AC Milan will play their closing sport of 2024 tonight, welcoming Roma to San Siro in a battle of two sides performing beneath expectations at current.
Milan did win their final sport earlier than the Christmas break in opposition to Hellas Verona, however it was a removed from convincing efficiency. There’s nonetheless an ongoing seek for consistency, and eighth place within the desk is much from adequate.
As Paulo Fonseca admitted in his , the strain is on to generate outcomes and performances, in any other case the season may slip right into a deep disaster.
The 5 key battles
The newest studies counsel that Fonseca , with the next gamers out injured: Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Noah Okafor, Luka Jovic and Alessandro Florenzi.
Given these absences, there can be some added impetus for Tijjani Reijnders. He has been concerned in essentially the most objectives this season throughout all competitions (eight objectives, two assists) of all Serie A midfielders. He’s additionally one in all two midfielders who has had at the least 20 photographs (25) and accomplished at the least 20 dribbles (20) within the present marketing campaign, together with Como’s Nico Paz.
The Dutchman is predicted to play behind the striker tonight, and will due to this fact face Manu Kone. He was earlier than the summer season and in years prior earlier than sealing a late change to Roma, the place he’s already starting to indicate precisely why he ended up on the radar of some prime golf equipment. He performs an anchoring midfield position, however can even progress the ball.
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On the different finish, Milan’s outdated foe Paulo Dybala is tipped to start out in a three-pronged assault. The Argentina has been concerned in essentially the most objectives in opposition to the Rossoneri amongst present Serie A gamers (seven objectives, 5 assists). Nonetheless, the ahead has solely scored one purpose on the San Siro in opposition to Milan within the league, again in November 2014 for Palermo.
It’s going to doubtless be as much as Malick Thiaw to maintain tabs on the previous Juventus man, provided that Dybala tends to play off the striker on the appropriate facet. It is going to be a great take a look at for the German and a return to being a daily starter.
Alvaro Morata missed the sport in opposition to Verona resulting from tonsillitis however has recovered and can lead the road over Roma loanee Tammy Abraham. Whereas the Spaniard has by no means actually been a prolific scorer, his present return of 4 Serie A objectives is just not actually sufficient and he would like to return to scoring in entrance of a offered out house crowd.
His opponent can be one other skilled participant in Mats Hummels. He was talked about as after leaving Dortmund however finally headed to the Italian capital on a free switch. The German had some preliminary bodily difficulties however has now established himself because the bedrock of Claudio Ranieri’s three-man line of defense.
Shifting to the flank, there can be a captivating contest between two attacking full-backs who’ve every sported bleach blonde hair at numerous occasions: Theo Hernandez and Alexis Saelemaekers. Many questioned the choice to let the Belgian depart in the summertime, and although he had some damage points he has three purpose contributions within the final two video games.
On the flip facet, it has been a rollercoaster marketing campaign for Theo already. The Frenchman discovered himself dropped prior to now couple of video games however appears to have after query marks about his perspective. The easiest way to indicate he has turned a nook could be with an attentive efficiency at each ends in opposition to a participant he is aware of very effectively.
Lastly, we come to Roma’s assertion summer season signing: Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian signed for a charge extensively reported to be near €40m and although he has proven some very encouraging flashes, he stays on 5 objectives from 15 league video games. Thus, query marks are starting to be requested in regards to the funding.
Matteo Gabbia is the centre-back that Fonseca will doubtless entrust with halting the ex-Girona striker, as somebody who’s aerially proficient and can be up for the bodily battle. In fact although it is going to be a group effort from Thiaw-Gabbia in opposition to Dovbyk-Dybala, and a clear sheet can be arduous work.