AC Milan are aiming to dent Juventus’s chances of catching up on the top order as the two traditional giants of Italy convene at San Siro.
If there was something that encapsulates the inconsistencies of AC Milan ahead of the visit of Juventus, it should be the side-by-side image of their two most recent results before the international break.
Following a loss to Napoli and a narrow win over Moza, the Rossoneri went to the Santiago Bernabeu to secure a famous victory, then engaged themselves in an absorbing draw against Cagliari away from home the following weekend.
In Milan’s last league game, Rafael Leao scored a brace, and at one stage, when Cagliari took a shock lead, Tammy Abraham’s strike appeared to have sealed the points. However, the hosts responded late with an equaliser, as Gabriele Zappa got his brace to ensure the Rossoneri dropped two points.
The result placed AC Milan in seventh place in the standings, with some six points off sixth-placed Juventus, as they hosted the Turin giants at San Siro on Saturday. Paulo Fonseca will want to close the gap on the Bianconeri to three points, although it is a difficult task for the Rossoneri.
Meanwhile, Juventus will consider themselves in the thick of an exciting-looking title race brewing between the top six in Serie A. Only two points separate the sixth-placed Bianconeri from leaders Napoli, with the remaining four teams all on 25 points each.
Juventus will aim to stay relevant in this confusing title race for starters, although Thiago Motta would want to make themselves big in the hunt with a win over AC Milan. The Bianconeri have been unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions since their loss to Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League, as a bad result at San Siro will come with repercussions.
Before the international break, Juventus made light work of their performance in the Turin derby, as goals from Timothy Weah and Kenan Yildiz sealed the three points against Torino. That win was also their second in a row in the league, as Motta will aim for a third at the San Siro on Saturday.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
Paulo Fonseca does have a few problems with injuries, but nothing out of the ordinary, as Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi and Luka Jovic are the ones with problems. The latter is still openly doubtful following a groin complaint.
Matteo Gabbia and Alvaro Morata have returned to fitness, with the latter even featuring for Spain during the international break. Fonseca will also look closely at Francesco Camarda, who started against Cagliari and then followed with a brace for the U-19s during the break.
The AC Milan wonderkid might not start this high-stakes game against Juventus, but he surely could prove a solid option off the bench at some stage.
Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders are the well-settled midfield pairing for Fonseca, with Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Rafael Leao set to feature in the attacking third. Morata might be preferred to lead the line for the Rossoneri, with Abraham a likely option from the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Royal, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata
Juventus
The big blow for Juventus will be the injury to Dusan Vlahovic, with the striker set to miss this clash at San Siro with a thigh problem. Arkadiusz Milik continues to remain on the sidelines, as a second knee operation is set to keep him out until after the new year.
Timothy Weah is the shout-out to lead the line for the Bianconeri, with Kenan Yildiz playing closely behind the USMNT star. Motta is likely to keep a very familiar lineup on the pitch, with the likes of Teun Koopmeiners and Francisco Conceicao set to provide support in the attacking third.
Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram are the likely choices to start in the central midfield pairing, while Andrea Cambiaso and Nicolo Savona are stationed in the full-back roles. Pierre Kalulu, formerly of AC Milan, and Federico Gatti, will play at the heart of the Juventus defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah
Key Stats
- AC Milan have conceded only two goals in their last seven games against Juventus in Serie A.
- Even with a win, AC Milan will have the lowest points tally after 12 games in 4 years.
- Juventus have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their last 13 matches in Serie A.
- Juventus have scored at least two goals in their last four matches in Serie A.
- Juventus are undefeated in their last 20 matches in Serie A.
Player to Watch
Rafael Leao
The Portuguese attacker has been getting closer to his best version following a series of impressive performances for club and country. A brace against Cagliari followed up an assist at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid, as Leao was also on the scoresheet for Portugal against Poland.
Paulo Fonseca will view his form as a much-needed boost for his team and will hope the Portuguese turn up for AC Milan against Juventus on Saturday. Leao tends to change games, and he could be the difference between the two teams if he brought his A-game to San Siro.
Prediction
AC Milan 1-2 Juventus
AC Milan have been good recently but still largely inconsistent for the level of quality they have in that squad. A win over Real Madrid should be seen as a benchmark by Paulo Fonseca before he lines up his side against Juventus, although the Rossoneri have already shown inconsistent form in Serie A when it comes to the big teams.
AC Milan will be desperate to get closer in the table to Juventus, although Thiago Motta will have his plan ready on how to beat the Rossoneri in their own backyard. On the pitch, Juventus’s quality might prove the difference in this game, as the Turin giants are expected to take all three points in what could prove a pulsating game at the weekend.