Milan-Salernitana is a Serie A Week 26 match to be played on Monday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Anglo’s direct competitors all slowed down at the weekend. Inter lost unexpectedly in Friday’s early game in La Spezia, Lazio were stopped by Bologna, and a tired and probably overworked Roma surrendered to a spirited Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in a pyrotechnic 4-3 win.
He couldn’t have asked for better than that for Stefano Pioli, who, in the post-match match that closes the 26th day, has the chance to get back into the Champions League zone and join his Nerazzurri cousins in second place on 50 points. The Diavolo host Salernitana at the San Siro after a magical night in London: the 0-0 draw against Tottenham in the return leg of the Champions League round of 16 gave Theo Hernandez and his team-mates qualification for the quarter-finals, a goal Milan had not achieved for almost a decade. The disappointing evening in Florence was immediately forgotten: last Saturday the Italian champions stumbled into their first defeat (2-1) after four wins in a row, which brought back to mind the bad performances of January, the rossoneri’s month horribilis. Since Pioli decided to switch to a three-man defence, the goal has always remained inviolate except for the challenge against Vincenzo Italiano’s Viola. It will be crucial to beat the Granata, as Milan face Udinese in the next round, while the Romans take points off each other in the derby and Inter take on Juventus in the big match of the day.
San Siro is a taboo for Salernitana
Salernitana have picked up four points since the change from Davide Nicola to Paulo Sousa. The Portuguese coach, after the resounding victory at the Arrechi against Monza, did not go beyond a draw (0-0) with Sampdoria.
Paulo Sousa
Salvation shouldn’t be a problem looking at the league table but it’s still early to relax and pull the reins in the boat. Third-last Verona failed to win against Monza and drew 1-1 to take a lead of -6 from the Campania team. It will take a half-hearted effort to snatch a point at a stadium that has been a taboo since Salernitana rediscovered the top flight last year: the Granata lost all three games here between Inter and AC Milan with a disarming aggregate score of 9-0.
Milan-Salernitana: latest line-up news
Pioli will have to do without one of the most in-form players of recent weeks, former Crotone player Messias. The Brazilian will be replaced by the Belgian Saelemaekers, who has the advantage in the duel with Calabria. The three-man defence with Kalulu, Thiaw and Tomori is confirmed. In the three-quarter more Brahim Diaz than De Ketelaere. In attack, the returning Leao will support Giroud.
Specular form for Paulo Sousa, who will choose Candreva and Dia behind the former Piatek, deployed in the role of first point. On the right flank will be Mazzocchi, on the other side Bradaric. The re-established Maggiore will challenge Crnigoj in midfield.
The Prediction
Pioli and his men, fresh from the joy of qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals, have a great chance to get back into the top four and to prove that what happened in Florence was just an accident. Victory should come on time against a Salernitana side that could score at least one goal in any case against the defence that has conceded the most goals at home (16) of the top six in the current table.
A Milan v Salernitana matchday squad
- MILAN (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw; Saelemaekers, Tonali, Krunic, Hernandez; Brahim Diaz, Leao; Giroud.
- SALERNITANA (3-4-2-1): Ochoa; Daniliuc, Gyomber, Pirola; Mazzocchi, Coulibaly, Crnigoj, Bradaric; Candreva, Dia; Piatek.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
