AC Milan will host Juventus on Tuesday night at the San Siro. Although this is historically a match-up with Scudetto implications for both teams, the past few years have been different. With this being said, there’s still plenty of storylines for this season’s last Milan versus Juventus match.
AC Milan Host Juventus in Pivotal Serie A Game
Milan Storylines
The Rossoneri have been playing solid football since the return of Serie A. They’ve earned 10 out of a possible 12 points in the last four matches. This includes outscoring three opponents by a score of 9-1 in three victories, including two over Lazio and Roma.
They would’ve been perfect if not for a major struggle versus last place SPAL. They went down 2-0 early in that match and had to fight back for a 2-2 draw.
The biggest storyline for Milan is that they are back in the hunt for a Europa League spot. This looked unfathomable after their horrid start to the season, but things took a turn for the better. They currently sit in seventh place, just two points behind Napoli and Roma for that coveted European spot. With league matches left, this goal is certainly attainable.
Ante Rebic and Hakan Calhanoglu have been great in the past three victories. The duo are a huge reason why Milan have been thriving upfront. Their continued form will be key for Milan versus Juventus. Calhanoglu’s status, however, is up in the air due to injury.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fit once again, and scored from the penalty spot against Lazio. He remains a major difference-maker despite his age. The young squad looks a lot more confident with the Swede on the pitch.
Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie will also look to continue to grow their partnership. The midfield, which in the past has been a major issue for Milan, has been arguably their strongest facet since football returned.
Juventus Storylines
Juventus almost have the Scudetto virtually locked up after Lazio’s loss versus Milan. The Bianconeri are seven points clear. They’re going to look to increase their lead on the table before they shift their focus onto the Champions League.
Their league form since their return has been even more impressive than Milan’s. Juventus have won all four matches with a combined score of 13-2. This includes a 4-1 drubbing over local rivals Torino last Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo, to no surprise, is the man on hot form. He’s scored a goal in every league game since the season returned. Paulo Dybala has done the same, but he will be unavailable due to suspension, and this will be a blow versus Milan’s improved defence.
Juventus may be without up to three distinguished defenders. Left-back Alex Sandro is ruled out due to injury. Matthijs de Ligt will also not feature due to suspension, while Giorgio Chiellini is questionable with an injury as well.
The Bianconeri still have more overall talent and depth than Milan, however. An empty stadium will also not create much of a tough atmosphere to play in. Rivalries, however, can be tough to predict. Expect a tight match-up with plenty of goals with Milan versus Juventus.
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