AC Milan VS Sassuolo live preview Serie A

AC Milan：

Facing a familiar figure in Salernitana manager Pippo Inzaghi, AC Milan found themselves in a challenging situation last weekend. The former goal-scoring sensation, now at the helm of Salernitana, posed a significant challenge for Milan as they were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw at Stadio Arechi.The encounter saw Milan take an early lead with a goal from Fikayo Tomori, but they couldn't maintain their advantage and even found themselves trailing in the later stages of the match. Luka Jovic, Milan's backup striker, eventually salvaged a point with a late goal, preventing a more severe setback for manager Stefano Pioli.Pioli has been under increasing pressure due to Milan's defensive struggles, having conceded 64 goals in 2023 across all competitions, setting a club record for goals conceded in a calendar year. Milan currently lags behind Inter and Juventus in the Serie A title race, and their recent Champions League exit has added to the challenges they face.Despite these setbacks, Milan has generally performed better at home, securing nine clean sheets in the league in 2023, marking their best defensive record at San Siro since 2014. However, maintaining a clean sheet against Salernitana, a team that enjoys visiting San Siro, will be a formidable task.

Sassuolo：

Sassuolo has been a consistent source of frustration for AC Milan in recent encounters, securing victories on their last three visits to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Additionally, Sassuolo holds a notable achievement from earlier in the season when they handed league leaders Inter Milan their only home defeat in September.Despite these positive moments, Sassuolo finds themselves just three points above the Serie A relegation zone with two games left until the season's midway point. Their recent form has been less than stellar, exemplified by a 2-1 loss at home to Genoa last weekend, where they squandered a lead and conceded a late goal.A recurring issue for Sassuolo has been their inability to hold onto leads, having lost 28 points from winning positions throughout 2023, more than any other Serie A side during this period. This trend has continued into the current campaign, reflecting the team's defensive struggles.Featuring notable attacking talents like Andrea Pinamonti and Domenico Berardi, Sassuolo's challenges lie in their defensive record. They have conceded a club-record 71 league goals over the past 12 months and are yet to keep a clean sheet in the current season. As they face AC Milan, securing a victory against a team known for its defensive vulnerabilities presents a considerable challenge.

Analysis：

AC Milan continues to face defensive challenges as several key defenders remain sidelined due to injuries. Fikayo Tomori, who sustained an injury in the previous match, has added to the defensive concerns. Luka Jovic, the Serbian striker, may also miss out on the upcoming match due to an ankle injury suffered against Salernitana.Yunus Musah is training separately from the main squad due to a muscular problem, compounding the injury worries. The unavailable players include Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw, Mattia Caldara, Tommaso Pobega, Noah Okafor, and the recently injured Tomori. Marco Pellegrino and Marco Sportiello could make a return from their respective injuries, providing some relief, but Milan's options remain limited.With Jovic likely absent, the responsibility falls on Olivier Giroud, who boasts an impressive goal-scoring record. Giroud aims to maintain his scoring form against Sassuolo and surpass last year's goal tally. Jan-Carlo Simic, who recently scored on his debut, may be called upon in central defense due to the defensive injury crisis.Sassuolo's attacking threat revolves around Domenico Berardi, who has a notable record against AC Milan. Berardi, having recovered from illness, is expected to feature on the right flank alongside Armand Lauriente on the left and Andrea Pinamonti leading the attack.Despite Berardi's return, Sassuolo faces challenges with multiple players expected to be unavailable for the match, including Uros Racic, Daniel Boloca, Gregoire Defrel, Matias Vina, and Mattia Viti. The absence of key players could pose difficulties for Sassuolo in their trip to Lombardy.

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Simic, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:

Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Pedersen; Henrique, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Bajrami, Lauriente; Pinamonti.

AC Milan VS Sassuolo stream and TV listing

Dominica：ESPN Caribbean，ESPNPlay Caribbean

Honduras：Star+，ESPN Norte

International：Score808 808ball