AC Milan and Juventus will renew hostilities on Sunday night at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, with a huge three points up for grabs in the European race.
Milan and Juve have already played each other twice this season including at the beginning of the month, in Sergio Conceicao’s first game in charge. They came from behind out in Riyadh to reach the final, eventually lifting the trophy, so revenge will be on Thiago Motta’s mind.
Conceicao gave an interesting press conference on the eve of the game in which he spoke about how ready the team are compared to what he wants, refusing to give much away on transfers but also confirming absences and the midfield starters.
The head coach was understandably frustrated after last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cagliari, and while Tuesday’s short trip to face Como yielded three points there are still concerns about the performance levels.
Milan had to come from behind against their Lombardy neighbours in midweek, once again taking over an hour of the match to really click into gear. Theo Hernandez’s mishit shot and Rafael Leao’s calmly taken winner secured three valuable points in the end.
They are extra valuable when considering how the league table now looks. Juventus are three points away in fifth and Lazio are five away in fourth spot, with the Rossoneri having a game in hand (away at Bologna) over both.
That means the magnitude of Saturday’s game has increased, with a chance to jump above Thiago Motta’s men for the first time in months, because a win would secure head-to-head advantage.
However, the three points against Como had the shine taken off them because of the three injury problems picked up. The most notable is Christian Pulisic, who as it turns out only has fatigue but has trained separately since and therefore will not be risked, as Conceicao confirmed.
Malick Thiaw went off in the second half and he has sustained a muscle issue that could keep him out until the beginning of February. Alvaro Morata also went off with fatigue but he is out due to suspension anyway, having picked up a fifth yellow card in the last round.
The other injured players include Samuel Chuwkwueze (expected back at the end of the month), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (should return a bit sooner) and Noah Okafor, who has had a strange few days given he flew to Leipzig for a medical before the deal collapsed.
In terms of those available, it will be relatively simple for Conceicao against Juventus. Changes in defence are not likely, so Mike Maignan will start alongside Emerson Royal, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez. Matteo Gabbia, understandably, will come into the centre with Thiaw’s injury.
Ismael Bennacer starts in midfield in the double pivot with Youssouf Fofana, as stated by Conceicao earlier today, and Tijjani Reijnders will start in front of them – a decision which is somewhat frustrating considering the Dutchman is better from deep.
Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan, Emerson, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo; Bennacer, Fofana; Musah, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham.
We recapped all of the business that Juve did during the last summer transfer window to launch a new era under Motta in our preview of the Supercoppa clash, but there has been some further movement from the Old Lady.
Cristiano Giuntoli – the sporting director at Juve – has intervened by signing right-back Alberto Costa from Guimaraes in Portugal for a fee of around €13.8m. However, that is not the transfer-related headline circling at the moment.
There are reports circulating from reliable sources both in Italy and in England stating that Manchester City are closing in on signing left-back Andrea Cambiaso for a fee north of €50m. It would be a big capital gain for Juve, though they would be losing a starter on that side.
While waiting to see if that seemingly imminent move keeps Cambiaso out of the side, the good news for the Bianconeri is that their top scorer Dusan Vlahovic should be ready to return after a period of absence.
Francisco Conceicao may be fit enough to make the bench, and as a reminder he was set to start against Milan in his father Sergio’s first game in Saudi Arabia before getting injured in the warm-up. He had to watch on from the sidelines, but might get a shot at vengeance.
Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer are the three players that Motta will certainly be without as they continue to recover from long-term injuries. The latter two suffered ligament damage which has seen Juventus strongly linked with a move for Fikayo Tomori.
Thiago Motta will also name a near full-strength XI, expectedly. Di Gregorio starts between the sticks, and he will be behind Cambiaso, Gatti, Kalulu and Weston McKennie, who is covering at left-back.
Former Rossonero Locatelli will start in the centre with the Diavolo’s summer target Thuram, and Teun Koopmeiners will start ahead of them in the ’10’.
On the wings, Motta will look to the exciting pair of Yildiz and Mbangula, who have often been decisive, and they will play off Nico Gonzalez, who is expected to lead the line once again.
Predicted Juventus XI (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Gonzalez.
