meanwhile, Pioli does have two options to replace Thiaw for the time being, with youngster Jan-Carlo Simic one of the choices. With Milan chasing Juventus and Inter Milan at the top, he might go with an experienced player, meaning Rade Krunic could fill in.

Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah are well-placed to hold the central midfield spots, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek likely to fill in at the No.10 position for Milan. Pioli will rely on Samuel Chukwueze and Christian Pulisic to provide the threat from wide areas as Jovic leads the line once again.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Krunic, Tomori, Hernandez; Reijnders, Musah; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Jovic

Frosinone

Eusebio Di Francesco also has his share of injured personnel, with Abdou Harroui out with a foot injury and Luca Mazzitelli not in the squad once again. The latter missed their clash with Genoa last time out and will remain absent for the trip to Milan.

Pol Lirola, Riccardo Marchizza and Sergio Kalaj are also were absent from the squad named for the trip to Milan. Luckily for Di Francesco, he can reply upon match-winning left-back Ilario Monterisi to replace Marchizza.

Meanwhile, Mehdi Bourabia should replace Mazitelli in midfield and partner alongside Enzo Barrenechea. Frosinone will rely heavily on in-form attacker Matias Soule to help score or set up goals, with the right winger being one of the best-performing young forwards in Europe’s top five leagues.

Reinier and Arijon Ibrahimovic will complete the attacking setup for Frosinone, with Walid Cheddira leading the line. Overall, Di Francesco will not make too many tactical changes to his side and will rely on their current form to get something out of San Siro.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Turati; Monterisi, Okoli, Romagnoli, Oyono; Bourabia, Barrenechea; Soule, Reinier, Ibrahimovic, Cheddira

Key Stats

• AC Milan have lost only once in 33 games against promoted teams in Serie A.
• A win would put AC Milan three points off Inter in first place.
• Frosinone are yet to win an away game in Serie A this season.
• Frosinone have lost each of their last 4 away games in Serie A.
• Frosinone have not won any of their 4 games against Milan.

Player to Watch

Rade Krunic

Stefano Pioli has nowhere to go in solving his injury crisis, as he continues to wear his squad thin and risk more injuries before others return. He does have the option of including Jan-Carlo Simic in the lineup to replace Malick Thiaw, but Krunic might see his name alongside Fikayo Tomori at the back.

The Bosnian international has the manager’s trust to perform multiple roles in the team, as he has so far excelled in a midfield position this season. In this time of crisis, Pioli will rely on the midfielder’s experience to help the team see out a difficult period, as Krunic must put in an essential performance against Frosinone.

Prediction

AC Milan 2-1 Frosinone

The away side are coming into this clash with plenty of momentum, but they might struggle again to find relevance in an away game. Eusebio Di Francesco will surely hope to hurt Milan and exploit their injury crisis, but the Rossoneri have the players to collect three points.

Despite missing many key personnel, Stefano Pioli still has the depth to see this game through, but their lack of central defensive depth might see them concede at some stage. Pioli will be fired up to want his side to secure three points.