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AC Milan is set to play against AS Roma in an exciting Europa League quarter-final 1st leg match at the San Siro. This is the first time these two Italian teams will meet in a European competition. AC Milan is coming off a strong 3-0 win against Lecce and is looking for their eighth straight win.
They're currently second in the Serie A league. While AS Roma, having just won a big game against their city rivals, faces a tough match in Milan.
Milan hasn't lost to Roma in their last 9 games, with 6 wins and 3 draws, all in the Italian league. Since Daniele De Rossi became Roma's manager, the team has improved, moving up to 5th from 9th place in the league.
This match is not just about moving forward in the Europa League, but it's also a big test for both teams, filled with excitement and high expectations in the Serie A for the ongoing season.
Given the typically cautious approach of Italian teams in first-leg encounters, it's likely that both Milan and Roma will prioritise defence.
The betting tip is...
Under 3.5 Goals to be Scored
56 %
44 %
The Milan team will have to make do without Fikayo Tomori, who is serving a suspension. Milan will also be missing the services of Pobega and Kalulu due to injuries. Additionally, Malick Thiaw's participation remains uncertain due to a foot injury.Β
In the midfield, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to return to action, taking his place alongside Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, who is currently on a hot streak with 4 goals in his last 5 appearances. Olivier Giroud is expected to lead the attack with his 15 goals and 9 assists tally.Β
The right-back position sees a potential face-off between former Roma player Alessandro Florenzi and Davide Calabria for a starting spot. With Milan in top form, having secured 5 consecutive wins, including a notable 3-0 victory over Lecce, the team is looking to carry this momentum into the European stage.
Giroud, Pulisic and Leao are responsible for 68% of the teamβs shots on target in Europa.
Predicted Lineup: Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Simon Kjær, Matteo Gabbia, Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Tijani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud
Roma heads into the match with a decent run, winning 2, drawing 1, and losing 1 of their last 4 games, including a notable victory in the Rome derby against Lazio, thanks to Gianluca Mancini's decisive goal. Despite a 1-0 setback against Brighton in the Europa League, they had previously secured a comfortable 4-0 lead in the first leg.
Evan Ndicka, who was suspended for the derby, is expected to return and pair up with Mancini in central defence, as Rasmus Kristensen remains sidelined due to injury. Tammy Abraham, having made a comeback from an ACL injury against Lazio, is likely to be an option off the bench once more, suggesting Roma's starting lineup might largely mirror the one from the derby.Β
In defence, Diego Llorente or Chris Smalling may feature alongside Mancini due to Ndicka's suspension and Huijsen's unavailability for UEFA matches. Zeki Celik is set to continue as right-back, with Leonardo Spinazzola taking over from Angelino on the left.Β
The attacking trio will likely comprise Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, and Stephan El Shaarawy, with Abraham ready to contribute as needed. Lukaku and Dybala have 18 and 14 goals this season.
Dybala, Lukaku and El Shaarawy are the goal-scoring players.
Predicted Lineup: Mile Svilar, Zeki Celik, Gianluca Mancini, Diego Llorente, Leonardo Spinazzola, Bryan Cristante, Leandro Paredes, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Stephan El Shaarawy
Given AC Milan's current form and their superior head-to-head record against AS Roma, it's difficult to bet against them in this matchup. Milan's attacking force is particularly impressive, with Leao, Giroud and Pulisic all in fine form. The addition of Loftus-Cheek and Chukwueze only strengthens their offensive options.
While Roma has shown promise under Daniele De Rossi, their inconsistency, especially in away games, might hinder their performance.
Italian fixtures in Europe, and especially first legs, are often grudge, nervous and tight affairs so it could be a low-scoring game. Expect a competitive but cautious match, likely resulting in a narrow victory for Milan.
