AC Milan are again in Serie A motion on Saturday evening as they make the brief journey to face Monza, trying to proper the wrongs from earlier within the week.
The defeat in opposition to Napoli on Tuesday evening has as soon as once more thrust Milan right into a state of disaster, a minimum of within the eyes of the media. They’ve now misplaced 5 of their 12 video games below Paulo Fonseca throughout all competitions, and are 11 factors behind the leaders within the league.
Paulo Fonseca for causes that stay unknown, however even with out being requested any tough questions he should know the stress he’s below to ship outcomes rapidly.
Recreation Date: Saturday, November 1Kick-off time: 20:45 (CET)Venue: U-Energy StadiumReferee: Ermanno Feliciani (VAR: Serra)
Crew information
There was reportedly a gathering between Fonseca and his superiors after the defeat in opposition to Napoli. As Calciomercato.com reported, what emerged is that the coach , so might probably have a couple of video games to avoid wasting his job.
When it comes to harm information, there are some long-term absentees which might be nonetheless not accessible for choice in Alessandro Florenzi, Ismael Bennacer and Marco Sportiello, every of whom are nonetheless recovering from surgical procedure.
Matteo Gabbia, however, continues to be on the sidelines with a calf downside. It was anticipated that he would miss the Monza sport, and now all consideration is on or if he may be performed till the following worldwide break.
Now we transfer on to the excellent news. Initially, Luka Jovic and Davide Calabria did the complete coaching session with the remainder of the squad which implies they may virtually actually be accessible on the weekend.
Along with that, Tammy Abraham ‘s restoration continues after the shoulder downside (presumably a dislocation) he suffered within the 1-0 victory in opposition to Udinese. The Englishman can also be getting nearer to returning to the sphere, however is not going to be accessible for this sport.
Most significantly, Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders have served their suspensions and shall be accessible once more, whereas Christian Pulisic has absolutely recovered from the flu that made him sit on the bench from minute on of the Napoli loss.
Extra Tales / The Match
Seeking to the squad, there are not any surprises in the truth that Mike Maignan will begin from the primary minute. Nevertheless, a shock arrives within the type of , as a substitute of Calabria or Emerson Royal. Malick Thiaw ought to maintain his place in central defence, and the returning duo of Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez make up the line of defense.
In midfield, Fonseca reverts to a extra acquainted partnership, which sees Youssouf Fofana being partnered by the returning Reijnders, which is the favoured midfield duo for the Portuguese head coach.
The entrance line additionally sees some change, as Samuel Chukwueze and Noah Okafor will flank the returning Pulisic. Rafael Leao had been closely reported to be returning to the beginning line-up however, there seems to have been . There are not any shocks offered by Alvaro Morata’s beginning spot, although.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Terracciano, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo; Reijnders, Fofana; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Okafor; Morata
The opponents
It might be honest to say that Monza constructed on their first marketing campaign in Serie A final season as they completed twelfth, thus comfortably avoiding relegation and asserting themselves as a mid-table aspect after coming eleventh in 2022-23.
Nevertheless, the Biancorossi had been caught up within the teaching merry-go-round that occurred over the summer season. Thiago Motta left Bologna for Juventus, Vincenzo Italiano changed him, after which Raffaele Palladino left Monza for La Viola.
Adriano Galliani turned to somebody he is aware of very properly from his days with Milan in Alessandro Nesta, who thus obtained his first Serie A training gig after spells with Perugia, Frosinone and Reggiana.
Monza spent simply €3m in the summertime, and that was on Georgios Kyriakopoulos from relegated Sassuolo. The opposite additions had been Daniel Maldini, Stefano Sensi and Omari Fosun on frees, plus Stefano Turati, Alessandro Bianco and Samuel Pizzignacco on loans.
When it comes to gross sales, it was additionally a quiet window. Carlos Augusto’s mortgage to Inter was made everlasting for €13.25m, whereas Juventus signed goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio for a €4.5m mortgage payment and Andrea Colpani went to Fiorentina for a €4m mortgage payment. Each offers are anticipated to grow to be everlasting.
The reasonably underwhelming mercato appears to have seeped into their begin to the season. It took the Brianzoli till matchday eight to win their first sport (3-0 away at Verona), and it’s their solely victory so far.
Attracts in opposition to Fiorentina and Inter within the first 4 video games boosted spirits, nevertheless, they’ve misplaced to Genoa, Bologna, Napoli and Atalanta, leaving them hovering above the relegation zone and with discuss of Nesta being on shaky floor.
After the loss to La Dea, Nesta is contemplating wholesale modifications of his personal and these will begin in defence with Armando Izzo and Andrea Carboni set to interchange Danilo D’Amborsio and Luca Caldirola – Pablo Mari will stay on the coronary heart of the defence.
In midfield, there is just one change anticipated which is able to see Warren Bando return after serving his suspension in midweek, and he’ll accomplice the captain Matteo Pessina. On the wings, Pedro Pereira and Georgios Kyriakopoulos shall be named as soon as once more.
Nesta is contemplating altering his entrance three as properly, with Dany Mota set to be partnered by the returning Daniel Maldini after the previous Rossonero throughout in his press convention. Milan Duric will begin forward of them.
Predicted Monza XI (4-3-3):
Face to face
Milan have performed in opposition to Monza simply 15 occasions throughout all competitions since their formation in 1899, with 13 of these being wins and two being defeats, of which one got here final season.
The primary ever fixture between the perimeters was within the 1957-58 group stage of the Coppa Italia, with the Rossoneri triumphing 4-1 and 1-0 in opposition to their Lombardy neighbours.
In Serie A the primary video games got here in 2022-23 when Monza achieved promotion below Silvio Berlusconi’s possession. Stefano Pioli’s aspect received 4-1 at residence with Brahim Diaz (2), Divock Origi and Leao scoring, and 1-0 away because of Junior Messias’ purpose.
Final season, nevertheless, this specific fixture plunged Milan additional into disaster. Matteo Pessina and Dany Mota put Monza 2-0 up on the U-Energy Stadium, then Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic pulled it again to 2-2.
The drama wasn’t performed after the 88th-minute equaliser although, as Warren Bondo and Lorenzo Colombo (on mortgage from Milan) scored late on to seal a memorable 4-2 residence win.
Key details and stats
➤ Not one of the final 4 conferences between Monza and Milan have resulted in a attract Serie A, with the Rossoneri profitable three on the bounce earlier than the Brianza workforce received in the latest match again in February – a 4-2 win on the U-Energy Stadium.
➤ Monza drew their final residence sport in opposition to a Lombard workforce within the league (1-1 in opposition to Inter in September) and have by no means went unbeaten in two consecutive residence video games in opposition to such groups in Serie A.
➤ Milan received their final match in opposition to a Lombardy workforce in Serie A (2-1 within the derby in opposition to Inter) and haven’t received two video games in a row in opposition to opponents from their very own area since February 2023, once they beat Monza and Atalanta.
➤ Monza haven’t managed a single victory from their final 9 residence video games in Serie A (D4 L5), the longest present streak among the many groups presently within the top-flight and general solely Bari, Benevento, Reggiana, Salernitana and SPAL are on an extended run with out victory in residence video games within the competitors.
➤ Milan have received simply one in all their first 4 away video games this season (D1 L2), a victory that got here within the derby performed as a visiting workforce (2-1 vs Inter). The final time the Rossoneri achieved only one win or fewer from their first 5 away video games of the Serie A season was in 2018/19.
➤ Milan have misplaced 3+ of their first 9 video games (3) in a single Serie A marketing campaign for the primary time since 2019/20 (5 defeats in that case).
➤ Milan have misplaced two of their final three league video games (W1), in opposition to Fiorentina and Napoli, as many defeats as they suffered of their earlier 11 matches within the competitors (W4 D5).
➤ Dany Mota and Milan Djuric are Monza’s two prime scorers at residence within the league this season with two targets every. The Portuguese has scored eight residence targets in whole with the Brianza workforce in Serie A, simply two targets behind Andrea Colpani, the highest scorer on the U-Energy Stadium.
➤ Christian Pulisic has already scored three targets in 4 away video games in Serie A this season, while in the entire of final season he scored 4 targets in his 18 away video games. When contemplating his time within the Huge 5 European Leagues, solely in 2019/20 did Pulisic rating greater than 4 targets away from residence (seven in that season).
➤ Within the final three Serie A seasons (since 2022/23) with Rafael Leão as a starter, Milan have received 60% of their league matches (38 out of 63), incomes a mean of two.1 factors per sport. With out him from the beginning XI nevertheless, Rossoneri’s success proportion drops to 36% (8 out of twenty-two), incomes a mean of 1.3 factors per sport.
Ones to look at
Wanting first on the hosts, Milan have to be cautious of Warren Bando within the midfield, and given their intensive curiosity within the Frenchman, the sport may very well be used as a possibility to additional scout him, given there have been studies in regards to the Rossoneri trying to bolster their midfield.
After all, we should additionally spotlight Daniel Maldini, the person who wants no introduction. The attacking midfielder has begun writing his personal chapter, and a high-level efficiency in opposition to the Diavolo may very well be the proper alternative to sit up for the following web page of the chapter.
Wanting on the Rossoneri, the primary participant to look at is Filippo Terracciano. Fonseca is about to call him because the beginning right-back on Saturday, and this resolution is considerably complicated. However, it is a chance that the younger Italian should take.
Lastly, we have to see just a little extra from Alvaro Morata. Since becoming a member of, the Spaniard solely has three contributions, and while his position has fluctuated, he must be extra impactful, particularly now the Diavolo have .
Prediction
When Fonseca has been below the peak of stress and Milan have wanted a outcome with their backs in opposition to the wall they’ve up to now delivered, and we count on that pattern to proceed in opposition to a workforce additionally struggling for confidence. This may lure us right into a false sense of hope, naturally, earlier than a heavy defeat in Madrid.
Monza 0-2 Milan