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AC Milan, having emerged victorious in seven out of their eight Serie A matches this season, are set to face off against their old rivals Juventus at San Siro this Sunday evening. These two football powerhouses of Calcio are meeting again. Milan recently came off a dramatic win against Genoa before the international break, while Juventus triumphed in the Derby della Mole and are trailing the Rossoneri by just four points.
Despite suffering a stunning 5-1 loss to Inter, Milan has already accumulated 21 points in the current season. They are returning from a two-week break with the ambition of winning eight out of their first nine Serie A matches, a feat they have achieved only twice in the club's history. The most recent time they did this was during their title-winning campaign in 2021-22. Stefano Pioli's team is determined to compete for the Italian title this season, particularly after their relatively weak defense in the previous year.
Napoli and both Rome clubs have struggled to keep up with Milan's ability to secure results. Milan had to exert themselves to the fullest to secure three points in the match against Genoa just before the break. The match remained goalless for 87 minutes until Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock. The drama escalated as both goalkeepers were sent off during stoppage time, with Mike Maignan committing a foul, and veteran striker Olivier Giroud ended up in the goal wearing Maignan's jersey. Giroud received acclaim for making a crucial save in the dying moments, and the victory left Pioli's team with fond memories to cherish, like champions often do when they look back on their hard-earned trophies.
However, Milan's performance in the Champions League has been less impressive, with two goalless draws. They now have some catching up to do in Europe's premier club competition and will soon face a significant showdown with Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital.
Before that, they need to contend with a more traditional rival in Serie A, where Juventus has seen its dominant hold weaken in recent years. Milan is currently unbeaten in their last five league encounters with Juventus, and they have an opportunity to extend this streak to six on Sunday, a feat they haven't accomplished since the late 1980s.
Since Mike Maignan must serve a suspension after being fired in Genoa and summer addition Marco Sportiello is sidelined, Stefano Pioli will turn to 40-year-old goalkeeper Antonio Mirante, who is set to make his first competitive start for Milan this weekend.
Theo Hernandez, a French fullback who is also suspended, won't play for Pioli, a former Juventus defender, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek's participation is in doubt because of an adductor issue.
Positively, Rade Krunic and Pierre Kalulu have both finished their recoveries during the international break, though it would be surprising if either of them were ready to start such a significant match.
With three of his own and as many assists, Chiesa has been personally involved in more Serie A away goals against Milan than any other side. Indeed, the Italian striker has contributed to at least one goal in each of his five league matches against the Rossoneri at San Siro.
Juve coach Max Allegri must make at least one additional alteration to the starting lineup from the match against Torino in addition to the absence of Danilo. Young midfielder Nicolo Fagioli has been implicated in the Italian football betting scandal and will serve a seven-month suspension; Fabio Miretti should take his place.
While Juventus may no longer hold absolute supremacy over Milan, they have extended their impressive dominance in the Derby della Mole. In their most recent encounter, they defeated Torino 2-0. Remarkably, Juventus has not lost to their city rivals in 19 Turin derbies, winning 15 of them.
In their latest game at the Allianz Stadium, Federico Gatti and Arkadiusz Milik scored, marking another clean sheet for Max Allegri's team. This makes it three consecutive games without conceding a goal, totaling eight clean sheets in 13 league matches dating back to last season. Allegri's approach to the game emphasizes defensive strength, and they haven't conceded any goals from set pieces this season.
Restoring Juventus to their former glory, many of which Allegri was a significant part of, is a colossal task. After two challenging years on and off the field, returning to contention for the Scudetto might be too much to ask for. However, as Allegri prepares to face his former club this weekend, it's worth noting that his 2023-24 record is only surpassed by the two Milan clubs, and he continues to have the support of the board.
Juventus has already defeated Lazio and secured a goalless draw against Atalanta, but their most challenging test lies ahead in the city of Milan, where they have failed to score in their last two San Siro meetings against Milan.
Juventus currently holds the third position in the Serie A standings and has performed impressively this season. In their recent match, they convincingly defeated local rivals Torino with a 2-0 scoreline, and they aim to replicate that success in their upcoming game.
On the contrary, AC Milan is leading the league table and has displayed excellent form this season. They secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Genoa in their last game and are approaching this match with confidence.
Historically, Juventus has a favorable record against AC Milan, winning 109 out of the 297 matches between the two teams, while AC Milan has 98 victories. AC Milan, however, has remained undefeated in their last five Serie A matches against Juventus and could achieve a six-match unbeaten streak for the first time since 1989. They have also kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches against Juventus, a notable improvement from their previous record.
In eight of the last 11 matches between these two teams in Serie A, at least one of them failed to score. AC Milan typically starts the month of October on a positive note, having won their first two games in this month in each of the last three seasons.
AC Milan remains in exceptional form, with players like Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud capable of making a significant impact.
The upcoming clash between Serie A leaders AC Milan and arch-rivals Juventus at San Siro is one of the most anticipated fixtures post the October international break.
Apart from their loss to Inter Milan, Stefano Pioli's team has been dominant in the league this season, leading the standings with 21 points from their first eight games. Juventus, currently in the third position, is four points behind the leaders. A victory in this match would bring them closer to the top, a situation unfamiliar to the Turin giants in recent years.
The match also marks the return of Massimiliano Allegri, who previously managed both Milan and Juventus, achieving title successes at both clubs.
With Napoli struggling and Inter Milan showing signs of weakness, this Milan-Juventus clash could play a crucial role in the race for the Scudetto. Early indications suggest that both teams are likely to be contenders at the top as the season progresses, making this game an opportunity to gain an advantage over a direct rival.
However, Milan also has to consider their upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain midweek, which might influence their player rotation on Sunday. In contrast, Juventus does not have European commitments, allowing them to focus entirely on Serie A.
Juventus has lost its hold on the Serie A title in recent years, with Milan being one of the teams capitalizing on this. Both teams are currently in a rebuilding phase after disappointing campaigns in 2022/23, and this match will provide valuable insights into their progress on the field.
AC Milan enters the upcoming match following a string of impressive results, including a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Genoa before the international break. This win demonstrated their potential as title contenders and their resilience needed to handle a season-long challenge.
However, Stefano Pioli faces a significant challenge as he copes with several key absences. Both Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez are suspended for the upcoming match, leaving a considerable void in the defense. Additionally, Marco Sportiello's injury means that the 40-year-old Antonio Mirante is set to make his first start for AC Milan. The absence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Perre Kalulu, Ismael Bennacer, Rade Krunic, and Mattia Caldara due to injuries further complicates matters.
Despite these setbacks, Pioli still has a capable squad to field a competitive team against Juventus. They are likely to stick with the effective 4-3-3 formation that has worked well for them recently. Juventus, who haven't won the title in four years, will be eager to break that streak under Massimiliano Allegri's leadership. Allegri returns to face the club he guided to the Scudetto in 2011, known for his pragmatic style of play that emphasizes defensive solidity.
The international break has allowed key players like Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa to recover and make a return to contention. However, Juventus will be missing Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba, affecting their midfield options. Mattia De Sciglio and Alex Sandro are also unavailable, leading Juventus to likely adopt a 3-5-2 formation with Wojciech Szczesny in goal, supported by the defensive trio of Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, and Danilo.
At AC Milan, the American international has reignited his career, and he saved the day against Genoa the last time out. Pulisic keeps making a noticeable difference. He will also become just the fourth Milan player since the mid-1990s to score five or more goals in his first ten appearances for the club if he scores on the night.
The 25-year-old's speed should keep Danilo on his toes and make Kosti play deeper, which will greatly reduce his effect in the forward areas. Juventus may find it difficult to contain Pulisic due to its high level of confidence.
