Milan Vs Roma

AC Milan and Roma are set to face off in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, with both teams eager to move past their struggles in Serie A and secure a place in the semi-finals. Following a weekend of high-stakes matches that ended in dramatic fashion, the two sides will meet at San Siro for an intense midweek showdown in the prestigious cup competition.

Just a month after their thrilling five-goal encounter in Riyadh, Milan and their city rivals Inter clashed once again in the Derby della Madonnina. This time, the contest followed a more conventional script, with Milan striving to defeat Inter for the third time this season. Under the guidance of Sergio Conceicao, the Rossoneri came tantalizingly close to achieving that feat. They held a lead through a late goal from Tijjani Reijnders, only for Stefan de Vrij to snatch an equalizer deep into stoppage time, leaving Milan frustrated.

As a result, Milan remains significantly behind in the Serie A standings, trailing second-placed Inter by 16 points. Currently sitting in eighth place, they find themselves battling to secure European qualification in what has been an inconsistent season. Nevertheless, their triumph in last month’s Supercoppa Italiana final, where they overturned a two-goal deficit to claim victory, has already ensured that they will not finish the campaign empty-handed. Now, their focus shifts towards improving their record in the Coppa Italia, a competition in which they have historically underperformed.

Their last deep run in the tournament ended in disappointment when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Atalanta. The club has lifted the Coppa Italia only once in the past half-century, with that success coming nearly 22 years ago. This season, Milan entered the competition at the last-16 stage due to their Champions League commitments. However, after a disappointing loss to Dinamo Zagreb that dropped them into the playoff round, the team channeled their frustrations into an emphatic performance against Sassuolo in December. Samuel Chukwueze starred in that encounter, netting twice in a dominant 6-1 victory.

Historically, Milan and Roma have both performed well in the Coppa Italia, with only Juventus and Inter having reached the semi-finals more times. Milan has managed 24 appearances at this stage, while Roma has made it 22 times. The last time the two clubs met in the semi-finals was in 2004, when Milan won both legs with identical 2-1 scorelines, securing their place in the final.

On the other hand, Roma has fond memories of their most recent Coppa Italia clash with Milan, as they emerged victorious in that encounter 18 years ago. However, their performances in this competition have declined in recent years. The Giallorossi have not advanced beyond the quarter-finals since 2017, highlighting their struggles to make a deep run in the cup.

Their recent league encounter with Milan ended in a 1-1 draw at San Siro late last year. Tijjani Reijnders had given the Rossoneri the lead, but Paulo Dybala responded with an equalizer, ensuring Roma left with a valuable point. That result was part of a broader resurgence under interim coach Claudio Ranieri, who took charge of his beloved club amid turmoil both on and off the pitch. Since his arrival, Roma has shown signs of recovery, climbing to ninth place in the standings thanks to a series of improved performances. They also managed to secure progress in the Europa League by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt, further boosting their confidence.

Ranieri’s leadership was tested once again when Roma hosted Serie A leaders Napoli in the Derby del Sole. Former Roma full-back Leonardo Spinazzola put Napoli ahead, setting the visitors on course for their eighth consecutive victory. However, Roma demonstrated their newfound resilience, and with time running out, Angelino stepped up to fire home a late equalizer, salvaging a crucial point for his team.

Currently, Roma is enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run in Serie A, a remarkable turnaround considering they had lost seven of their previous nine league games. Despite this improvement, they have struggled to win away from home, with just one victory on the road all season. As they prepare for their Coppa Italia quarter-final against Milan, they will be looking to defy that trend and continue their resurgence under Ranieri’s management.

For both teams, this quarter-final represents an opportunity to keep their cup dreams alive while attempting to regain momentum in a challenging domestic campaign. Milan, with their eyes set on another trophy, will be determined to build on their past successes in the competition, while Roma will aim to break their quarter-final curse and take another step towards silverware. With both sides desperate for a statement victory, their clash at San Siro promises to be a thrilling spectacle.