AC Milan will welcome Monza to San Siro this Saturday, looking to record their eighth win of the 2022/23 Serie A season.
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) (Milan)
Key Statistics
AC Milan have won five of their last six Serie A matches (L1).
The hosts have won ten of their last 12 home Serie A matches played against promoted teams.
They have kept nine clean sheets in the last 12 league games played against promoted sides, including in each of the last six.
Milan have lost two of their last three home games in all competitions (W1).
Monza have won just once in Serie A on the road this term (D1, L3).
The visitors have lost both their trips so far played against opposition that finished in the Serie A top six last season (Roma and Napoli) by a combined 7-0 scoreline.
They have kept three clean sheets in their last four league games.
Head to head
This is the first meeting between both sides in the top flight.
Latest performances in all competitions
AC Milan: W-L-W-L-W
Monza: W-L-W-W-W
AC Milan
AC Milan will look to make it two league wins in a row for the second time this season when they welcome Serie A new boys Monza to the San Siro.
Stefano Pioli’s side responded to losing back-to-back games against Chelsea in the Champions League with a 1-2 victory over Hellas Verona last time out to keep their Scudetto hopes alive.
However, the game against Hellas was anything but smooth sailing for the Rossoneri, with the champions needing a late Sandro Tonali goal to secure all points after Koray Gunter had restored parity for the host when had conceded an early own goal.
They will now turn their attention to getting another three points to ensure they don’t lose further ground to league leaders Napoli. Stefano Pioli knows his team will have to dig deep to secure all three points against Raffaele Palladino’s side, despite the gulf in quality between both teams.
With Napoli going away to fellow title hopefuls AS Roma, Milan have a chance of closing the gap in the league, depending on the outcome of the game at Stadio Olimpico. Therefore, head coach Stefano Pioli will be keen to see his side take on Monza Like it were a final and secure all three points.
Possible AC Milan starting line-up
Mike Maignan; Pierre Kalulu, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Rade Krunic, Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer; Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud.
Injured: Alessandro Florenzi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Charles De Ketelaere
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Monza
Monza have done pretty well for a team that just gained promotion into the Italian top flight. Raffaele Palladino’s side come into this game in 14th place, five points clear of the relegation berth.
However, the Italian coach will be keen to see his side continue their upward trajectory, but face a daunting test when they take on the defending champions on their own turf.
Monza come into this game off the back of an impressive 2-3 win over high-flying Udinese in round two of the Italian Coppa Italia, with goals from Mattia Valoti, Salvatore Molina and Andrea Petagna, cancelling out Nehuen Perez’s brace.
Raffaele Palladino’s side come into this game with momentum and will fancy their chances of getting a good result against AC Milan. But after losing all three of their previous encounters with the Rossoneri, Monza will have to produce an excellent performance to steal a point off the leaders as they continue their quest for survival in the Italian top flight.
Possible Monza starting line-up
Michele Di Gregorio; Luca Caldirola, Pablo Mari Villar, Marlon Santos; Patrick Ciurria, Mattia Valoti, Stefano Sensi, Carlos Augusto; Matteo Pessina, Gianluca Caprari; Christian Gytkjaer.
Injured: Luca Marrone
Doubtful: Andrea Ranocchia
Suspended: Nicolo Rovella
Prediction
AC Milan 2-0 Monza
