AC Milan will play their first away Serie A recreation of 2025 on Tuesday night as they make the brief journey up the street to face Como.
Milan returned from Saudi Arabia with the Supercoppa Italiana of their again pockets and displayed it earlier than the sport in opposition to Cagliari, however the edge was taken off the celebrations as they had been held to a draw.
Given the hunt to get into the Champions League locations, it’s crucial that Sergio Conceicao’s aspect don’t drop factors in opposition to groups on the backside finish of the desk, and after Saturday’s match.
Sport date: Tuesday, January 14Kick-off time: 18:30 (CET)Venue: Stadio Giuseppe SinigagliaReferee: Gianluca Mangianello (VAR: Serra)
Group information
As talked about, Milan will as soon as once more be referred to as upon for a response after one more disappointing league consequence. Constructing a run of wins has been their kryptonite to date in 2024-25, and Conceicao will look to repair among the consistency points.
What made the consequence in opposition to the Sardinians much more irritating was that Lazio dropped factors (in opposition to Como, mockingly) and Juventus had been held to a draw within the derby with Torino, so Milan squandered a giant probability to shut the hole.
Nonetheless, within the midweek spherical of video games the Bianconeri journey to face Atalanta whereas Inter host Bologna (who’re nonetheless above the Rossoneri). On the weekend, Milan make the journey to face their fierce rivals Juve away from house.
When it comes to harm information, Alessandro Florenzi remains to be recovering from an operation and Samuel Chukwueze is more likely to be out for just a few extra weeks but after a fairly severe muscle harm through the draw with Roma to shut 2024.
Extra Tales / The Match
Conceicao introduced previous to the Cagliari fixture that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has suffered a relapse of the flexor downside that has troubled him this season. He can be re-evaluated in just a few days, however may miss just a few video games consequently.
Emerson Royal after serving a ban, which signifies that he’ll return to rivalry. Alvaro Morata – who scored in Saturday’s draw – and Youssouf Fofana are one yellow card away from a one-match ban.
Evidently the beginning XI will stay fairly untouched in opposition to Como, beginning with Mike Maignan in objective. Emerson is predicted to return at right-back after lacking the sport in opposition to Cagliari via suspension. Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori are anticipated within the centre once more, however Matteo Gabbia is pushing for a begin.
In midfield, Conceicao is contemplating a flat midfield three, consisting of Yunus Musah, Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, however Ismael Bennacer may very well be given a chance to start out, so that may go proper to the wire.
Main the road ought to be Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Alvaro Morata, however the latter may very well be modified for Tammy Abraham, and even Francesco Camarda, maybe.
Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan, Emerson, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo; Musah, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao.
The opponents
Quite a bit has modified at Como lately with the SENT Leisure possession group, and final season they had been promoted again to Serie A after a 21-year absence by ending second in Serie B.
Osian Roberts was formally the pinnacle coach whereas Cesc Fabregas did his teaching badges, however the Spaniard was the one calling the photographs and was finally appointed in his place.
A lot of summer season signings arrived to assist the trigger, with Alberto Dossena and Yannik Engelhardt arriving for €8m every, plus Nico Paz and Emil Audero for €6m. Gabriel Strefezza and Alieu Fadera joined for €5m.
Different notable additions embrace Raphael Varane, Sergi Roberto and Alberto Moreno on free transfers, plus Andrea Belotti from AS Roma. Adrian Semper and Cas Odenthal had been the one gross sales, for a mixed €3.7m.
Como have discovered it robust of their return to the highest flight, with 4 wins from 19 video games, plus seven attracts and eight defeats. They’ve scored 21 targets and let in 31, sitting only one level above the drop zone at current.
They’ve had some spectacular outcomes, akin to beating Roma 2-0 at house and even rising 3-2 victors away in opposition to Atalanta again in September in what was an early assertion of intent, or so many thought.
Maybe due to their dangerous place, the Lombardy membership have determined to spend near €30m in January already. Maxence Caqueret has simply signed from Lyon and Assane Diao from Actual Betis for €27m.
When it comes to choice points for Fabregas to cope with, Sergi Roberto, Federico Barba, Marco Sala and Daniele Baselli are all listed as doubts, as is their star playmaker Nico Paz who has been a revelation since becoming a member of from Actual Madrid.
Cesc Fabregas is predicted to not experiment in opposition to Milan, particularly the aforementioned points inside his squad. Because of this, an virtually full-strength backline is predicted to stay unchanged. Butez will begin in objective, with Van de Brempt, Dossena, and Kempf being constant within the backline. With Alberto Moreno’s harm, Ben Kone may begin at left-back.
Engelhardt and Cunha ought to stay because the midfield pivot, and there’s a probability that the on the coronary heart of Como’s assault. Both aspect of him ought to be Strefezza and Fadera with former Rossonero Cutrone anticipated to guide the road.
Predicted Como XI (4-2-3-1): Butez; Van de Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Kone; Engelhardt, Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone.
Face to face
Of the groups which can be at present in Serie A, Milan have solely performed in opposition to Monza much less (16 occasions). The Rossoneri have confronted Como in 32 aggressive video games, with 17 wins, 10 attracts and 5 defeats, a win price of 53.1%.
It was again in 1949-50 that the primary contests befell, a 1-1 draw at San Siro adopted by a 4-1 win for the Diavolo within the return recreation, during which Gunnar Nordahl scored a hat-trick.
The final two video games got here again in 2002-03, and it was a double for Milan over their neighbours from the area. Away from house, Massimo Ambrosini and Andriy Shevchenko scored in a 2-1 victory.
Again at San Siro, Pippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Nesta acquired on the scoresheet as Carlo Ancelotti’s males emerged 2-0 winners.
Key stats and info
➤ Como and Milan face one another in Serie A for the primary time since 3 Might 2003, a spot of 21 years and 256 days: the Rossoneri received 2-0 on the Meazza, with targets from Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Nesta.
➤ Milan are unbeaten of their final 11 matches in opposition to Como in Serie A (W6, D5), successful the newest two; the final success of the Como group in opposition to the Rossoneri within the high flight dates again to 13 January 1985 (2-0 on the Meazza, with Ottavio Bianchi as coach of the Biancoblü).
➤ Milan received their final away match in opposition to Como in Serie A (2-1 on 15 December 2002); the Rossoneri have by no means received two in a row away from house the Como group within the high flight.
➤ Como have misplaced solely certainly one of their final six league matches (2W, 3D), after shedding 4 occasions within the earlier 5 (1D).
➤ Milan have drawn their final two league video games (vs. Roma and Cagliari) and so they may draw three consecutive video games in Serie A for the primary time since September 2018, below Genaro Gattuso.
➤ Como have received their final two house league matches (in opposition to Roma and Lecce, each 2-0), the final time they achieved three house wins in a row in Serie A dates again to November 1984, below Ottavio Bianchi.
➤ AC Milan have recorded three wins, two attracts and three defeats away from house in Serie A this season, with 12 targets scored and 12 targets conceded. In an away league desk in Serie A 2024-25 the Rossoneri occupy ninth place when it comes to common factors (1.4).
➤ 4 of Como’s final 5 targets in Serie A had been scored after the seventieth minute, after solely two of Como’s first 16 targets within the present match had arrived on this time interval.
➤ Patrick Cutrone’s first 63 appearances, that includes 13 targets, in Serie A got here with the Milan shirt(together with 10 targets in 2017-18, his finest scoring season within the ‘high 5’ European leagues). The 1998 born participant has confronted the Rossoneri in 4 Serie A matches with out both scoring or aiding however incomes a penalty in opposition to Fiorentina on 22 February 2020.
➤ Rafael Leão has been concerned in 5 targets in his final 5 matches in opposition to newly promoted groups in Serie A (one objective and 4 assists), offering one help in each matches in opposition to these groups within the present league season (in opposition to Parma in August and Venezia in September).
Ones to observe
With the reported curiosity in Kyle Walker, Emerson Royal has a job to show himself as the person to proceed at right-back. An funding like Walker can be vastly damaging to the Brazilian, so an excellent efficiency may assist additional offset rumours a few potential arrival.
After conceding a poor objective to Cagliari, and Matteo Gabbia nonetheless sitting on the bench, it may be argued that the central defensive partnership want to indicate they’re proper to function collectively. Particularly after requires Gabbia’s return.
Nico Paz is an apparent one to observe for the hosts. The midfielder has shone for Como this season, and a number of other of Europe’s elite are maintaining a tally of him. If he is able to play tomorrow night, it’s the Diavolo’s defence who should regulate him.
How can we additionally not pinpoint Patrick Cutrone? Since leaving Milan, the striker has struggled pretty often, however he has discovered a job with Como. Hopefully, his struggles restart in opposition to the Rossoneri, however not additional previous it.
Prediction
Como have proved that they’re a tough aspect to play in opposition to; wins in opposition to Roma and Atalanta show that. Nonetheless, the Rossoneri have their very own qualities, and so they should present them with Conceicao needing to see enchancment.
Como 1-2 AC Milan