Serie A Preview: Milan vs Roma – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio San Siro forms the backdrop for a heavyweight Serie A showdown between European hopefuls Milan and Roma. Both teams will be desperate to sign off for 2024 in style when they lock horns on Sunday evening.

These are not pleasant times for Milan manager Paulo Fonseca. Despite seeing off relegation-threatened Hellas Verona 1-0 last Friday, his charges head into the calendar year finale outside the European qualification spots. Indeed, they’re five points off the top-six pace, with the pressure mounting on the ex-Roma boss.

A lack of consistency has been the detriment of Fonseca’s bid to steer Milan back to the European picture. Tijjani Reijnders has been a rare shining light at San Siro. As the only constant of Fonseca’s underwhelming regime, the Dutch midfielder has soaked up the limelight as Milan’s standout performer this season.

Reijnders’ goal broke the deadlock at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, setting the Rossoneri up nicely for this blockbuster. Speaking of high spirits, a 5-0 demolition of Parma last Sunday was the perfect warm-up for Roma’s final road trip of a hugely disappointing 2024.

Milan loanee Alexis Saelemaekers was on the scoresheet alongside Roma talisman Paulo Dybala, inspiring the Giallorossi to their second multi-goal margin triumph across their last three Serie A outings (L1). Claudio Ranieri will rely on his new attacking duo to lead the club’s pursuit of their 51st victory against the Rossoneri.

Match Preview

Milan

Despite only ever suffering more losses to Inter and Juventus, Milan have never defeated any other Serie A side more often than Roma (79). Furthermore, they’ve not lost a home league encounter against this opposition since 2017 (W4, D2), netting multiple goals on each occasion, including a 3-1 victory in this corresponding fixture last term.

Fonseca desperately needs to uphold Milan’s home dominance against his former employers to ease fans’ nerves. A five-game unbeaten home run (W3, D2) since a 2-0 loss to Napoli in late October sounds promising, especially considering Milan conceded only 0.4 goals per game on average during that sequence.

Moreover, Milan have suffered just one defeat in their last 11 competitive outings (W7, D3), going down at Atalanta earlier in December. However, the San Siro faithful will expect the team’s response after a heart-wrenching 0-0 home draw against Genoa on the eve of the club’s 125th anniversary.

Roma

Ranieri’s charges could heap more misery on Fonseca’s tenure after netting nine goals in their last two domestic fixtures (W2). But Ranieri’s third stint at Stadio Olimpico has been off to an indifferent start (W4, D1, L3). Despite his vast experience, the 73-year-old hasn’t found a cure for Roma’s travel sickness.

Indeed, only rock-bottom Venezia (3) have picked up fewer away league points than Roma’s four this season. The visitors are one of only two Serie A clubs yet to win a top-flight game on the road (D4, L4), highlighting the magnitude of the task awaiting Ranieri this weekend.

Bringing the tail-end of the 2023/24 season into the equation, Roma haven’t won any of their last 11 away league outings (D5, L6). That’s the club’s longest winless streak in Serie A road action this century! As if that’s not concerning enough, they haven’t scored inside the first 25 minutes of a Serie A away match since October 2023.

Team News

There’s a full-blown injury crisis at San Siro. In addition to long-term absentees Alessandro Florenzi, Luka Jovic, and Ismael Bennacer, Milan boss Fonseca will be without Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Noah Okafor, and Yunus Musah. Christian Pulisic’s return to training has been a rare bright spot.

On the other hand, Roma will take this trip with all but Bryan Cristante at Ranieri’s disposal. With the ex-Milan midfielder still out with an ankle problem, Leandro Paredes will probably start in the midfield alongside the overachieving Manu Kone.

Milan vs Roma Potential Starting Line-ups

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Terracciano; Chukwueze, Reijnders, Jimenez; Morata.

Milan vs Roma Prediction

Severely hit by injuries, Milan will rely on Roma’s substandard away form to take an all-important three points. We can envisage a hard-fought encounter with a handful of scoring opportunities.