MX23RW : Monday, July 13 03:52:15| >> :120:15682:15682:
Jul 7, 2020 at 8.45pm UK at Giuseppe Meazza
AC MilanAC Milan
4-2
JuventusJuventus
Ibrahimovic (62' pen.), Kessie (66'), Leao (67'), Rebic (80')
Paqueta (31'), Bennacer (36'), Rebic (59'), Conti (73')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Rabiot (47'), Ronaldo (53')
Bonucci (62')

Preview: AC Milan vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Serie A clash between AC Milan and Juventus, including team news and predicted lineups.

AC Milan will be looking to build on their excellent win over Lazio last time out when they welcome the champions and current league leaders Juventus to San Siro on Tuesday night.

The home side recorded an impressive 3-0 victory over second-placed Lazio at the weekend, which means that Juve are now seven points clear at the top of the table as they close in on yet another title.


Match preview

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli pictured in February 2020© Reuters

Lazio would have been looking to keep on Juve's tails when they welcomed Milan to Rome on Saturday night, but the visitors had other ideas, picking up all three points courtesy of a 3-0 success, with veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the scoresheet at Stadio Olimpico.

Milan have been in impressive form since the league's restart last month, beating Lecce, Roma and Lazio, although they were held to a 2-2 draw at struggling SPAL on July 1.

As it stands, Stefano Pioli's side are sixth in the table, just two points behind fifth-placed Roma, although both Roma and seventh-placed Napoli have a game in hand.

Milan finished fifth in Serie A last season, and it does appear that position is the best that they can hope for at this stage as the gap to fourth-placed Atalanta BC is currently 14 points.

The Red and Blacks will be feeling good about themselves after a superb win, but they have not beaten Juve in Italy's top flight since October 2016, losing the last six meetings between the two sides.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Juventus on June 22, 2020© Reuters

Juve, meanwhile, will enter Tuesday's match off the back of a 4-1 win over Torino on Saturday night, where Cristiano Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet for his 29th goal of the season.

The 35-year-old has now netted 25 times in 26 Serie A appearances during the 2019-20 campaign, including four in the team's four matches since returning to league action last month.

Maurizio Sarri's side have won each of their last seven in Italy's top flight, and as mentioned, currently sit seven points clear of second-placed Lazio at the top of the table, which is a big advantage at this stage.

There is still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season, but it is difficult to imagine Juve dropping the points required to allow Lazio back into the race.

That said, all three of the Old Lady's league defeats this term have come on their travels, and there is no question that the champions are in for a tough assignment at San Siro.

AC Milan Serie A form: DLWWDW
AC Milan form (all competitions): LDWWDW

Juventus Serie A form: WWWWWW
Juventus form (all competitions): DLWWWW


Team News

AC Milan attacker Hakan Calhanoglu pictured in January 2020© Reuters

Milan will again be without the services of Samu Castillejo, Mateo Musacchio and Leo Duarte through injury, while there is a concern over Hakan Calhanoglu, who had to be replaced against Lazio.

Indeed, the 26-year-old was forced off in the first half with a knock to his calf, although it is thought that the attacker will be available to take to the field against the champions.

Ibrahimovic was handed at the start at the top end of the field at the weekend, but the Swede is expected to drop back to the bench for this match, with Ante Rebic taking the spot up front.

Lucas Paqueta should also return to the starting XI, but 21-year-old Belgian Alexis Saelemaekers could keep his spot following an excellent performance on Saturday night.

As for Juve, there is no change to their injury situation, with Mattia De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Sami Khedira, Giorgio Chiellini and Merih Demiral all still on the sidelines.

However, Matthijs de Ligt and Paulo Dybala will also be absent through suspension, opening the door for Daniele Rugani and Gonzalo Higuain to start in central defence and up front respectively.

Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made history against Torino on Saturday as he played his 648th game in Italy's top flight, overtaking the record previously held by legendary defender Paolo Maldini, but Wojciech Szczesny is expected to return between the sticks for this one.

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Paqueta, Calhanoglu; Rebic

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Cuadrado, Rugani, Bonucci, Danilo; Rabiot, Pjanic, Bentancur; Ronaldo, Higuain, Bernardeschi


Sports Mole Logo

We say: AC Milan 1-1 Juventus

Milan's recent form simply cannot be ignored, and we fancy the home side to pick up a share of the spoils on Tuesday night. A draw would not be the worst result for Juve under the circumstances, and we are expecting a very tight 90 minutes of football at San Siro.


ID:405237:

Who will win Tuesday's Serie A clash between AC Milan and Juventus?

AC Milan
Draw
Juventus
AC Milan
12.9%
Draw
15.6%
Juventus
71.5%
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Juventus32244467323576
2Lazio32215668353368
3Atalanta BCAtalanta32207587414667
4Inter Milan31198465333265
5Roma321661059431654
6Napoli32157105243952
7AC Milan32148104541450
8SassuoloSassuolo32137125954546
9Hellas VeronaHellas Verona321111104039144
10Bologna32119124651-542
11CagliariCagliari321011114846241
12Parma32117144444040
13Fiorentina32812123844-636
14Sampdoria32105173954-1535
15Udinese3298153146-1535
16Torino31104173757-2034
17Genoa3279164060-2030
18Lecce3278174071-3129
19Brescia3256212864-3621
20SPALSPAL3254232358-3519

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