AC MILAN v TORINO: KEYS TO THE MATCH

Two consecutive home games, two chances to get back to winning ways. That's what awaits the Rossoneri. First up, we take on Torino, a tough team to face that has already beaten the Rossoneri twice this season. The game against the Granata will depend, among other things, on a few tactical key points, which will be especially important against one of Serie A's most miserly defences. Let's take a look at three of them: 

DEFENSIVE ASSET
It is, inevitably, the topic of the match. The Rossoneri switched to a back three for the derby last weekend and Stefano Pioli confirmed that he would use the same system for our upcoming fixtures. Ivan Jurić himself has a near dogmatic commitment to a back three as part of his tactical identity. Torino have lined up with a three-man defence in every league game this season, with Buongiorno and Schuurs the regulars, which Rodríguez and Djidji rotate in that third centre-back spot. Options for the Rossoneri are somewhat limited at the moment due to various absences. Malick Thiaw could start for the first time since the game in Cremona - incidentally, AC Milan's first run-out with a back three this season.

RISING STARS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD
Brahim Díaz and Yann Karamoh are two Under-25s who are well acquainted with Italian football. The Spaniard is in his third season in Italy, while it is the Frenchman's fourth (his first with Torino). Both attacking midfielders are able to produce moments of magic to turn a tight game on its head, which could be key in this particular fixture, as games between the two are often very even. Díaz has been involved in more goals against Torino than any other Italian side, while Karamoh goes into this game after scoring his first two goals for the Granata, in back-to-back games against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia and Udinese in the last round of Serie A football. The winner of this particular individual battle could be the one to decide the game.

INDIVIDUAL DUELS
Keeping in mind the idea of it being a tight - and potentially cagey - clash, it could come down to individuals. AC Milan doesn't only have, in Rafael Leão, the best dribbler in Serie A this season, they have also won the highest percentage of their duels of any team. Torino struggles with the latter (second-last in this particular classification) but have some dangerous individuals of their own, not least Mirančuk who scored in the reverse fixture and will be sure to play a big role at San Siro. Some particularly positive attacking stats will be sure to bolster the Rossoneri's confidence; they scored at least two goals per game in their last six home matches and have the second-best goalscoring record at home. They have, however, failed to score in the two games, which they started with a back three.

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