AC MILAN v ROMA: MATCH PREVIEW

We are halfway through this season's campaign. The second half gets underway with a bang for AC Milan, who await Roma at San Siro. Victory would be important to get back to it after exiting the Coppa Italia, reinforcing their spot in the table - third, generally the position necessary to qualify for the next Champions League - and putting some distance between them and then Giallorossi. Here is the Match Preview ahead of the big game. 

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Exiting the Coppa Italia has interrupted the Rossoneri's good run that started from Sassuolo. A test of this calibre is a good way to get back to it and put aside an abandoned aim for the season. It is mandatory to keep things going in the league in the hopes of closing down on the top spot, whilst keeping an eye on things happening behind. As expected, Pioli regains Okafor after a month-long absence, and the frontline will be thankful. Florenzi's absence should see Hernández at left-back, Gabbia in a duo with Kjær, Adli directing, and Giroud as a striker. Musah and Reijnders are both on a yellow.

In a pre-match press conference on the eve of the game, Pioli stated: "We need to redeem ourselves straight away. The second half of the season begins, and we need to do better than we have done so far. We need to try and floor it. One thing that needs to be improved: conceding less, especially when we have a numerical advantage. Roma is an expert, physical and organised. I expect an open and combative game".

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LATEST FROM ROMA
The Giallorossi also come off the back of elimination from the Coppa Italia after a big loss in the derby with Lazio, the latest in an ongoing run of negative results. Roma are struggling with the stressful schedule: there has been little joy aside from the 2-0 win over Napoli before Christmas. They currently sit one spot away from the European places. Mourinho won't be in the dugout due to a suspension, and Dybala will be a notable absence due to a muscular issue that adds him to the long list of unavailable players. Mancini-Cristante-Lukaku will make up the spine of the team, with Pellegrini probably starting behind the Belgian (otherwise, Belotti or El Shaarawy).

Mourinho spoke: "AC Milan has taken a blow and will give their all, they play for the Scudetto even if the distance from the top seems too far to cover. We know our problems, we need to improve things from a collective and individual point of view, even if it is difficult. Dybala is a special player, without him we are different, but we need to anyway go out on the pitch with organisation and attention to detail".

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PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• Roma is the opponent that AC Milan has beaten the most times in Serie A: 79 Rossoneri wins in 177 meetings, 53 draws and 45 Giallorossi wins.
• AC Milan is the only side to have not drawn at home this season (7W, 2L), there hasn't been a home draw since the 1-1 against Cremonese in May. But, AC Milan and Roma drew in their last meeting at San Siro in January 2023 (2-2), and there haven't been two consecutive draws in the AC Milan v Roma fixture since 2013.
• No side has scored more headers than Roma this Serie A 2023/23 (8, equal to Juventus and Fiorentina). Conversely, AC Milan is one of the sides to have conceded the least goals from this position (only 1, equal to Inter).
• Rafael Leão has contributed to 6 goals in 9 games against Roma in Serie A (2 goals and 4 assists), he hasn’t been involved in more goals against another side (equal record against Verona).

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WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v ROMA
In Italy, the game will be broadcast by DAZN. To watch AC Milan v Roma in a different country you can consult the "Where to watch Milan on TV" section under "Abroad". On our Rossoneri channels, the Matchday on Milan TV kicks off its live broadcast at 19:00 CET right up until close to kick-off, with interviews and Coach Pioli's press conference afterwards. From 20:40 CET, there will also be Live Reaction on the AC Milan Twitch channel. Don't miss coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App and all official social media channels.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Marco Guida will officiate AC Milan v Roma in his 192nd time in charge of a top-flight match. The expert referee has not officiated for the Rossoneri since April 2022 in the Scudetto race 1-2 between Lazio and AC Milan. The last time he officiated for the Giallorossi was in December 2023 in their 2-0 defeat to Bologna. Completing the officials are linesmen Bercigli and Cecconi, Sacchi as the fourth official, and Mazzoleni on VAR duty (La Penna AVAR).

Matchday 20 of Serie A kicked off with Genoa 0-0 Torino, Napoli 2-1 Salernitana, Hellas Verona 2-1 Empoli, and Monza 1-5 Inter. On Sunday, Lazio v Lecce kicks off at 12:00 CET, Cagliari v Bologna at 15:00 CET, Fiorentina v Udinese at 18:00 CET, and finally AC Milan v Roma at 20:45 CET. Atalanta v Frosinone will be held at 20:45 CET on Monday and Juventus v Sassuolo will finish it all off on Tuesday at 20:45 CET.

This is the current table: Inter* 51; Juventus 46; AC Milan 39; Fiorentina 33; Bologna 32; Napoli* 31; Atalanta and Lazio 30; Roma; Torino* 28; Monza* 25; Genoa* 22; Lecce 21; Sassuolo and Frosinone 19; Udinese and Hellas Verona* 17; Cagliari 15; Empoli* 13; Salernitana* 12. (* with a game in hand)

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