Preview: Serie A Round 15 – AC Milan vs. Crotone

By Anthony Torgrude -

AC Milan look to extend their unbeaten run to five when relegation threatened side Crotone enter the San Siro on Sunday.

The Rossoneri completed the month of November undefeated signaling the beginning of Milan Di Dicembre. December is a month of joy with Christmas, New Years, and transfer rumors; but for Milan it means a chance at silverware. Before the Supercoppa preys Crotone.

Losing just one of their last 11 matches and sitting joint second with Roma, its hard to imagine a scenario where Crotone leave the San Siro taking any points.

In stark contrast to Milan battling for the scudetto, Crotone find themselves battling relegation. Opposite Milan, Crotone is joint 20th with Palermo holding just six points this campaign.

Another comparison between the sides, Crotone have found the net a single time since Halloween while AC Milan have mustered eight goals. Milan finished November undefeated and Crotone failed to win a game the entire month.

THE TEAMS

With a much more important game against Roma looming in the near future, Vincenzo Montella will field a weaker side in order to rest those more crucial for the following week.

Kucka is a name at risk for a suspension against Roma if carded on Sunday so expect him to not feature much at all.

Romagnoli started last week after returning from injury and is expected to do so again.

Lapadula stepped up and owned his role last week, scoring a brace against Empoli and should be rewarded with a second consecutive start while hitman Carlos Bacca nurses an injury.

AC Milan Probable XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate, Romagnoli, Paletta, Antonelli; Pasalic, Locatelli, Sosa; Suso, Lapadula, Niang.

Crotone Probable XI (4-4-2): Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Mesbah; Rohden, Barberis, Crisetig, Palladino; Trotta, Falcinelli.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the second week running Gianluca Lapadula is the man to watch. After a brace in his last outing and an incredible back heel goal voted goal of the month from just two weeks prior, fans and pundits alike are craving more.

Wrongly labeled as just a Serie B phenom, Lapadula now has the best goal per minute ratio in all of Serie A. The man has an insatiable taste for goal and he wants to be fed!

Diego Falcinelli is another striker trying to make his mark in the league and with four goals and two assists this season, he is undoubtedly the man to watch for Crotone. It should come as no suprise if he moves to a larger club in the summer.

LAST TIME THEY MET

Milan and Crotone have only officially met one time before, in a Coppa Italia match from last season which saw Milan the victors in a 3-1 contest. Goals were scored by Adriano, Bonaventura, and Niang.

 

Tags AC Milan Bacca Bonaventura Carlos Bacca Coppa Italia Donnarumma Italy Kucka Luiz Adriano Mercato Milan Montella News Niang Romagnoli Rossoneri Serie A Sosa Suso
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