AC MILAN v SASSUOLO: DUELS

AC Milan v Sassuolo is never a banal affair: surprise outcomes, joy and pain and strange matches galore. Amidst a rather difficult pre-match scene to describe, we've picked out and analysed the main duels that will take place on the pitch at San Siro on Sunday 28 November.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ V GIANLUCA SCAMACCA
40 years of age to 22, almost double. A match-up with a special flavour, one of wisdom against youthfulness. Both players bagged last weekend: Ibrahimović bagged a brace against Fiorentina, while Scamacca got one against Cagliari. Zlatan hasn't got on the scoresheet at San Siro since Lazio in September but he has his sights set on a few records: the Swede is just two goals away from becoming only the third player since the 2000s to score 300 goals in Europe's Top-5 leagues and is just one goal away from breaking Silvio Piola's record for goal scored in Serie A after turning 38 years of age. Furthermore, should he score, Ibra would draw level with Filippo Inzaghi in tenth place for goals for AC Milan in the competition. Scamacca, a cunning and accurate striker, has named Zlatan as one of his role models; admiration aside, he will try with courage to drive the Sassuolo machine.

RAFAEL LEÃO V DOMENICO BERARDI
These two wingers cause their respective teams to soar. They aren't exactly similar players, given that they play on opposite wings and have a different stronger foot, but both love to use their pace out wide, employ direct dribbling and attack the opposition goal. Leão could return after being rested against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League; the Portuguese, against Sassuolo themselves last season, scored the fastest goal in the history of the Italian top flight, bagging just six seconds after kick-off. We will need to be alert, though, because AC Milan are Berardi's favourite opposition in the division: he has scored nine goals against the Rossoneri, including four in the game in January 2014 and a hattrick in May 2015 (the only player ever in Serie A to score at least three goals in two games against the same team). Berardi is the Neroverdi's current top scorer with six goals, while Leão hasn't scored in a month (Bologna). These two most have, for their respective teams, taken the most shots on target (13 and 16) and drawn the most fouls (24 and 25), testimony to their importance in the offensive phase. Free to invent, free to strike.

SIMON KJÆR V GIAN MARCO FERRARI
Among the main objectives for Sunday's game has to be keeping a clean sheet as a starting point for a victory. It's certainly no easy task but, after shipping four goals in Florence, the Rossoneri have some errors to correct. The clean sheet at the Wanda Metropolitano was a brilliant response, one to be repeated against the Neroverdi. Kjær is on the verge of making his 13th appearance this season and leads the way at the Club for shots blocked (12). His counterpart Ferarri has played virtually the same number of games in the current campaign and has been a real stand-out for the Emilian outfit: first for passes completed (943), passes completed in his own half (677), defensive clearances (46) and shots blocked (14). Two solid centre-backs, who will be called upon to put in another big shift.

FRANCK KESSIE V FRANCESCO MAGNANELLI
The game against Atleti was also a return to form for Kessie. He provided the assist for Messias' winner and more: Franck dominated the centre of the park with substance and quality. He's yet to score a goal from open play in 2021/22 - his only goals coming from the sport against Hellas and Roma - but, in any case, Pioli hardly ever makes do without him, largely due to the work he does for the players around him. Talking about the AC Milan coach, Magnanelli played 40 Serie B games in 2009/10 under the guidance of Pioli, who was at Sassuolo at the time. Both midfielders are gifted with experience, strength and personality.

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