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

Torinovs.AC Milan

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 May 2024, 12:57
After getting back to winning ways with a bang, AC Milan play their penultimate game of the season, as they visit Torino on Saturday.

Having now confirmed a second-place finish in Serie A, the tough task of beating mid-table Toro awaits Stefano Pioli's side.

Match preview

After making some surprising selections for last week's 5-1 home win over Cagliari - such as dropping Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez - Pioli was ultimately vindicated, as following six games without a win, Milan finally ended their drought.

Introduced as a second-half substitute, Leao still got his name on the scoresheet, alongside Christian Pulisic, whose brace took him onto 19 goal involvements from 34 appearances since arriving in Italy.

Though the Rossoneri have spilled too many points to push Inter Milan close in the Scudetto race - with two games to go, they trail their city rivals by 18 points in the standings - finding the net has not proved a problem in 2024.

Since the start of the year, Milan have scored at least three times in half of their 18 league matches: only Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have managed to do so more often throughout Europe's top five leagues.

Already assured of Champions League qualification, the second-city club have little left to play for, so speculation regarding Pioli's probable successor continues to fill the void.

Just two years after pipping Inter to the title, Milan's championship-winning coach is expected to depart this summer, but before a potential farewell at San Siro next week, his side face a tricky trip to Turin.

One of Italy's most obdurate opponents, Torino have lost just twice at home all season - and they also have recent history on their side this weekend.

The Granata have won three of their last five league games against Milan in Turin - as many as in the previous 24 - so they may feel confident of nullifying their free-scoring visitors and wrapping up a top-10 finish.

In 2024, Ivan Juric has seen his well-drilled team concede only two goals in nine home matches - fewer than anyone else in the division - and their overall defensive record on home turf is the best across Serie A this season.

Torino had, however, failed to score in four straight matches before Juric returned to his former club Hellas Verona last Sunday, seeking both goals and points to have any chance of snatching a place in European competition.

Though a spirited fightback, capped by Pietro Pellegri's 83rd-minute winner, ultimately put Verona to the sword, they still have to overtake ninth-placed Napoli, then hope Atalanta BC and Fiorentina both win their respective UEFA finals.

Torino Serie A form:

L

D

D

L

D

W

AC Milan Serie A form:

W

D

L

D

D

W

AC Milan form (all competitions):

D

L

L

D

D

W

Team News

Having been enjoying the brightest spell of his first Serie A season, Milan winger Samu Chukwueze has now been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a thigh injury sustained against Cagliari.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains a major doubt, but first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan should be ready to make his comeback, with stand-in stopper Marco Sportiello being relegated to the bench.

As Matteo Gabbia must serve a suspension, any two from Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw will be paired in central defence.

Set to start his last away game for the Rossoneri before moving to MLS, Olivier Giroud is aiming to boost a tally of 14 league goals this season: the French forward averages one every 86 minutes against Torino.

While Milan have shared the scoring burden around in 2023-24, Toro's Duvan Zapata has been directly involved in 45% of his team's goals so far (11 goals and four assists) - that rate tops the charts throughout Serie A.

Both Zapata and influential defender Alessandro Buongiorno are expected to overcome injury issues to start at Stadio Olimpico Grande, but Nikola Vlasic (thigh), Gvidas Gineitis (knee), Koffi Djidji (muscular) and Perr Schuurs (ACL) are all unavailable.

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Buongiorno, Masina; Bellanova, Ilic, Tameze, Rodriguez; Ricci; Sanabria, Zapata

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Bennacer, Leao; Giroud

We say: Torino 1-1 AC Milan

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.