AC Milan face Roma at San Siro this weekend in what will be a fantastic barometer of the club’s progress since the break due to the ongoing pandemic.
The Rossoneri host the Giallorossi on Sunday night looking to build on a dominant and ruthless performance on the south coast against Lecce, a game they won 4-1 thanks to goals from Samu Castillejo, Giacomo Bonaventura, Ante Rebic and Rafael Leao.
They will do so looking to put behind them their awful record against the top five teams so far this season, having amassed just one point (a 1-1 home draw with Napoli) against those sides.
Game date: Sunday 28 June
Kick-off time: 17:15 (CET)
Venue: San Siro
Referee: TBC
TEAM NEWS
According to what is being reported by MilanNews, Stefano Pioli has already chosen the line-up he will field against Paulo Fonseca’s side.
The Rossoneri coach is just waiting to see if Simon Kjaer will be fit to start after he went off before half time in the win against Lecce after suffering a knock to his knee. If the Dane were to make it, the same eleven players from Lecce will play.
That means there will be no Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again, and the Swede is expected back for either the SPAL game in midweek or the Lazio game the round after.
In addition, Leo Duarte is believed to have recovered from his latest setback but will not play a part in the starting XI, while Mateo Musacchio is of course out for the season.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Bennacer; Castillejo, Calhanoglu, Bonaventura; Rebic.
THE OPPONENTS
Milan are currently nine points behind Roma in the standings at present with the capital club having not totally given up on hopes of catching Atalanta in fourth, who are six points ahead.
Roma have scored 21 more goals this season and conceded just one more as well as having racked up three more wins.
Giallorossi boss Paulo Fonseca will have a number of absences to deal with including most notably star goalkeeper Pau Lopez and playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo.
In addition, there are doubts over whether Gianluca Mancini will be fit for the capital club.
It is worth noting that Milan have two days extra rest compared to Sunday’s opponents, something that may be a big factor.
Probable Roma XI (4-2-3-1): Mirante; Peres, Mancini, Smalling, Kolarov; Cristante, Veretout; Under, Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan; Dzeko.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides met earlier in the season at the Stadio Olimpico and it was the home side that came out on top on that occasion, winning 2-1.
They did so thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Nicolo Zaniolo which came either side of half time and cancelled out Theo Hernandez’s equaliser for the Rossoneri.
Typically, playing Roma at San Siro has not been kind to Milan in recent years. Although it was a 2-1 home win last year, before that the results are 1-3 (2016), 1-4 (2017) and 0-2 (2017).
Milan have actually lost 13 of their last 29 Serie A fixtures against Roma dating back to 2006, winning only seven.
Match Facts
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Roma’s last 6 games (Serie A).
- Roma have won their last 3 matches (Serie A).
- Milan have seen over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 home matches against Roma in all competitions.
- Roma have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches (Serie A).
ONES TO WATCH
For the Diavolo the in-form player is still Ante Rebic without a shadow of a doubt. The Croatia international has scored seven goals in his last seven league starts, and continued his fantastic form from before the break on Monday with a sublime 60-yard run and finish against Lecce.
It will also be worth monitoring whether Hakan Cahanoglu can keep up his level of performance after he was involved in all four goals earlier in the week, amassing two assists in the process.
Dzeko seems to be the danger man for Roma without a doubt and has been a thorn in Milan’s side for some time, scoring four goals in the last six league meetings between the two teams.
Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie will also have a job to do in keeping Lorenzo Pellegrini quiet, as he pulls the strings behind Dzeko and has nine assists already this campaign.
PREDICTION
Not helped by the fact teams are still getting into a rhythm after a long absence, this game has a very unpredictable feel to it. Roma trailed for the majority of the game against Sampdoria on Wednesday but eventually prevailed, while the hope is that Pioli’s side can use the momentum from Monday.
Hopefully, we are treated to an entertaining spectacle and a chance for Milan to show they have made huge strides since before the Christmas break.
Prediction: Milan 2-2 Roma
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