VENEZIA v AC MILAN: DUELS

Back to the Penzo for the first time in almost twenty years. Venezia v Milan is an unprecedented one in recent times and it will be a  tough match for the Rossoneri, on a tricky pitch against a team in search of points that will be vital for survival. Paolo Zanetti's young Venezia have ideas, freshness and lots of mainstays. Let's get to know them a bit better in our analysis of the most interesting duels that we will see in tomorrow's match at 12.30. 

GIANLUCA BUSIO vs SANDRO TONALI
Two young linchpins in the centre of the park. On the one hand, Gianluca Busio, an American national of Italian origin, was born in 2002 and playing in his first season in Serie A. Busio is already imposing himself as an undroppable starter for the Lagunari. Since he has been at Zanetti's disposal, he has never missed a match. He is the Venezia player who has made the most tackles (34) as well as the most passes made in the attacking half of the pitch (281). Opposite Busio will be Tonali, who has played all 20 Serie A matches so far this season and is the youngest player to have made at least 20 appearances in this year's Serie A. Thanks to increasingly impressive performances, he has gained more and more confidence, carving out important spaces in a highly competitive department. Sandro is the Rossoneri's leader for passes made in the attacking half of the pitch (391) and crosses delivered (70). 

PIETRO CECCARONI vs PIERRE KALULU
The 26-year-old is ever-present in Paolo Zanetti's line-up. Ceccaroni has only missed one Serie A game this season (against Juventus, due to a ban) and has scored twice. He is also the Venetian's leader in defence, which the statistics attest to: he is the lagunari player with the most passes made (901) overall but also in his own half (666), as well as the player with the most blocks (77). On the other side of the pitch is Pierre Kalulu, who will make his 13th Serie A appearance this season against the Arancioneroverdi. The Frenchman has played three different roles so far: first at right-back, then at left-back and finally as a central defender, always guaranteeing a very high level of performance. In the first half of the season, Kalulu also provided an assist for Daniel Maldini in Spezia v AC Milan. 

MATTIA ARAMU vs BRAHIM DÍAZ
Two number 10s to compare. Mattia Aramu has returned to Serie A after a long absence: the Piedmontese player, born in 1996 who came through at Torino, is Venezia's technical and offensive leader. He has scored five goals and provided three assists in Serie A so far, as well as many great plays with his magical left boot and the highest number of crosses made (63) out of all the Venetian players. Brahim Díaz, on the other hand, is gradually recovering his brilliance from the first half of the season: he was the one to break the deadlock in the home match against Venezia at San Siro with his only goal so far at San Siro this season. Against Roma, he hit the crossbar and he is looking for his first league goal since September. 

THOMAS HENRY vs ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ
The two key aspects of each side's attack, facing off against each other. Thomas Henry versus Zlatan Ibrahimović, the key players on which Venezia and AC Milan's attacks rest. So far in Serie A this season, the 191cm Frenchman has scored three goals and dished out three assists (as has Aramu) and is the Venezia player with the most shots on target (10) and fouls drawn (35). The Rossoneri's attack will be led by Ibra, who has seven goals and two assists in 12 appearances so far this season. Zlatan came on in the final minutes against Roma, just in time to set up Leão's third Rossoneri goal. Venezia could become the 80th different team that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored against in Europe's top five leagues. Since the beginning of 2000. The Swede would become only the second player to do so, after Cristiano Ronaldo (who did it on 30 December with a goal against Burnley).

The PUMA AC Milan jerseys for the 2021/22 season are available: buy them now!