AC MILAN v JUVENTUS: MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A
It's Juve after Napoli and before Chelsea. There are only big fixtures at San Siro this season. On the ninth matchday of the season, the Rossoneri need to redeem the loss in the Champions League and want to return to winning ways at home on an important and difficult evening. Let's look at it in detail:
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Fourth in the standings at 17 points and three places from the top currently occupied by Napoli and Atalanta, the Rossoneri arrive off the back of the Champions League loss at Chelsea. The performance in London was below expectations, and so a reaction and a show of character will be needed on the pitch. At San Siro, victory has been missing since the 3-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb, and in the league since the 3-2 win in the Derby. The stadium, as always, will be able to make the difference in pushing for a return to winning ways. Despite the short time to prepare for the match, a single, but notable piece of news should be highlighted from Milanello: Hernández is well and is already ready to return as a starter, and so a crucial extra weapon is back at Pioli's disposal. Kjær, Maignan and Messias are still unavailable, as well as Calabria, Florenzi, Ibrahimović and Saelemaekers. From Tătărușanu in goal to Giroud in attack, in the middle a few minor changes should not be ruled out, although the main news seems to be about the attacking midfielder.
"Within a season there are two or three matches that matter more" - Coach Pioli's words on the evening of press conference - "and the one against Juventus has an important and specific weight, for many reasons. The motivations are all there and they would have been there against any other opponent, and we are all responsible for the performance in London so there is the determination to show that we are a different team than we were on Wednesday."
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The Bianconeri have just got back on track by beating Maccabi Haifa (3-1) in Europe and Bologna (3-0) in Italy, relaunching themselves after a difficult and negative period. But at the moment they remain uneasy, as Allegri's side for now is only seventh in Serie A. Di Maria's absence due to suspension will be felt; De Sciglio was injured during the week. A repetition of the 4-4-2 is probable with Szczęsny in goal, Bonucci leading the defence, Locatelli in the midfield, Cuadrado and Kostić on the flanks and the the Vlahović-Milik duo (not 100%) in attack as the biggest danger; also watch out for Rabiot, star of a double in the Champions League in July 2020.
"We are playing against the Italian champions, and it will be a more difficult match than usual," said Allegri, "because they come into the match from a bad defeat in London and will want to make up for it. It will be a good match, a wonderful evening of sport in a full stadium. There are all the conditions to be able to do well. We will need solidity and personality, it will be a good test: we are ready."
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Refereeing AC Milan v Juventus will be Daniele Orsato from Schio. Assisting him will be Carbone and Giallatini as linesmen, Fabbri as fourth official and Chiffi (assisted by Marini) on VAR. For the experienced referee from Veneto, it will be his 262nd game in Serie A, after 31 previous games with the Rossoneri (the most recent is dated last May, 2-0 at home v Atalanta) and 38 with the Bianconeri (the most recent in December 2021, 2-0 at home v Bologna).
Matchday 9 of Serie A starts on Saturday at 15.00 CEST with Sassuolo v Inter, before AC Milan v Juventus at 18.00 CEST and Bologna v Sampdoria at 20.45 CEST. On Sunday, there will be Torino v Empoli at 12:30 CEST, Monza v Spezia, Salernitana v Hellas Verona and Udinese v Atalanta at 15.00 CEST, Cremonese v Napoli at 18.00 CEST and Roma v Lecce at 20.45 CEST. Finally, on Monday, Fiorentina v Lazio will kick-off at 20.45 CEST.
This is how the Serie A table looks: Napoli and Atalanta 20, Udinese 19, Lazio and AC Milan 17, Roma 16, Juventus 13, Inter 12, Torino 10, Fiorentina 9, Spezia 8, Lecce, Salernitana, Empoli and Monza 7, Bologna 6, Hellas Verona 5, Cremonese 3, Sampdoria 2.
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