AC Milan will travel to mid-table Torino on Sunday looking to build on their recent string of four straight Serie A victories and current lead in the Champions League.
The Rossoneri finished the week with a crushing victory in Zagreb, adding to their 4-1 victory over nearby Monza to move into second place in Group E and the Italian top division. Their hosts, meanwhile, have triumphed in both the league and the cup after recovering from their Derby della Mole loss.
Milan needed a repeat performance against Dinamo Zagreb because they had only won once in the Champions League before Tuesday’s match at San Siro. Despite having a long injury list, the seven-time European champions were able to deliver the desired outcome.
The Rossoneri eventually strode to a 4-0 victory at Stadion Maksimir and could have scored more after taking the lead via the unlikely source of fill-in center-back Matteo Gabbia.
Now, Stefano Pioli’s team needs just a draw against closest rivals Salzburg in next week’s final match to secure second place behind Chelsea in Group E, putting them very very close to secure a spot in the round of 16 in Champions League.
Following a convincing 4-1 victory over Lombardy locals Monza, the Scudetto holders, who have recorded the most goals from open play in Serie A this season, are also having a good domestic season. At San Siro, star player Rafael Leao scored two goals, just like in Croatia a few days later.
The outcome enabled Milan to maintain its three-point lead over league leaders Napoli, who are unbeaten, and it has been the champions’ commendably consistent away performance that has kept them on their southern rivals’ heels.
Milan has won 12 of their last 17 Serie A away games to remain unbeaten, dating all the way back to last season. The top five European leagues have never had a streak as long as this one, and they last had one in the early 1990s when legendary coach Fabio Capello led them to a staggering 38 consecutive victories.
Although the Rossoneri have split their last seven league meetings with their Turin opponents, including the most recent one in April, they will undoubtedly hope to return to the second city with three points this time given their current form.
Although Torino had managed to hold Milan to a scoreless draw six months prior, they had lost their previous four meetings in Serie A without scoring.
To be more precise, the Granata have gone 464 minutes without scoring a league goal in this match; their most recent goal came in a 2-1 victory in September 2019.
The Turin club has consistently struggled against Milan, but this season they have simply been inconsistent. After a spirited victory at Udinese last time out, they are now looking to win back-to-back Serie A games for the first time since January.
Torino won in Udine thanks to goals from Ola Aina and former Rossoneri striker Pietro Pellegri, providing coach Ivan Juric with sweet relief after his team had dropped five of their previous seven league games.
It came immediately after Pellegri scored once more in a 4-0 Coppa Italia victory over Serie B team Cittadella. That guaranteed them a spot in the round of 16, where they will face Milan at the beginning of the following year.
Milan Team News
Fikayo Tomori returns after serving a Champions League suspension on Tuesday, one of a few possible changes to Milan’s lineup for a match sandwiched between two crucial European matches. Although Simon Kjaer will be hoping to keep his spot, the England defender should team up with Matteo Gabbia at the centre of the visitors’ back four.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Davide Calabria, and Mike Maignan are among those who are still on the sidelines, but Charles De Ketelaere recently made a comeback and may start again despite a quiet game in Zagreb – especially with in-form Brahim Diaz still constrained by injury. After scoring his first goal in Serie A last week, Divock Origi should replace Olivier Giroud up front to give him a break.
Ante Rebic will start on the right flank in support of the frontman; he has five goals in five appearances against Torino, including his only Serie A double in a 7-0 victory in Turin last season. Torino are his favourite opponent. Rafael Leao, pictured on the left, is the Portuguese player who has contributed to the most goals this season in the top five leagues in Europe.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Tonali, Pobega; Ante Rebic, De Ketelaere, Leao; Origi
Torino Team News
In the meantime, Antonio Sanabria’s absence, should a leg injury keep him out, could limit the hosts’ attacking options. Pellegri, a former Milan player, will thus take the lead for Toro as he starts to live up to his early promise after years of struggling with muscular issues.
Ola Aina, a wingback in good form, may also be sidelined, so Wilfried Singo or Mergim Vojvoda will be added to Ivan Juric’s starting lineup. Nemanja Radonjic, Aleksei Miranchuk, and Nikola Vlasic are the options available to the Croatian coach to assist the lone forward.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Schuurs, Rodriguez; Lazaro, Lukic, Linetty, Vojvoda; Radonjic, Nikola Vlasic; Pellegri
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