ROMA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A
April closes with a crucial clash at the Stadio Olimpico. In 2021/22 it was Lazio while this year, for Stefano Pioli's AC Milan, the opponent is Roma. The Giallorossi and Rossoneri are paired in fourth place on 56 points, and the standings alone would be enough to frame the importance of the fixture, which kicks off at 18:00 CEST. A match of capital importance for both teams, a challenge that we anticipate with our Match Preview.
LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Unbeaten in April between the league and Champions League, AC Milan want to end an important month by leaving a stadium that evokes sweet memories with all three points. With only Ibrahimović and Pobega unavailable, Coach Pioli will be able to pick Calabria - who was suspended for AC Milan v Lecce - and also Giroud: he could opt for the same 4-2-3-1 seen in the three matches against Napoli this month, with Tonali-Krunić in midfield and Díaz-Bennacer-Leão supporting the centre forward. The only ballot seems to be over which centre-back will partner Tomori in defence, with Kjær and Kalulu competing for a starting spot: the Dane is the favourite. The three aforementioned are, by the way, among the six cautioned players in the Rossoneri: a list completed by Pobega, Rebić and Thiaw.
"It is a match that is definitely worth a lot", Coach Pioli said in his presser. "We have had three big matches in the last few games and the more points we get, the better chance we'll have of finishing in the top four. They have a very solid, compact and organised defence. Going forwards, they have players who are capable of producing at any time. We know their abilities, and we don't want to think too much about the reverse fixture. We will have to be attentive to the situations where they are dangerous, such as set pieces. We want to finish the season well."
LATEST FROM ROMA
Like the Rossoneri, the Giallorossi are also undergoing particularly intense weeks from the point of view of the calendar, between the race for a Champions League place in Serie A and Europe, which will offer the Europa League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen in May. The current, relative to the championship, speaks of the defeat in the last round at Atalanta, a match that interrupted a streak of three consecutive victories (Sampdoria, Torino, Udinese) for Mourinho's team. There is no good news from the injury list for the Capitolini: Karsdorp, Llorente, Smalling and Wijnaldum will be unavailable for the challenge at the Olimpico, while Paulo Dybala is doubtful (in his place, former Rossonero El Shaarawy is a possibility). In Mourinho's 3-4-2-1 there are some line-up doubts, starting with the battle for striker between Belotti and Abraham. Kumbulla and Bove are also in the running for a place, with the former the favourite; Nemanja Matić, meanwhile, is Roma's only player on a caution.
WHERE TO WATCH ROMA v AC MILAN
The game will be broadcast live in Italy on DAZN from 18:00 CEST. To watch the game abroad, head to the "Abroad" section of the page "Where to watch AC Milan on TV".
Before the game, head to Milan TV for our Matchday programme. Coverage starts at 16:45 CEST and will run right up to kick-off at the Olimpico. After the game, we will have analysis, interviews and Stefano Pioli's press conference.
Head to our Twitch channel for the Live Reaction to Roma v AC Milan, starting at 17:55 CEST. Also, don't miss our live feeds on all of our social media channels, on acmilan.com and via our Official App.
LATEST FROM SERIE A
The experienced Daniele Orsato has been chosen to officiate the match at the Olimpico. The 47-year-old from Schio will referee his 271st match in the top flight and boasts 33 previous league fixtures with AC Milan. For the Venetian referee, it is the third Roma v AC Milan fixture in his career (1-1 in January 2016, 2-1 to the Giallorossi in October 2019) and the third match of the season with both teams: AC Milan 2-0 Juventus and Lecce 2-2 AC Milan for Pioli's side; Roma 0-1 Lazio and Napoli 2-1 Roma for Mourinho's side. Orsato will be assisted by linesmen Baccini and Berti, fourth official Camplone and VAR Di Paolo (Abbattista will act as Assistant VAR).
Serie A Matchday 32 kicked off on Friday 28 April with Lecce 1-0 Udinese and Spezia 0-2 Monza. Saturday 29, other than Roma v AC Milan, has on offer Torino v Atalanta at 20:45 CEST. The rest of the matches will be played on Sunday 30: Inter v Lazio at 12:30 CEST; Cremonese v Hellas Verona, Napoli v Salernitana and Sassuolo v Empoli at 15:00 CEST, Fiorentina v Sampdoria at 18:00 CEST and Bologna v Juventus at 20:45 CEST to round it off.
Here are the updated standings of the Serie A TIM: Napoli 78; Lazio 61; Juventus 59; AC Milan, Roma 56; Inter 54; Atalanta 52; Bologna and Monza* 44; Udinese*, Fiorentina and Torino 42; Sassuolo 40; Salernitana 33; Empoli 32; Lecce* 31; Spezia* 27; Hellas Verona 26; Cremonese 19; Sampdoria 17. (* = game in hand).
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