AC Milan will mark their return from the international break with a very tricky trip to the Stadio Artemio Franchi to face off against Fiorentina.
Florence has always been a difficult away game for Milan, as also demonstrated by the overall record of the matches that the Rossoneri have played during its history at the Artemio Franchi.
In fact, in 89 previous matches, Milan managed to prevail over La Viola on just 27 occasions, drawing in 25 and losing in 37.
These numbers confirm the difficulty in facing an opponent like Fiorentina, who in recent years within friendly walls have experience the joy of victory over Milan on multiple occasions. If you fancy a flutter on the game, check out Italian Serie A odds.
Since the 2013/14 season, in fact, there have been many disappointing games. In the 10 matches played from that year onwards, Milan recorded three draws (2016-17, 2017-18, 2019-20) and three victories (2013-14, 2018-19, 2020-21).
However, in that same time they have suffered defeats (2014-15, 2015-16, 2021-22, 2022-23), with a total of 12 goals scored and 14 conceded.
Milan even lost at the Franchi in the Scudetto-winning campaign. It was a night to forget for AC Milan on the road as they were beaten 4-3 by La Viola, when they had a chance to put pressure on Napoli by getting a win in Florence against a makeshift back line.
They were ultimately left to question their own defensive efforts. The first goal came in the first half as Alfred Duncan capitalised on an error from Ciprian Tatarusanu, and Riccardo Saponara’s curling shot doubled the lead before the break.
Dusan Vlahovic scored to make it 3-0 and that looked like it might be game over, yet Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the Rossoneri a new lease of life by scoring twice in six minutes to make it a one-goal game.
An error from Theo Hernandez allowed the Serbia international to score a late fourth goal and condemn the Diavolo to their first defeat of the season, with a late own-goal a mere consolation.
More recently, Milan’s winning run was stopped at four games last season as they fell 2-1 to Fiorentina at the Franchi on a Saturday night in March.
It was a poor performance from Stefano Pioli’s overall and a worrying regression from the win over Atalanta the weekend prior as Fiorentina seemed generally sharper, hungrier and more dangerous, racking up a number of chances in the first half.
The home side got their opening goal just after the break as Nicolo Gonzalez converted a penalty that Fikayo Tomori had given away, and then Luka Jovic’s close range header – the striker now at Milan – not long after coming off the bench effectively sealed it.
Theo Hernandez did get one back in the final minutes with a powerful shot but there were to be no late heroics as the Rossoneri fell to a 2-1 defeat and once again made life difficult for themselves in the top four race.
