You are currently viewing AC Milan won 21 direct matches. Roma won 19 matches. 20 matches ended in a draw

AC Milan won 21 direct matches. Roma won 19 matches. 20 matches ended in a draw

AC Milan will continue their conquest of another trophy on Wednesday night when they take on Roma at San Siro in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

Milan are coming into the game off the back of a rollercoaster last 48 hours, beginning with the derby draw against Inter and continuing with what might have been the most hectic deadline day in several years.

Sergio Conceicao’s first bit of silverware with the club came via a domestic cup competition and he would no doubt like to make lifting trophies a more regular thing, but a tough game awaits against a resurgent Roma.

As mentioned, the final part of the window in particular was chaotic, with Joao Felix, Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil all arriving. Not only that, but Noah Okafor, Ismael Bennacer and Kevin Zeroli departed the club, making it one of the most active deadline days in a while.

A lot has changed within the squad as a result, from the players who might now take a spot in the starting line-up to the system itself. Conceicao made it clear he wanted the late arrivals at Milanello on Tuesday afternoon, so they can be ready to play against Roma.

Milan come into the game having suffered derby heartbreak on Sunday night, too. The Rossoneri led until the 93rd minute after Tijjani Reijnders’ opener, but Stefan De Vrij fired in a last-gasp equaliser to earn the Nerazzurri a draw they probably deserved overall.

In terms of injury news, the three absentees that remain from the last game are Alessandro Florenzi, Emerson Royal (both out for a while longer after severe muscle injuries) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The big question mark concerns how much of a role some of the winter additions will play, like Santiago Gimenez who could lead the line, Kyle Walker who impressed vs. Inter and Joao Felix too.

Reports have suggested that Conceicao will play a near full-strength team for the Coppa Italia clash, and it seems this will be the case.

Mike Maignan will start in goal expectedly, with Kyle Walker, Fikayo Tomori, Strahijna Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez making up the back four. Matteo Gabbia is ill, so he will likely not make the starting XI if he makes the game at all.

In midfield, Youssouf Fofana will come into the midfield for Ismael Bennacer, who departed after a bust-up at the weekend, whilst Yunus Musah retains his spot in the double pivot once again. Then, ahead of the duo, Tijjani Reijnders will operate.

Christian Pulisic will be chosen on the right, with Rafael Leao on the left, and they will be supporting Tammy Abraham once again.