AC Milan vs Juventus: preview, team news and prediction

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AC Milan will face off against Juventus at San Siro Stadium on Sunday evening in a crucial Serie A encounter.

The Rossoneri have enjoyed a brilliant start to this season, sitting at the summit of the table with 21 points from eight games. Stefano Pioli’s side have suffered only one defeat in the league so far and that came against their city rivals Inter Milan. But, they have bounced back brilliantly by winning four consecutive games since.

So, they are currently full of confidence ahead of this encounter. After strengthening their squad in the summer window, Milan have now placed themselves in the mix to challenge for the league title this season. So, they should win big games such as this one to prove that they are capable of lifting the Serie A trophy this term.

On the other hand, Juventus aren’t in contention to challenge for the title this season, but Massimiliano Allegri is a great coach and his managerial acumen could guide his team mount a title charge, though the Bianconeri’s main objective for this season is to finish in top-four and qualify for the Champions League.

The Bianconeri have started the season promisingly, sitting third in the table with 17 points from eight games. Juventus don’t have European commitments to think about so they will solely be focusing on the league this season. Therefore, they could go all the way if they can manage to get the rhythm over the coming weeks. So, the game should be a mouth-watering encounter for football fans.

Previous meetings

This is going to be the 240th match between these two sides in the competitive matches. Juventus are the dominant team in this fixture with 92 wins but Milan are currently unbeaten versus the Bianconeri in the last five encounters.

The Old Lady of Turin have won only once in the last nine encounters in all competitions versus the Rossoneri. So, they will be looking to change that record on Sunday by winning the game.

How to watch

The match will commence at 7:45 UK time and the encounter will be telecasted live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK. Match going fans can buy AC Milan tickets at Seatsnet.com but be quick if you want to get one as they are expected to sell out fast.

Team news

Mike Maignan isn’t in contention to feature in this encounter after picking up a red card in the last game against Genoa.

The Rossoneri have a pretty long list of injury absentees at the moment as Pierre Kalulu, Mattia Caldara, Rade Krunic and Noah Okafor are all sidelined for this encounter with their respective problems.

Ismael Bennacer has returned to training after recovering from his injury. But, this game will come too early for him to feature. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was sidelined due to injury issues ahead of the international break and is in doubt for this fixture.

As for Juventus, Nicolo Fagioli has been suspended for seven months after being found guilty of illegal betting. So, he is not going to feature in this crucial encounter.

Federico Chiesa is available for selection after recovering from his injury but he may have to settle for a place on the bench on Sunday. But, Allegri will be without Alex Sandro, Danilo and Dusan Vlahovic owing to injury issues.

Paul Pogba is also not in contention to feature this weekend after being found guilty of anti-doping offences. He is set to face a big suspension so his Juventus career is seemingly all but over.

Predicted line-up

Pioli likes to deploy the 4-3-3 formation and It’s likely to be the same this Sunday. Marco Sportiello should be in goal in place of Maignan, while Davide Calabria, Malick Thiew, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez are expected to be the back four.

Tijjani Reijnders, Yunus Musah and Tommaso Pobega should be the midfield trio for the Rossoneri, while Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic are likely to be the front three.

Expected Milan line-up vs Juventus

Sportiello; Calabria, Thiew, Tomori, Hernández; Reijnders, Musah, Pobega; Leao, Giroud, Pulisic

As for Juventus, Allegri likes to deploy the 3-5-2 system and he could be cautious in his approach in this big game. Wojciech Szczęsny is expected to be between the sticks for Juventus and in front of the Polish international, Federico Gatti, Bremer and Daniele Rugani should be the back three.

Timothy Weah and Filip Kostic could be the wing-backs, while Adrien Rabiot, Manual Locatelli and Weston McKennie should be in midfield. Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean could be leading the line for the visitors.

Expected Juventus line-up vs AC Milan

Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Rugani; Weah, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Milik, Kean

Key players

Leao is the talismanic figure for the Rossoneri so the hosts will be hoping that the Portuguese will be able to showcase his best and help his side earn all three points from this encounter.

Pulisic has enjoyed a stellar start to his life in Milan after joining the club at the beginning of this season. So, Juventus will have to keep him in close attention to come away with a positive result.

Giroud is also in good form and he will have to continue his impressive displays in this encounter in order to help Milan win the game and keep hold of their place at the top of the table.

Reijnders has also enjoyed a stellar start for Milan having signed for the club at the beginning of this season and he has already established himself as a key figure in Pioli’s side’s engine room.

Hernandez is a talented player and can contribute on both ends of the pitch. So, the Bianconeri need to keep him quiet to come away with all three points from this encounter.

As for Juventus, Milik is set to be the main goal-scoring threat for them amid Vlahovic’s absence. Kean will have to take responsibility for scoring goals if he gets any opportunities.

Chiesa possesses the qualities to hurt Milan’s backline with his pace and trickery. He is expected to feature off the bench so the Rossoneri should be careful about his threat.

Rabiot is Juventus’ mainstay in their engine room so Milan will need to stop him from creating chances for the attackers.

Prediction

Milan is likely to play their natural possession-based style of football, while Juventus are likely to sit back and soak the pressure. They would be aiming to hurt Milan on counter-attacks and set-piece situations.

Milan have a strong team to take all three points from this encounter and the home advantage should help them do that. However, Allegri’s side are always a hard team to break so they certainly have a chance of winning on Sunday. But, in the end, the game could end up in a stalemate. Milan 1-1 Juventus

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