The Stadio Artemio Franchi becomes the center of the Serie A world today, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as AC Milan travels to Tuscany to face a struggling but improving Fiorentina. Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT (15:00 local time).
While the league table suggests a mismatch—with Milan in a heated title race and Fiorentina battling relegation—recent form and historical trends at the Franchi hint at a much closer contest.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Serie A (Matchday 20)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT / 15:00 local / 09:00 ET
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Referee: Davide Massa
Broadcast: Paramount+ (US), DAZN (Italy/Global)
The Storyline: Scudetto Dreams vs. Survival Reality
AC Milan: The Hunt for Inter
Massimiliano Allegri’s side arrives in Florence looking to erase the frustration of a midweek 1–1 draw with Genoa, where they required a 92nd-minute equalizer from Rafael Leão to rescue a point. Despite that slip-up, Milan remains the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to lose an away match this season. Sitting just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan, the Rossoneri know that any further dropped points could be fatal to their Scudetto ambitions.
Fiorentina: Signs of Life in the Drop Zone
It has been a miserable season for the Viola, who currently sit 19th in the standings. However, under Paolo Vanoli, there are signs of a revival. Fiorentina has taken seven points from their last four matches, including home wins over Udinese and Cremonese. They were seconds away from a massive victory against Lazio in midweek before conceding a 95th-minute penalty to draw 2–2. The Tuscans have historically been a "bogey team" for Milan in Florence, winning three of the last four meetings at the Franchi
Team News & Probable Lineups
AC Milan Team News
Suspended: Center-back Fikayo Tomori is out, likely handing a start to Koni De Winter in Allegri's back three.
Injury Ward: Santiago Giménez remains sidelined until February. Christopher Nkunku is fit for the bench but unlikely to start.
The Modrić Factor: 40-year-old Luka Modrić is expected to start on the bench for the first time this season to manage his fitness, with Ardon Jashari or Samuele Ricci filling the void.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Maignan; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Jashari, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leão.
Fiorentina Team News
Absentees: Tariq Lamptey and Edin Džeko are ruled out. Moise Kean is struggling with an ankle problem but could feature from the bench.
New Arrival: Former Milan man Marco Brescianini could make his debut against his old club after joining from Atalanta this week.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Gosens; Fagioli, Mandragora, Brescianini; Parisi, Piccoli, Gudmundsson.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Historical Dominance: AC Milan has 79 wins in 171 league meetings, their most against any opponent other than Roma.
Home Advantage: Fiorentina has won 3 of their last 4 home games against Milan (L1).
The Leão Factor: Rafael Leão has scored six goals in eight appearances against Fiorentina, though only one has come at the Franchi.
Defensive Peak: Milan boasts the best away defensive record in Serie A, conceding only five goals on the road this term
Tactical Analysis: The "Trap" in Florence
Allegri is expected to stick with a pragmatic 3-5-2 to neutralize Fiorentina's wing-play, particularly the threat posed by Robin Gosens and Albert Gudmundsson. The Viola, meanwhile, have dropped a league-high 18 points from winning positions this season—a fragility Milan will look to exploit if the game is tight late on. Expect Christian Pulisic to be the creative engine, looking to find gaps behind a Fiorentina defense that has conceded 30 goals this season.
Match Prediction
Fiorentina’s desperation and solid recent home form make this a potential "banana skin" for the title challengers. However, Milan’s unbeaten away record and the individual brilliance of Leão and Pulisic should see them through.
Final Score Prediction: Fiorentina 1–2 AC Milan
