AC Milan will be looking to build momentum towards the end of the season run-in when they host Como at San Siro on Saturday.
Many reports from Italy suggested Sergio Conceicao might have been on the verge of a sacking following a disastrous run leading up to last weekend. The Portuguese tactician started off finely after replacing Paulo Fonseca, with AC Milan, who face Como this weekend, winning the Super Coppa Italiano in Saudi Arabia, and followed that up with a good run in Serie A.
However, the past few weeks have been disastrous for Conceicao as he could not steer into the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League after an exit at the hands of Feyenoord. That result followed three successive defeats to Torino, Bologna and Lazio, which has all but ended any remaining hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Conceicao’s fate might have been sealed last weekend as Milan came through a tough test away at Lecce. The Rossoneri were 2-0 down and will have thanked Christian Pulisic for his game-winning brace that secured the three points and kept their hope for European qualification intact.
Meanwhile, visitors Como are sitting in the mid-table positions, although their standing is not a comfortable one. Cesc Fabregas’s side have a decent cushion of seven points over the relegation zone, but such a gap is always vulnerable to play around with.
Como have had inconsistent results, although they are unbeaten in three of their last five Serie A games, which includes a stellar victory away to title-chasing Napoli. Fabregas would want another scalp, this time at the San Siro, to help steer his side further clear of the relegation zone and find a comfortable position in the standings.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
AC Milan’s injury list has softened over the last weeks, with key duo Alessandro Florenzi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek returning to full training after a considerable spell on the sidelines. Emerson Royal remains the only absentee ahead of the weekend.
The returning duo might even find a place in the matchday squad, although they are unlikely to start this clash against Como. Mike Maignan and Strahinja Pavlovic are also back in the mix following a suspension, with the duo likely to come straight into the starting eleven.
Tijjani Reijnders could play in the advanced role, while Warren Bondo could be Youssouf Fofana’s partner in the middle of the park. Rafael Leao will start on the left, while Joao Felix might find himself on the bench once more.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Bondo, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez
Como
Como will be without Sergi Roberto and Ivan Azon for this upcoming trip to Milan, although Cesc Fabregas will have suspended duo Marc-Oliver Kempf and Mergim Vojvoda back in the mix for this game at San Siro.
Fabregas may restore a similar side that has been churning out key results for the club, with a back four and a midfield double-pivot likely to be in action. Edoardo Goldaniga and Alberto Dossena are the central defenders for Como, with Ivan Smolcic and Alex Valle in the full-back roles.
Maximo Perrone and Lucas Da Cunha are the main men in central midfield, with Gabriel Strefezza likely to occupy the attacking midfield role, with Nico Paz moving to the right-hand side. Maxence Caqueret and Assane Diao are to complete the frontline, with the latter leading the way for Como.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Goldaniga, Dossena, Valle; Perrone, Cunha; Paz, Strefezza, Caqueret; Diao
Key Stats
- AC Milan have won their last three matches against Como in all competitions.
- AC Milan have three defeats in their last four Serie A games.
- AC Milan have conceded at least two goals in their last four matches in Serie A.
- Como have only won one of their last 12 away games against AC Milan.
- Como are seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Player to Watch
Rafael Leao
Pulisic took all the plaudits for his match-winning brace against Lecce, but the surprise decision from Conceicao to drop Leao did raise eyebrows. The Portuguese attacker did prove a point after coming off the bench and providing an assist, the manager might reinstate the winger into his eleven against Como.
Leao has a point to prove once again, and should Milan manage to unlock an otherwise tough Como side, the Portuguese attacker could have a field day. The winger will want to show there’s a level of consistency to his game, which has been showing in his numbers of late as Leao has five goal contributions in his last six Serie A games.
Prediction
AC Milan 2-1 Como
Como are not a team that gets brushed aside by big teams in Serie A, and they have made themselves very tough to make things interesting. Their recent victory over Napoli proved a point, as Cesc Fabregas will hope for another big scalp, this time at the San Siro.
However, their bad record at this venue as well as AC Milan’s likely resurgence in form could prove problematic for Como. The Rossoneri are desperate to stay relevant in the race for a European place, and they will continue their impressive record against Como to take three points, albeit by a narrow scoreline. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Sergio Conceicao and his charges.
