Serie A preview: AC Milan vs. Frosinone – Team news, opposition insight, stats and more

In partnership with

SempreMilan

·1 December 2023

Serie A preview: AC Milan vs. Frosinone – Team news, opposition insight, stats and more

AC Milan are back in Serie A action after their midweek Champions League disappointment on Saturday as they welcome Frosinone to the San Siro for a game under the floodlights.

Having done well last time out in Serie A against Fiorentina, some doubts were eased about Stefano Pioli’s position. However, after a humiliating defeat against Borussia Dortmund and qualification into the last 16 of the Champions League, or Europa League, looking bleak, Pioli has to ensure his team is perfect if he is to keep his job.

OneFootball Videos

During his press conference at Milanello on Friday, Pioli stressed that Milan will need to be at their best to beat Frosinone; focusing on the fact that his side needs to play with ‘intensity and quality’.

Game date: Saturday, December 2Kick-off time: 20:45 (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Matteo Marchetti (VAR: Paterna)

Team news

After a hard-earned victory against Fiorentina last time out in Serie A, things were looking slightly less bleak for the Rossoneri. However, the defeat against Borussia Dortmund only further highlighted how weak Milan’s depth is currently in all areas of the pitch.

Milan’s defensive woes only worsened in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Malick Thiaw joining Simon Kjaer and Pierre Kalulu on the list of injured central defenders. Fikayo Tomori also went down worryingly – however, it does not seem to be an issue.

As such, Stefano Pioli is due to hand Jan-Carlo Simic his first professional Milan start, with him set to partner Tomori. The Primavera defender has impressed so far this season, and Pioli is a big fan of his talent, especially after trialling him in pre-season.

In addition, the lack of a clinical number 9 alongside or ahead of Giroud proved to be an issue – which is only worsened by the fact that Olivier Giroud is suspended. After Luka Jovic again failed to show his best, or anything close to such, he has to start quieting the noise – otherwise, Milan will have no choice other than to be active in the January market for competition.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yunus Musah are expected to be given the nod ahead of the clash. However, with Simic coming into defence, Pioli is expected to start Rade Krunic alongside the American, for more defensive coverage.

In addition, Ismael Bennaccer is set to return to the Milan squad. The Algerian midfielder has not featured for over 200 days and would effectively be a new signing given the length of his absence. Which provides some positivity given the current injury crisis the Diavolo are going through.

Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Simic, Tomori, Hernandez; Musah, Krunic; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Jovic

The opponents

Frosinone have been a welcomed surprise package in Serie A this season, after being promoted from Serie B in the 2022-23 season, where they comfortably won the league with 80 points.

Having received €13.5million in transfer fees over the summer, the Canarini only spent €4.4m. Most of their summer signings arrived on loan, with a particular focus on bringing in young talent, making their incredible season so far much more impressive.

The club’s largest expenditure was between Abdou Harroui and Riccardo Marchizza, who cost €2.5m and €1.5m respectively. In addition to this, 21-year-old Ilario Monterisi has impressed after joining from Lecce.

Juventus’ Matias Soule has commonly taken the headlines regarding the loan additions after contributing seven times this season. Real Madrid’s attacking midfielder loanee, Reiner, also deserves a mention after a strong start.

Sitting in 10th place, the season has been a bit of a fever dream compared to Frosinone’s previous campaigns in Serie A, especially considering they are only 14 points away from bettering their current record season, which saw the club relegated with 31 points.

Probable Frosinone XI (4-2-3-1): Turati; Monterisi, Okoli, Romagnoli, Oyono; Garritano, Barrenchechea; Soule, Reiner, Ibrahimovic; Cheddira.

Head to head

Saturday’s fixture will be the fifth time the two sides have faced off – given that this is only the Canarini’s third-ever season in Serie A, with all three coming in the past eight seasons.

Milan has an unbeaten record against the visitors, having won twice and drawn twice in their previous four meetings. However, Milan have failed to do the double against the side in seasons gone.

That being said, the fixture has never been one without goals. In those four encounters, Milan have scored nine times and have conceded five – most of which came in the 3-3 draw at the San Siro in the 2015-16 season.

Match facts…

➤ Milan are unbeaten in their first four matches against Frosinone in Serie A (2 wins, 2 draws). Out of the teams Frosinone have faced at least five times in the competition, they have only failed to secure a win against Napoli, Roma, and Inter.

➤ Milan have lost just one of their last 33 Serie A matches against newly promoted teams (23 wins, 9 draws), with their only defeat in that period coming against Spezia on 13 February 2021 (0-2).

➤ After a four-match winless run consisting of two draws and two losses, Milan won 1-0 in their last Serie A match against Fiorentina. The last time the Rossoneri won two consecutive Serie A matches without conceding a goal was between September and October – against Lazio and Genoa.

➤ Milan have not drawn a home match in Serie A this season (4 wins, 2 losses). Last season, the Rossoneri were also without a draw after the seventh home match. Only between 1929/30 and 1930-31 had AC Milan not recorded a draw in the first seven home matches for two consecutive seasons in the top flight.

➤ Frosinone have picked up 18 points from their first 13 matches of this season, a tally they had previously achieved no earlier than the 23rd matchday in Serie A (in 2015-16, with 19 points in that case).

➤ Frosinone have lost each of their last four away matches in Serie A. They have lost five on the trot on the road on two previous occasions – between May 2016 and October 2018 and between October and December 2015.

➤ Milan are both the team with the highest percentage of goals scored in the first half in Serie A this season (67%: 14/21) and the team with the second-fewest percentage of goals conceded in the first half of the game (29%: 4/14), surpassed only by Torino (25%).

➤ 63% of the goals scored by Frosinone in Serie A this season (12/19) have been scored by players born in 2000 or later, a record percentage in Serie A this season. Among the top five European leagues, only Chelsea (64%), Real Madrid (68%), Manchester City (70%) and Rennes (74%) have a higher percentage.

➤ After eight matches played in Serie A this season, Luka Jovic is still without a goal. In the top five European leagues, he had never gone without scoring in the first eight matches of the season. After scoring a goal in his first match against a newly promoted team in Serie A (14 August 2022, against Cremonese), he has since failed to score in the last five such matches.

Ones to watch

With Olivier Giroud still suspended, it means the starting striker spot is likely to be filled by Luka Jovic, who has to start impressing Pioli and co. if he is to continue to be in contention when Giroud returns.

Starting a Primavera talent always has its risks. However, for Pioli, there are no other options. Jan-Carlo Simic is Milan’s only other available central defender, and he will have to partner Fikayo Tomori in a Rossoneri shirt.

Milan have to be wary of the aforementioned Matias Soule. The 21-year-old has been a breakout star this season so far. As such, rumours are already swirling regarding Juventus’ interest in implementing him into their squad in the 2024-25 campaign.

Anchoring the rearguard for Frosinone is Caleb Okoli who is on another loan spell from Atalanta and who has previously been linked with a move to Milan.

Prediction

This fixture has shown it can provide goals, and with both teams seemingly unable to keep a clean sheet in their current scenarios, this rendition should be no different. However, Milan’s attackers have to prove their worth. As such, they have to put a newly promoted side to the sword to prove they can claw back into the Scudetto race.

Milan 3-1 Frosinone