AC Milan vs. Sassuolo: Match Preview and Line-Ups

AC Milan kicks off their Coppa Italia campaign against Sassuolo this Tuesday night at the iconic San Siro stadium. The match is set to start at 21:00 CET (19:00 GMT) and will be pivotal for both teams as they pursue glory in this prestigious cup.

Current Form and Recent Performances

Milan approach this match with a surge of confidence after back-to-back victories in both the Champions League and Serie A against Slovan Bratislava and Empoli, respectively. However, with a crucial match against Atalanta looming on the horizon, AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca faces a balancing act between rotation and maintaining momentum.

Squad Issues

Unfortunately for Milan, injuries plague the squad. Key players Alessandro Florenzi, Ismael Bennacer, and Luka Jovic are sidelined while recovering from various operations. Additionally, mainstay goalkeeper Mike Maignan will miss the game after undergoing dental surgery, and Theo Hernandez is out with a bruised foot sustained in the last match. This leads to several rotations in the lineup while still fielding a competitive team.

Expected Starting Line-Ups

AC Milan (4-2-3-1):

• Sportiello; Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano;
• Fofana, Reijnders;
• Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Leao;
• Abraham.

Sassuolo (4-3-3):

• Satalino; Paz, Odenthal, Muharemovic, Pieragnolo;
• Iannoni, Obiang, Caligara;
• Volpato, Mulattieri, Antiste.

The expected line-ups reflect a significant rotation from the team that recently triumphed over Empoli. While Fonseca aims to rest players, he also acknowledges the quality of Sassuolo, who are currently leading Serie B and could present challenges despite being a division lower.

Key Player Insights

AC Milan

• Rafael Leao will be pivotal in the attacking third, carrying the hopes of Milan fans as he seeks to find the net yet again.
• Tammy Abraham, freshly rotated into the starting XI, will look to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities presented to him.

Sassuolo

• Domenico Berardi, although potentially starting from the bench, is a formidable threat should he enter the fray. His impressive history against Milan—11 goals in 20 games—makes any moment on the pitch a potential turning point.
• Boloca and Thorsted in midfield will seek to disrupt Milan's rhythm, making them players to watch.

Where to Watch

The match can be streamed live on PremierPlay in the UK and Paramount+ in the USA. For Italian viewers, the game will be aired for free on Italia 1. Additionally, fans can follow the live updates on Football Italia via a dedicated match blog.

Head-to-Head History

Historically, AC Milan has enjoyed the upper hand over Sassuolo, with a win rate of approximately 52%. The two teams have met 23 times, resulting in 12 victories for Milan. The last encounter in the Coppa Italia saw Milan clinch a 2-1 victory at San Siro during the 2014-15 season.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

The stakes are high for AC Milan, particularly given their long-standing absence from Coppa Italia trophy wins—last celebrated in the 2002-03 season. As Fonseca gears his players for the challenge, fans hope to see a spirited performance against a resurgent Sassuolo side.

This match promises to deliver excitement, and despite Milan's injuries, they are expected to narrowly overcome Sassuolo with a predicted scoreline of 2-1.

Keywords

• Milan vs. Sassuolo
• Coppa Italia
• Team News
• Match Preview