AC MILAN v SALERNITANA: KEYS TO THE MATCH

So near, so far. AC Milan and Salernitana last met just 67 days ago but a lot has changed since that game to kick off 2023. The Rossoneri have switched formation and the Granata have changed their head coach. It would, therefore, be wrong to base our judgements of this game on the game at the Arechi in January. Let's take a deeper dive into our matchday 26 fixture with these three keys to the game.

THEO AND ANTONIO FREE DOWN THE FLANK
These are the two sides' most in-form players, as well as key figures in their respective systems. If weren't for the tinkering of new Granata boss Paulo Sousa, this would have been a direct battle but the Portuguese coach has shifted Candreva into a more central role. Since Pioli's own tactical changes in February, Hernández has been afforded more offensive freedom, which has seen him become the most prolific defender in Europe's Top-5 leagues since October 2019. The former Lazio and Inter man - who actually played under Stefano Pioli at both clubs - has played more Serie A matches against AC Milan than any other team. Furthermore, Candreva has scored in both of Salernitana's best results away from home this season: the draw at Juventus and the win in the capital against Lazio. Theo and Antonio, who are different players but carry a similar threat in their pace and drive, are key leaders for AC Milan and Salernitana and have helped their respective sides through rough patches to start the calendar year.

THE IMPACT OF ROTATION
The two sides could go into the game on Monday night with plenty of fresh faces on the pitch, due in part to the absence of suspended players. Leão and Krunić return from suspension and the Bosnian could start alongside Tonali, while, in defence, Kjær could be restored to the starting line-up. Up top, starts could be handed to De Ketelaere and one of Origi and Ibrahimović, for the latter it would be his first match from minute one since 23 January 2022. Salernitana, on the other hand, should start Dia ahead of Kastanos, while it's not clear who out of Mazzocchi or Sambia will get the nod. As such, rotations could play a key role in the game, especially for two sides who have scored through various different players (14 for Milan, 11 for Salernitana) but don't tend to see massive impact off the bench. In 2023, the Rossoneri have only scored two goals through players than have come off the bench during a game (Pobega against Roma and Origi and Sassuolo), while the Campania-based outfit haven't had a subtitute player score since Bonazzoli in the reverse fixture in January. Shuffling the pack from the outset and benefiting from such a wealth of options, then, could tip the scales one way or the other from the outset of a game between two teams that have never lost in this league after taking the lead.

IMPROVING DEFENCES
We've already mentioned the difficulties faced by both sides in January. Behind recent improvements, though, is a marked upturn in defensive solidity. AC Milan have kept five clean sheets in their last six games in Serie A and the Champions League. Salernitana have kept two consecutive clean sheets for the first time since August. There are various motives for these improvements. Let's start at the back, with two international goalkeepers. Maignan was decisive against Tottenham in London; Ochoa, who made his Serie A debut against the Rossoneri and played brilliantly, seems to have nailed down a starting berth, having kept those clean sheets against Monza and Sampdoria. It's also important to outline similarities in the two sides' defence, with up-and-coming youngsters at the heart of the back three in Thiaw and former Inter man Pirola. Given the attacking firepower of the two sides, consolidating this recent defensive performance will be key to deciding the outcome of the game.

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