AC Milan will aim to pull away at the top of the Serie A standings when Sassuolo come calling on Sunday.
AC Milan return to San Siro on Sunday afternoon to take on Sassuolo knowing that consistency, rather than spectacle, may ultimately define their Scudetto credentials. As the Rossoneri look to strengthen their position at the summit of Serie A, they face an opponent that has caused them persistent discomfort in recent seasons, a Sassuolo side arriving in Milan with confidence, cohesion, and no shortage of belief.
Milan’s domestic form has been quietly formidable. Unbeaten in the league since August, they have navigated the opening months of the campaign with resilience and attacking depth, even while juggling setbacks away from Serie A.
The absence of European commitments and an early Coppa Italia exit have sharpened their league focus, and the results reflect that. Surpassing the 30-point mark after 14 matches for the first time since their title-winning 2021/22 season, Milan once again find themselves entrenched in a genuine championship race.
Their latest outing offered a reminder of both vulnerability and resolve. Falling two goals behind inside 20 minutes against Torino could have derailed momentum, but instead it triggered one of Milan’s most spirited performances of the season. Adrien Rabiot’s thunderous strike shifted the energy, before Christian Pulisic, introduced from the bench after recovering from illness, delivered a decisive brace to complete a remarkable turnaround.
That victory not only kept pace with Napoli at the top of the table but extended Milan’s unbeaten league run to 13 matches. Before attention turns to Saudi Arabia and the defence of their Supercoppa Italiana crown, Milan will want to close this chapter of the domestic calendar on a high.
This weekend also represents their penultimate home fixture of 2025, and there is unfinished business against promoted sides. Having already stumbled against Cremonese and Pisa, the Rossoneri will be eager to avoid a similar misstep against Serie B champions Sassuolo.
Yet, history urges caution. Despite the gulf in resources and expectations, Sassuolo have consistently troubled Milan, particularly at San Siro. The Rossoneri have managed just one league win from their last five home meetings with the Neroverdi, suffering three defeats in that stretch.
Recent seasons have produced a remarkable balance between the two clubs, with three wins each and two draws across their last eight encounters. Their most recent league clash ended in a chaotic 3-3 draw, while memories of Sassuolo’s stunning 5-2 victory in AC Milan in January 2023 still linger.
Sassuolo arrive buoyed by momentum rather than nostalgia. Fabio Grosso’s side have adapted impressively to life back in Serie A, playing with a freedom that belies their newly promoted status. A convincing 3-1 victory over Fiorentina last week lifted them to eighth place on 20 points, placing them closer to the European places than the relegation zone.
That result followed a rare setback away to Como, which remains their only defeat in the last five road games, an encouraging statistic for a side comfortable operating outside the spotlight. This fixture often defies logic, and Sassuolo’s ability to disrupt Milan’s rhythm suggests this will be anything but straightforward.
Still, Milan’s depth, home support, and growing sense of authority in tight moments give them a clear edge. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
The Serie A leaders will have to reshuffle their attacking options this weekend due to a fresh fitness concern involving Rafael Leao. The Portuguese forward has picked up a minor muscular injury and is not expected to feature, prompting Massimiliano Allegri to adjust his frontline. There is better news elsewhere in attack, with Christian Pulisic now fully recovered after a recent bout of illness and ready to return to the starting XI.
Santiago Gimenez, however, remains unavailable, continuing his spell on the sidelines and limiting AC Milan’s depth at centre-forward ahead of the game against Sassuolo. In midfield, Youssouf Fofana is a doubt as he manages an adductor problem, while young wing-back Zachary Athekame is ruled out with a calf strain. Milan have no suspension issues to contend with ahead of Sunday’s fixture.
Despite Leao’s absence, Milan retain significant attacking threat. Pulisic, who leads the club’s scoring charts in Serie A, has been particularly efficient this season, averaging a league goal every 64 minutes. He is expected to play a more central attacking role, offering direct running, intelligent movement, and end product.
Christopher Nkunku is likely to partner him in the final third, providing physical presence and link-up play between the lines. Memories of the previous meeting with Sassuolo remain fresh, when Leao found the net in a dramatic high-scoring encounter, although it was Sassuolo winger Armand Lauriente who stole the headlines with a brace on that occasion.
From a tactical perspective, Milan are expected to continue with a 3-5-2 formation that prioritises midfield control and wing-back width. Mike Maignan should start in goal, acting as both a shot-stopper and organiser from the back.
The three-man defence is likely to feature Fikayo Tomori on the right, Matteo Gabbia in the central role, and Strahinja Pavlovic on the left, offering a blend of pace, positioning, and physicality. This structure allows Milan to build play securely while protecting against counter-attacks.
In midfield, Alexis Saelemaekers is expected to operate as the right wing-back, providing energy up and down the flank, while Davide Bartesaghi fills the same role on the left, offering balance and defensive discipline.
Through the centre, Ruben Loftus-Cheek should provide power and ball-carrying ability, with Luka Modric dictating tempo and distribution. Adrien Rabiot is expected to complete the midfield trio, adding box-to-box presence and late runs into advanced areas. Up front, Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku are set to lead the line for AC Milan against Sassuolo.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Nkunku
US Sassuolo Calcio
Sassuolo travel to San Siro without several key figures, most notably club talisman Domenico Berardi, who remains sidelined with a long-term injury and is not expected to return until 2026. His continued absence deprives Sassuolo of their most influential attacking outlet and natural leader in the final third.
The injury list extends well beyond Berardi, with Aster Vranckx, Daniel Boloca, Filippo Romagna, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Stefano Turati, Laurs Skjellerup, and Yeferson Paz all unavailable for selection. There are no suspension concerns for the visitors, but the sheer number of absentees significantly limits Fabio Grosso’s rotation options.
Despite those setbacks, Sassuolo retain attacking momentum, particularly through Cristian Volpato. The young forward has enjoyed an impressive run of form, contributing directly to four goals across his last four appearances and emerging as a key creative presence in Berardi’s absence.
Armand Lauriente is expected to shoulder additional responsibility on the flank, offering pace and directness, while Andrea Pinamonti continues to lead the line as the primary goal threat. The trio’s ability to combine quickly in transition will be central to Sassuolo’s hopes of troubling Milan’s backline.
Tactically, Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation that allows them to remain compact defensively while attacking with width and speed. Arijanet Muric is set to start in goal, tasked with commanding his area under sustained pressure.
The defensive line should feature Sebastian Walukiewicz at right-back, with Jay Idzes and Tarik Muharemovic forming the central defensive partnership. Josh Doig is expected to operate at left-back, providing balance and support in wide areas.
In midfield, Kristian Thorstvedt is likely to play as the more advanced central midfielder, supporting attacks with late runs into the box. Nemanja Matic should sit deeper, using his experience to screen the defence and dictate tempo, while Ismael Kone adds energy and ball-winning ability on the opposite side of the midfield triangle.
Up front, Cristian Volpato is expected to start on the right wing, Andrea Pinamonti leads the line for Sassuolo against AC Milan as the central striker, and Armand Lauriente operates from the left, where his direct running and shooting ability pose the greatest attacking threat.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Izdes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kone; Volpato, Pinamonti, Lauriente
Key Stats
- AC Milan are unbeaten in Serie A since August, putting together a 13-match league run.
- Sassuolo have won three of their last five Serie A meetings with Milan at San Siro, with the Rossoneri managing just one victory in that span.
- Christian Pulisic is Milan’s most efficient scorer this season, averaging one Serie A goal every 64 minutes played.
- Sassuolo have scored in four of their last five away league matches.
- AC Milan have conceded fewer than one goal per home league game this season, while Sassuolo have kept just one clean sheet on the road in Serie A.
Player to Watch
Christian Pulisic
The winger enters this fixture as AC Milan’s primary attacking reference point, particularly with Rafael Leao sidelined. Fully recovered from illness, the American international has been Milan’s most decisive player in the final third this season, combining sharp movement with ruthless efficiency in front of goal. His ability to operate both centrally and from wider pockets makes him difficult to track, especially against defences that sit deep.
What sets Pulisic apart is his end product in tight moments. Averaging a Serie A goal every 64 minutes, he has consistently delivered when Milan have needed a spark, most recently with a match-winning brace off the bench.
Against a Sassuolo side that prefers to defend compactly and break in transition, Pulisic’s timing of runs between the lines and willingness to attack the box could be the key to unlocking the game. If AC Milan are to overcome a historically awkward opponent at San Siro, much of their attacking threat is likely to flow through Pulisic’s movement, composure, and clinical finishing.
Prediction
AC Milan 2-1 US Sassuolo Calcio
Sassuolo’s recent history against AC Milan suggests this will not be straightforward, and their ability to threaten in transition should create moments of danger. However, Milan’s home form, defensive solidity, and the cutting edge provided by Christian Pulisic give the Rossoneri the advantage. Expect a competitive contest, with Milan doing just enough to maintain their momentum in the title race.
