Thanks to the crucial win against Juventus, Milan are now one step closer to a Champions League return. There are just three games left of the season and they will take on Torino, Cagliari and Atalanta. The former clash is scheduled for Wednesday evening and the Rossoneri need a good result.
The 3-0 win at Allianz Stadium surprised many as Milan secured their first win at the stadium, having failed to register a single point there in a decade. It seems the incredible support shown by the fans on the morning of gameday paid off as Stefano Pioli’s side was a level above Andrea Pirlo’s.
And now, two important games against Torino and Cagliari await as the Rossoneri would secure their return to the Champions League with two wins. Even though it’s far from done, it should be said that Milan are big favourites to win both of these games, starting with the Turin-based encounter tomorrow.
TEAM NEWS
Samu Castillejo is back in the squad after serving a suspension against Juventus, but two players that started against the Bianconeri will miss out tomorrow. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was forced to leave the pitch with a knee injury and his season could be over, while Alexis Saelemaekers got a yellow card and will be suspended.
It’s not ideal for Stefano Pioli but he has plenty of options to field from start instead, with a few in the running for the two spots. It seems the defence and midfield will remain exactly the same, per Gazzetta Dello Sport, though one possible change is Alessio Romagnoli instead of Simon Kjaer.
In the attacking trio, Castillejo is in pole position to start on the right as he’s been Pioli’s No.2 for that position all season. Brahim Diaz was the MOTM against Juventus and should get another chance from start in the No.10 role, but if Hakan Calhanoglu is moved back then Rafael Leao could start on the left-wing.
Ante Rebic will replace Ibrahimovic up front and it seems like the right choice since he scored a wonderful goal from that role last time out. The style of play will, of course, be a tad different without the big Swede but it shouldn’t bother Milan too much, provided that the Croatian does well.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie; Castillejo, Diaz, Calhanoglu; Rebic.
Probable Torino XI (3-5-2): Sirigu; Lyanco, Bremer, Buongiorno; Singo, Baselli, Mandragora, Linetty, Rodriguez; Belotti, Zaza.
STATS
- Milan have won each of their last two league games against Torino without conceding a goal: the last time they enjoyed three consecutive Serie A TIM wins against the Granata without conceding was back in 1979.
- Milan are winless against Torino in Serie A away games since December 2012 (a 4-2 Rossoneri win): in the last seven league meetings between these two teams at Piemonte, there’s been five draws followed by two Granata wins.
- Milan’s manager Stefano Pioli has gone unbeaten in his last 11 Serie A games against Torino with four draws and seven wins, including the most recent two.
- Torino striker Andrea Belotti has been involved in five goals in five Serie A games at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino against Milan (four goals, one assist), including a brace in the most recent match (a 2-1 win in September 2019).
- Milan’s Brahim Díaz has found the net in each of his last two league starts, after having scored just one goal in his previous 10 Serie A TIM starts.
PREDICTION
Milan shouldn’t get too carried away by the win against Juventus as the latter have indeed struggled a bit throughout the season. In this phase of the season, every game is crucial and Torino are still fighting to avoid relegation, which means Milan have to stay concentrated from the first minute.
The Rossoneri have faced Il Toro twice this season and neither of the games were a walk in the park for them. Having said that, Pioli’s men have been very strong away from home and given the importance at stake, they should be hungry to clinch another three points in the city of Turin.
Torino 1-2 AC Milan
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