San Siro is the venue for a mammoth clash between top-four sides AC Milan and AS Roma, as Massimiliano Allegri is eager to win again. The Rossoneri have nine games unbeaten across all competitions, but their last two clashes in Serie A have ended in draws.
Currently occupying fourth spot but level on points with rivals Inter Milan on 18, the Rossoneri could go level with AS Roma in second place and potentially get closer to current leaders Napoli. Allegri will be eager to make his team a firm contender for the Serie A title, but their recent performances have left a lot to be desired.
Following their inability to beat winless Pisa, where they needed a late equaliser to salvage a point, Milan suffered a similar fate against Atalanta. The Bergamo side were the better team in the contest, although the two sides had to share the spoils. With plenty at stake, a win will be firmly on Allegri’s agenda as AC Milan meet second-placed AS Roma at San Siro.
Gian Piero Gasperini has got off to a flying start as AS Roma’s new boss, with his side currently level on points with Napoli on 21. Only goal difference currently places the capital giants in second spot, although that could change at the weekend if they can secure a big win away at Milan and hope Napoli drops points.
The Giallorossi will meet the league leaders in three matchweeks, and Gasperini will want his side to keep up the pressure on Antonio Conte’s men. Hence, a big result at AC Milan will be crucial to cement their status as firm challengers for the Serie A title, as they find themselves in a good vein of form coming to San Siro.
Following back-to-back losses to Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen, Gasperini’s men have secured consecutive wins over Sassuolo and Parma. However, the test against AC Milan will be challenging, as AS Roma could either stay joint-top or allow the Rossoneri to go level on points with them ahead of their clash on Sunday.
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri does have to contend with a few injury issues, such as the continued absence of key attacker Christian Pulisic and midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Some doubts over Rafael Leao persisted after the Portuguese attacker was training separately with a minor hip complaint following the draw with Atalanta.
For now, the Portuguese international is expected to play a part and even start against AS Roma, with Christopher Nkunku likely to be preferred to play alongside him in the AC Milan attack. In the case Leao misses out, then Santiago Gimenez might be the man to take his place in the front line.
Meanwhile, there is some positive news on the injury front as midfielders Ardon Jashari and Ruben Loftus-Cheek returned from their respective problems, but they might feature on the bench at most. However, in the context of maintaining some balance, Allegri might continue to start 40-year-old Luka Modric in the middle, while Samuele Ricci and Youssouf Fofana might provide him company in the midfield setup.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, Estupinan; Nkunku, Leao
Gian Piero Gasperini will have a strong squad to choose from, apart from a couple of key stars, who could miss out on the trip to AC Milan. Striker Evan Ferguson misses out with an ankle problem after limping off in midweek, with the forward now expected to stay out for a fortnight.
There is also a bronchitis problem with Angelino, and Gasperini must keep finding a solution to the left wing-back role. For now, Wesley seems like the preferred choice, but Kostas Tsimikas is also an option there.
Then the other problem-solving issue for the manager is in the No.9 role, and he might prefer to start Paulo Dybala as a false-nine instead of Artem Dovbyk in Ferguson’s absence. The decision might stem from the fact that the Argentine has a good record against AC Milan, having scored ten times against the hosts in his career so far in Italy.
Gasperini will continue with a back three of Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, and Evan Ndicka, with Bryan Cristante and Manu Kone managing the midfield setup. Behind Dybala, the manager could play Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini to bring some impetus in the attacking third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Hermoso, Mancini, Ndicka; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Soule, Pellegrini; Dybala
Nkunku is yet to hit the ground running at AC Milan, and there are some games the manager would like the Frenchman to shine, and this big clash with AS Roma is probably that. Nkunku has yet to open his account in Serie A, and the visit of the Giallorossi might be a good time for the Frenchman.
Massimiliano Allegri has tasked Nkunku with a different style in this Milan side, and he will take up more of a front two role in this team. How the French attacker adapts to this new role remains to be seen, and this game against AS Roma will be a good test for the Frenchman.
Both these teams have been surprisingly good defensively this season, particularly AS Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini garnered a reputation at Atalanta of being an attack-minded coach, and while the principles in the final third are visible, the experienced coach has brought a new dimension to his game since becoming Roma’s manager. However, there are doubts whether this team can get the best at San Siro.
Allegri will ensure this is a cagey game of sorts, and he will probably get a better system in place to contain the threat posed by AS Roma. While this clash could go either way, Milan will probably get the benefit of the doubt in this one, which could ensure the Rossoneri nick a slender win at San Siro.
