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

Stadio San Siro forms the backdrop for a must-win Serie A encounter between top-four hopefuls Milan and bottom-half Como. The stakes are high for home manager Sergio Conceicao, with the Rossoneri on the precipice of failing to secure European qualification for the first time in a decade.

An hour into last weekend’s trip to Lecce, Milan seemed on the brink of a fourth consecutive Serie A defeat for the first time since April 1986. However, the 19-time Italian champions pulled off a remarkable late comeback to win 3-2 at Stadio Via del Mare, inspired by Christian Pulisic’s match-winning double.

That victory spared Conceicao’s further blushes but was merely enough to keep Milan six points adrift of fourth-placed Bologna. With a top-six finish still a realistic target for last season’s runners-up, Conceicao will expect nothing less than three points against Como – a side he defeated 2-1 in January’s reverse fixture despite conceding a second-half opener.

Como will be out to enact revenge for that stomach-wrenching loss and atone for last weekend’s dismal 1-1 home draw against relegation-battling Venezia. Despite taking this trip on a two-game winless league run (D1, L1), Cesc Fabregas’ charges boast a healthy seven-point on 18th-placed Empoli pre-round.

With eight of their final ten league matches coming against fellow bottom-half rivals, Como should be optimistic about avoiding an immediate return to Serie B, regardless of today’s result at the San Siro. However, there’s no doubt Fabregas would appreciate another upset after making a habit of defying the odds this term.

Match Preview

Milan

It’s been a while since Milan last gave their home fans something to cheer for. Before a 2-1 home league loss to Lazio earlier this month halted their 13-match unbeaten streak at the San Siro, Feyenoord held the Rossoneri to a 1-1 draw en route to crashing them out of the Champions League knockout playoff round.

Therefore, Milan will aim to make amends when they take on Como – a team they have not lost to since the 1984/85 season (W8, D5). Conceicao’s lads must not lose focus down the final stretch to increase their chances of winning back-to-back league games for only the third time this season.

Indeed, they’ve conceded on or beyond the 80th minute in three of their last four Serie A matches on this ground. Furthermore, Milan have capitulated at least twice in four consecutive top-flight outings for only the third time in club history, highlighting the depth of the crisis at the San Siro.

Como

In contrast to Milan’s recent struggles, Como’s quest to secure Serie A survival is progressing smoothly. Fabregas’ men have only lost once in their last four league matches (W2, D1), beating more heavily esteemed rivals Napoli and Fiorentina in that sequence.

No strangers to punching above their weight, Como had previously stunned Atalanta and Roma, suggesting this showdown would not be a walk in the park for Milan. Whether they can upset the apple cart at the San Siro remains debatable, considering they’ve accumulated just ten of their 29 Serie A points on the road (W2, D4, L8).

Moreover, this hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Lariani throughout history. Como have only won one of their 12 previous Serie A visits to Milan’s home venue (D4, L7), underscoring the magnitude of the task awaiting them this weekend.

Team News

Besides long-term absentees Alessandro Florenzi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Emerson Royal, Conceicao has no fresh injury concerns ahead of this fixture. On top of that, Milan will welcome Mike Maignan and Strahinja Pavlovic back from suspension, though the latter should start on the bench.

On the other hand, Como will be without Ivan Azon and Sergi Roberto. However, Mergim Vojvoda and Marc-Oliver Kempf are back from one-game bans. All eyes will be on Fabregas’ standout young duo, Assane Diao and Nico Paz, who have tallied 11 league goals combined this season.

Milan vs Como Potential Starting Line-ups

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bondo, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez.

Como (4-3-3): Butez; Smolcic, Goldaniga, Kempf, Valle; Caqueret, Perrone, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Diao.

Milan vs Como Prediction

One win from Como’s last ten away league matches paints a bleak picture for the visitors as we back Milan to take an all-important three points and stay within striking distance of the current top six.