AC Milan host Juventus on Wednesday evening in one of Serie A’s most monumental matches of the season. Typically, this match is also enticing due to the historic rivalry, but a lot more is set to be on the line today.
First of all, Milan currently sit first in the league table. This, of course, has not happened in years by this point of the season. Juventus, meanwhile, are the reigning Scudetto winners. The Bianconeri also need this match to climb back into the top four.
AC Milan Against Juventus Preview
AC Milan
It’s important to note that Milan will be without three starters. These are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ismael Bennacer, and Alexis Saelemaekers.
Ibrahimovic’s continued absence is massive. He is the best goal scorer on the team and the obvious leader of the squad. His motivation and presence on the pitch will be sorely missed. Milan have stayed on top of the table during his few weeks out, but need him for a match of this magnitude. Rafael Leão and Ante Rebic will have to put in stellar performances for Milan to score.
Bennacer is arguably the second most important player on the team, behind Ibrahimovic. He is the heart and soul of everything Milan do on the pitch. Putting statistics aside, Bennacer pulls the strings in the midfield for nearly every Milan attack. He is also pivotal in coming back on defence and making tackles. Typical substitute Sandro Tonali is suspended, so depth option Rade Krunic will be deployed.
Saelemaekers rarely wows the fans on the wing, but he is a reliable workhorse. Youngster Brahim Diaz will get a chance to shine in his place.
Milan beat Juventus 4-2 in the last meeting between the two sides, after falling to a 2-0 deficit early on. The spirit they showed in that game will be necessary once again. Expect vocal leaders Franck Kessie, Alessio Romagnoli, and Gianluigi Donnarumma to be the team’s biggest difference makers.
Juventus
Juventus are not without their absentees, either. Alvaro Morata is injured, while full-backs Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado tested positive for COVID-19.
Danilo and Gianluca Frabotta are likely to take the full-backs’ places.
Paulo Dybala is starting in Morata’s place. Although having his struggles this season, the football world knows Dybala is a star, meaning their game plan does not change in light of Morata’s absence.
Now, of course, the focal point of Juventus will be Cristiano Ronaldo. At 36-years-old, he continues to light up the league. It’s impossible for opposing teams to ever feel comfortable defending Ronaldo, as he’s always one play away from a thunderbolt-like strike or jumping over all defenders for a stellar header.
Juventus’ midfield has struggled this season as well, but are presented with a nice opportunity. They will likely be outmatched against Kessie, but can take advantage of Krunic playing for Milan.
The defence is key for Juventus. Milan are on a scoring streak of two or more goals for 17 straight league games. Juventus are going to have their hands full.
Prediction
Milan to win 2-1. Leão and Rebic to score for Milan, and Ronaldo to score for Juventus.
Leão has continued to grow this season while Rebic’s performances suggest he’s a big-game player. Ronaldo scoring simply seems obvious.
Milan are short-handed, but something feels different this season. They always find a way to push forward and get the result. Juventus, although just fifth, are struggling for their standards and are ten points behind the hosts. Milan manager Stefano Pioli knows what a win like this will do to his young squad.
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