AC MILAN v ROMA: OPPONENT REVIEW

In their first match in front of their home fans after the long World Cup break, AC Milan take on Roma in the real big match of Matchday 17. The Rossoneri, after their crucial 2-1 win away over Salernitana in the last matchday, are looking for their third consecutive win to get even closer to leaders Napoli, who were stopped by Inter last time out and are now just five points ahead of Stefano Pioli's side.

On the other hand, the Giallorossi, who won 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico against Bologna in their return to league action, have caught up with city rivals Lazio in fifth place in the standings and want to rack up their fourth consecutive victory to continue increasing their ambitions. Mourinho's eleven kept a clean sheet against Bologna and will attempt, against the Rossoneri, to collect their second in a row for the first time since August. However, the Roman team has only managed to get the victory once in their seven most recent challenges away from home. Moreover, Roma are struggling to find consistency in front of goal: the Giallorossi have only scored 19 goals so far this season.

ROMA TRICKY FROM THE DEAD BALL, WATCH OUT FOR SET-PIECES
Specifically in the analysis of this match, the Rossoneri's handling of set-pieces will be decisive: the Giallorossi are very skilful in this area, having scored 42% of their goals in this Serie A from set-pieces (8/19). Overall, José Mourinho's side have scored six headed goals (the last one by Tammy Abraham in the previous away match against Sassuolo), less than only Napoli (nine) and Udinese (seven) in the current tournament, while Stefano Pioli's side have conceded the most in this manner (31% - 5/16).

Furthermore, Roma - just like AC Milan - prefer fast restarts in order to make the most of the speed and unpredictability of their offensive players in the open field. The Giallorossi (16) are third in counter-attacks behind only the day's opponents (25) and Udinese (15). In addition to these attacking qualities, Roma, like all the teams coached by the Portuguese coach in the past, tend to concede very little to their opponents, which is demonstrated by the Giallorossi's only 46 shots on goal. Only Napoli have done better (45) in this Serie A.

DYBALA ONE TO WATCH, PELLEGRINI IN FORM
The Rossoneri's rearguard will have to watch out especially for two players in Roma's ranks: Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini. The former has been involved in 12 goals in Serie A against AC Milan (seven goals and five assists) - and only against Udinese (17) has the Argentine done better in the top flight. Although the Argentine has only been on target once at the Rossoneri's home ground, in November 2014, when he wore the Palermo shirt.

The second, the captain, a true dragging force for the Giallorossi, found the goal again from the penalty spot in the last match and is looking for his second goal against the Rossoneri, his first in a Giallorossi shirt after having scored with the Sassuolo shirt in his first match against AC Milan in October 2016. They are the strong points of this Roma side, the players capable of changing the face of a match as balanced on paper as the one at San Siro promises to be.

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