Milan-Sassuolo is a Serie A Week 20 match to be played on Sunday at 12:30: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
The bad night at the Olimpico against Sarri’s Lazio is yet another alarming symptom of a crisis from which AC Milan cannot find a way out. The Biancocelesti scrambled the Italian champions 4-0, the second consecutive defeat after the one suffered a few days before in Saudi Arabia in the Italian Super Cup derby against Inter. Another extremely negative performance from the Rossoneri, in every respect.
The defence, which last year had been instrumental in winning the Scudetto, is in trouble – in the six matches played in 2023 they have always conceded at least one goal – the midfield struggles to filter and key players such as Giroud, Hernandez and Leao seem to be far from their best form and probably need time to return to their pre-World Cup form. The numbers, both defensive and offensive, do not lie. Milan have ended the last two matches without scoring and the only success remains that of 4 January, a risky one, on the field of Salernitana. Then many disappointments and humiliations. Stefano Pioli is going through the most difficult moment since he became the coach of the Diavolo in autumn 2019. After Tuesday’s resounding defeat against Sarri’s men – who were, moreover, deprived of their goal scorer Immobile – AC Milan ended up at -12 from the arrembante Napoli and now they have to watch their backs from their pursuers: the Champions League spot is also at risk.
Berardi sees red (black) against AC Milan
Will the match against Sassuolo – an opponent that evokes sweet tricolour memories for Rossoneri fans after their Scudetto-deciding victory in May 2022 – be the turning point in a season that seems to be taking a turn for the worse?
Ferrari exults after goal at Monza
If Milan were to miss the appointment with the three points again, they would be without success for the sixth game in a row: the last such long fast dates back to 2018, when Gennaro Gattuso sat on the bench. Alessio Dionisi’s Emiliani meanwhile have just broken a worrying negative series that had been going on since November, drawing 1-1 with Monza. The neroverde’s last success was a long time ago: to track it down you have to go all the way back to October. In the meantime the league table is increasingly bleak, with Sassuolo fourth to last, -5 from the relegation zone. Dionisi relies on his captain Domenico Berardi: AC Milan are the favourite victim of the striker from Calabria, who sees red every time he meets the Diavolo, who have been castigated on 10 occasions.
Milan-Sassuolo: the latest line-up news
It’s raining wet at AC Milan and the injury to Tomori is another blow for Pioli, who is forced to deal with a continuing defensive emergency. The two centre-backs will be Kalulu and Kjaer, while in the midfield alongside Tonali the coach will choose Krunic, an obligatory choice given Bennacer’s disqualification. Saelemaekers and Leao are certain to start in the back three, while in the centre Pioli is tempted to give another chance to the Belgian De Ketelaere. The offensive end will be as usual Giroud.
On the other side, Dionisi should not change much compared to Monza. In the offensive trident Defrel could win over Alvarez, while Pinamonti is still in the infirmary. In the middle Maxime Lopez and Traoré are ahead in the ballot with Obiang and Thorstvedt.
The prediction
The last precedent with Sassuolo at the San Siro agitates AC Milan, who have failed to beat the Emiliani at home since 2019. This, however, is a game the Rossoneri cannot afford to lose after their crushing defeats of Inter and Lazio, and we believe they should somehow come out on top against another team struggling with a lot of problems, in a game of at least two goals overall.
The probable formations of Milan-Sassuolo
- MILAN (3-4-1-2): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Kjaer, Hernandez; Krunic, Tonali; Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Leao; Giroud.
- SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Pegolo; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Maxime Lopez, Traoré; Berardi, Defrel, Laurienté.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
