Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Monza vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 February 2023, 16:06
Having steadied the ship by posting two gritty wins at home and in Europe, AC Milan aim to keep momentum building on Saturday, when they visit near neighbours Monza.

The two Lombardy clubs come from different stratospheres in terms of history, but only five places separate them in the Serie A standings due to the champions' recent wobble and their hosts' fine start to 2023.

Match preview

Following a seven-game winless run which included two defeats to arch-rivals Inter, Milan may have been unconvincing but ultimately returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Torino last Friday, before quickly turning their attention to matters in the Champions League.

For too long absent from the latter stages of Europe's top competition, the Rossoneri returned to the knockout phase for the first time in nine years by edging a close encounter at San Siro on Tuesday, when they took a one-goal lead against last-16 opponents Tottenham Hotspur and set up an intriguing second leg in London next month.

Having also been eliminated from the Coppa Italia during a January to forget, though, Stefano Pioli's side remain 18 points adrift of league leaders Napoli, and without a hope of defending their Scudetto. In fact, it could be quite a scramble to finish in the top four after recent results dropped them down to fifth.

Switching to a three-man defence at least seems to have stemmed a series of defensive lapses, and with back-to-back shutouts to boast from their past two games, they could now keep consecutive clean sheets in Serie A for the first time since August.

One of five teams realistically in the race to join Napoli inside the final top four, Milan must surely address some woeful away form if they are to pip the likes of Lazio, Roma and Atalanta to the post in that regard.

They have lost their last two away matches without scoring and, this weekend, are in danger of losing three in a row for the first time since 2017. After four straight fixtures at San Siro, the champions now return to the road for what could be a particularly tough test - but at least they will not have to travel far.

In a region rich with top-flight teams at the moment, Monza are threatening to upset the established order in Lombardy, having recovered from a sluggish start to the season to become one of Italy's most in-form teams since the winter break.

Following two defeats against regional rivals at the start of their first year in Serie A - including a 4-1 defeat to Milan - the Biancorossi's subsequent revival has featured an impressive draw with Inter and last month's 3-2 win at Cremonese.

Architects of Monza's rise, former Milan owners Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani will now see their current club welcome the Scudetto-holders to Stadio Brianteo on Saturday, and they can have every hope of witnessing a historic victory for the hosts.

After following up a second win over Juventus by beating Bologna 1-0 last weekend, when Guilio Donati marked his return from injury with the winner, Monza are on the longest run without defeat in Serie A - some eight games.

Since rookie coach Raffalele Palladino took charge in mid-September, they have gained 28 points from 16 games, with only Napoli, Juventus and Inter picking up more during the same period. Indeed, that tally represents one more than Milan.

Home form has certainly played its part in their ascent to 10th place, as Monza are unbeaten in seven of their last eight league matches at the Brianteo - though they have drawn each of their last three.

Monza Serie A form:

D

W

D

W

D

W

Monza form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

D

W

AC Milan Serie A form:

D

D

L

L

L

W

AC Milan form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

W

W

Team News

Though Stefano Pioli will still be without both first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Alessandro Florenzi, Milan's long injury list continues to shorten, as Fikayo Tomori returns to the squad on Saturday.

Ismael Bennacer could also be available to feature at some stage, but would join recent returnee Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench at best. Therefore, Sandro Tonali should again be joined by Rade Krunic in central midfield.

Brahim Diaz struck the Rossoneri's winner in midweek, and the only top-flight brace of his career came in October's reverse fixture - those were also his last goals in Serie A. He should start in support of Olivier Giroud as part of Pioli's new-look 3-4-3 formation; just one of the latter's seven league goals this season have come away from home.

Meanwhile, Monza striker Andrea Petagna has scored and then provided an assist in his last two outings, so should be retained in a settled home side.

Captain Matteo Pessina - who spent time in Milan's primavera but never played for the first team - has had a hand in five league goals since signing from Atalanta last summer and will start in midfield.

With a virtually empty treatment room, wing-back Carlos Augusto could be the only player to miss out for the hosts - particularly as his indirect replacement Giulio Donati scored the winner at Dall'Ara last week.

Monza possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Izzo, Mari, Caldirola; Donati, Pessina, Rovella, Ciurria; Caprari, Mota; Petagna

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Kjaer, Thiaw; Saelemaekers, Tonali, Krunic, Hernandez; Diaz, Giroud, Leao

We say: Monza 1-1 AC Milan

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England interim manager Lee Carsley has played down Harry Kane's strong words about the withdrawal of many of his teammates, insisting he is looking forward to working with other players who also deserve a chance. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly fearful that Lisandro Martinez could spend an extended spell on the sidelines with the hip injury that has forced him to withdraw from Argentina duty. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo has hinted that he hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the near future. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Morocco will be looking to maintain their 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they visit the Stade de Franceville to take on Gabon on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Marino will hope to leapfrog Gibraltar and prevent them from earning promotion from their UEFA Nations League D group when they welcome them to Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their fifth UEFA Nations League C match of 2024-25, Northern Ireland are set to host Belarus on Friday at Windsor Park, with victory enough to guarantee a place in the top two. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Zimbabwe will be hoping to book their place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when they face Kenya on matchday five of qualifying this Friday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez during next summer's transfer window. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool should arguably be considered favourites for Premier League glory after they took charge of the title race last weekend when they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield and moved five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Burnley could reportedly offer Ruud van Nistelrooy the chance to make a swift return to English football, with the Clarets interested in bringing him in as their new manager. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead Portugal out in Porto when they face Poland in the UEFA Nations League on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has expressed his disappointment at the number of players to have withdrawn from the Three Lions squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures with Greece and Republic of Ireland. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi has been handed a call-up to the Spain squad for the national team's November international fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid youngster Marc Cucalon has been forced to retire from professional football at the age of 19 due to a serious knee injury which he suffered in the latter stages of 2022. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have revealed that Ansu Fati has been ruled out for around four weeks with a hamstring injury. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is facing a crisis at centre-back ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash with Poland in Porto on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal welcome Poland to Porto on matchday five of the UEFA Nations League on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that it is "the right moment" for Ruben Amorim to arrive at Old Trafford, claiming that the Portuguese "did something very special" at Sporting Lisbon. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal defender Ben White has apparently gone under the knife to treat a joint issue in his knee, which will sideline the Englishman for around two months. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly identified Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro as two of their top defensive targets for 2025. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly among three Premier League clubs interested in FC Nordsjaelland full-back Daniel Svensson. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly among three Premier League clubs interested in FC Nordsjaelland full-back Daniel Svensson. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Botswana will host Mauritania in their penultimate 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Francistown Stadium on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has provided a positive injury update ahead of potentially representing Belgium. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Scotland's stay in the UEFA Nations League's top tier could be brought to its end on Friday, when they face an almost must-win game against League A Group 1 rivals Croatia. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal is among a number of absentees for Spain, as the national side conclude their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group-stage campaign with fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain will be bidding to secure top spot in Group 4 of League A in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League when they head to Denmark on Friday evening for what is shaping up to be an intriguing affair. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion forward Danny Welbeck has claimed that speculation regarding a potential return to Manchester United is "irrelevant".