MONZA v AC MILAN: KEYS TO THE MATCH

AC Milan will be looking to apply the good signs seen against Torino and Tottenham in the Champions League, while Monza will be hoping to back up their win over Bologna last time out, in a season that has so far exceeded expectations. Let's take a closer look at the potential keys to matchday 23 in Serie A, scheduled for Saturday 18 February at 18.00 CET at U-Power Stadium:

PRESSING MONZA IN POSSESSION
AC Milan and Monza both use a back three. Pioli is expected to select this defensive formation for the fourth time in a row, while Palladino's side are generally more used to it, and it has now become part of their make-up. This is surely an advantage in terms of consistency and performance, but it does take away the element of surprise, while still allowing them to take necessary precautions. The defence is the starting point for the Brianzola's attacks, with ball possession one of their main and strongest characteristics. Pressing high up the pitch could be one way for the Rossoneri to hurt the home side, taking advantage of forced errors. The opposition's backline reveals some deficiencies in terms of organisation, pace and precision, leaving them little pitch space to cover when defending the goal. In general, a careful but aggressive approach should bear some fruit for the Rossoneri.

CENTRE-FORWARDS OF IMPORTANCE
Giroud and Petagna: the first leads by goals (seven in the league, including the three points against Torino), with the former Rossoneri more involved in making assists (five in total, two on the tro against Sampdoria and Bologna). Both play a vital role in their respective teams' play, being the focal point in front of goal. They have strong physical and aerial qualities, are able to hold the ball well, allowing their teammates to push up and find space. They are both difficult opponents, and giving them just an inch of space could prove lethal. But it won't be  an easy afternoon for either of them as both Monza and AC Milan possess mean defences, good at man-marking and strong in individual battles. As a consequence, the movement of Olivier, just as Origi and Andrea, and Dany Mota, will be even more important in trying create space out wide and in areas of the pitch less common, yet still efficient to attack with freedom or open up other routes and weapons more dangerous from tighter angles: Leão and Díaz on one side; Caprari and Ciurria on the other.

HOME AND AWAY FACTORS

A more general theme concerns AC Milan's performances away at the newly-promoted teams and Monza's performances at home against the big teams. A detail that could affect - and perhaps will affect - the performances and therefore the result. The Rossoneri struggled a lot in Cremona and Lecce, games which have been among their most underwhelming away outings, showing difficulties in the early stages of games and also in creating chances. The Biancorossi have shown that they are a real threat against the big sides: they have beaten Juventus, and kept Inter to a draw. For the Diavolo, the task is to buck the trend by offering enough quality to win a first away game in over month, having won away only four times from eleven games this season.

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