AC Milan will face off against Cremonese for the first time in over 25 years tonight as they look to make it back to back wins in Serie A.
Cremonese are the only winless team left in the division having racked up six draws and seven defeats thus far, but there is generally no such thing as an easy game in this league as Spezia showed on Saturday night.
The game will be heavily influenced by a number of key battles, starting in the middle of the park where Sandro Tonali will face Luca Zanimacchia. The Italian will make his 100th appearance for Milan in all competitions and he has provided three assists in his last four matches with the Rossoneri, including the decisive one for Giroud at the weekend, and he will have the task of remaining creative and keeping the 24-year-old Juventus loanee quiet as he should start in the two behind the striker.
Brahim Diaz is tipped to get the start of Charles De Ketelaere and must do better than in the game against Spezia a few days ago to add to his tally of goal contributions, while he will face a 29-year-old Argentine on loan from Lazio in Gonzalo Escalante who has nailed down a starting spot now.
David Okereke has scored each of his last five Serie A goals away from home (including three in the current campaign) but will hope to translate that form into success at home tonight, while Milan have only conceded one goal with veteran defender Simon Kjaer on the pitch all season which should make it an interesting contest.
Former Inter defender and current Cremonese captain Matteo Bianchetti will be called upon to use all of his experience to deny Divock Origi a first away goal since joining Milan. The Belgian started against Spezia but had little joy and so more will be asked of him against an ex-Italy U21 international.
Finally we come to a duel on Milan’s left where Fode Ballo-Toure is filling in for the suspended Theo Hernandez and most demonstrate his reliability after a shaky first season at the club, though he does have a winning goal (vs. Empoli) to his name already this season. He will meet Paolo Ghiglione who should be the right wing-back for the Grigiorossi, and he was actually linked with Milan when he was at Genoa so he will look to make them regret.
