The five key battles that could win or lose the game for Milan against Torino | OneFootball

AC Milan return to Serie A action this evening as they take on Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, hoping to get back on track after midweek disappointment.

Milan’s early exit from the Champions League has left a very bitte taste in the mouth and now the only remaining targets are getting into the top four and winning the Coppa Italia. The Rossoneri cannot afford to drop many more points if they are to achieve the former.

They take on a Torino side that have only lost once so far in 2025 and that came in their most recent game, a last-minute defeat to Bologna. Milan have only won once away against the Granata in their last seven tries, so it promises to be another tough examination.

The five key battles

The man of the moment for Milan is without doubt Santiago Gimenez. After scoring against Empoli and Hellas Verona, he could become the first Rossoneri player to score in each of his first three Serie A matches in the three points for a win era among those in their debut season in the competition.

Saúl Coco will be the man tasked with stopping the Mexico international. The 26-year-old centre-back joined from Las Palmas last summer and has found himself as a started under Paolo Vanoli, with his impressive physicality and reading of the game.

At the other end, Che Adams has been somewhat of a revelation for Torino. Among debutant Serie A players this season, Adams has been involved in the joint-most goals: 10 (seven goals and three assists), level with Artem Dovbyk. He made his debut in Serie A in the reverse match against the Diavolo on matchday one.

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However, he will come up against a centre-back who should be full of confidence in Strahinja Pavlovic. The Serbian has been brilliant since getting his starting spot back, showing the kind of aggression and anticipation that drew Milan to him in the first place.

Rafael Leão remains Milan’s main threat in transition, and he is the only player with at least five goals and at least five assists in each of the last five Serie A seasons (since 2020-21). Considering the ‘top five’ European leagues, only four other players have achieved this in the period: Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes, Son Heung-Min and Vincenzo Grifo.

Sebastian Walukiewicz should be his opponent. Another summer signing, the 24-year-old Poland international has found a regular berth at right-back and this will certainly be a big test for him against a winger who continues to divide opinion and be the subject of rumours about the future.

Milan will get a first hand look at one of their summer transfer targets this evening as Samuele Ricci returns from suspension and should occupy a spot in midfield. The Azzurri jewel has turned heads with his excellent performances at the age of 23 and he should be in the double pivot alongside Cesare Casadei.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

On the opposite side, Tijjani Reijnders will be hoping that he can rediscover the form that he had in 2024. While his performances have not been awful there has been a bit of a decline, particularly in terms of attacking production, but that is largely due to him now having a deeper role. He remains pivotal, and the second-top scorer across all competitions.

Finally, we end with the battle between Theo Hernandez and Valentino Lazaro down Milan’s left side. A lot has been written about the Frenchman since his red card on Tuesday night that arguably cost the team their spot in the Champions League, but the best way to respond is with a big performance, even if there haven’t been many of them over the past few months.

Lazaro meanwhile has found himself right at home in the role of right winger under Vanoli, and he has five assists to his name. The former Inter man will have the double task of trying to cause Theo problems going forward but also tracking his runs and helping Walukiewicz out.