Next setback for the Rossoneri from Milan?
For long stretches of the current season, AC Milan led the Serie A table, but for almost two weeks now their city rivals have been at the top of the table. After two defeats in a row, the Rossoneri have not only lost the lead in the standings, but also the momentum from the strong first half of the season.
One week after the derby defeat against their city rivals, AC Milan has another tough task on their agenda this weekend with an away game in Rome. AS Roma are currently the strongest team in Serie A at home. The Giallorossi have not lost a single home game in the league so far – will it stay that way?
The best bookmakers see AS Roma against AC Milan as favorites according to the odds, a prediction that is very obvious given the impressive home record. So far, only three teams have managed to win at the Stadio Olimpico, and AS Roma has celebrated four home victories in a row.
AS Roma – AC Milan Prediction & Live Odds
AS Roma will be looking to defend their fourth place in Serie A with a home win over AC Milan. After last week’s unfortunate draw, the Giallorossi are under pressure to win, after all Lazio and Atalanta minimized the gap to one point on the last matchday. Against AC Milan, AS Roma will rely on their home strength.
The Giallorossi have not lost a single home game at the Stadio Olimpico in the current Serie A season. With a record of 9-3-0, “La Lupa” is the team with the strongest home record in the league, and AS Roma have recently won four home matches in a row. Head coach Fonseca’s team scored a total of 13 goals in the process.
Although AC Milan are currently the strongest away team in Serie A, the Rossoneri’s away record should not be overestimated with regard to the top match in Rome. Recently, the Rossoneri remained winless in four matches in a row, and in the Europa League, head coach Pioli’s team only narrowly missed a home defeat last Thursday.
We, therefore, expect a home win for the fourth-placed team from Rome Our betting partners are offering betting odds of around 2.40 on AS Roma vs AC Milan.
AS Roma – Statistics & current form
Although AS Roma have had to contend with a number of setbacks over the course of the season, their starting position in the table is quite respectable. Currently, AS Roma occupy the fourth and final starting spot for the top flight, but the chasing pack, including Atalanta, Lazio and Napoli, are breathing down “La Lupa’s” neck.
Last week, head coach Paulo Fonseca’s team drew with promoted Benevento. Despite AS Roma playing on the front foot for much of the second half, they failed to score against an otherwise defensively weak league rival.
During the week, however, there was at least a small consolation in the form of a place in the last 16 of the Europa League. After a commanding away win in Braga, the Giallorossi also prevailed in the second leg against the Portuguese representatives and are thus among the best 16 teams in the second most important European Cup for the second time in a row.
Lack of personnel continues
Against Sporting Braga, Paulo Fonseca fielded his team with the best possible line-up despite the good starting position from the first leg. Only players like Mkhitaryan and Pellegrini were spared, but they also came on in the second half.
The small rotation in the Europa League was by no means surprising, as AS Roma are currently struggling with a number of personnel problems. Against AC Milan, too, Fonseca will have to overcome the lack of players, especially in the defense. Seven players are currently in Giallorossi’s hospital.
The potential absences in central defense are particularly serious. Smalling and Kumbulla took part in team training, but it is not yet clear whether Fonseca will use the two recovered centre-backs in the starting eleven.
Strongest home team in the series
On Sunday evening, the Portuguese coach of the Romans will rely above all on the home strength at the Stadio Olimpico. In the twelve home games of the current season, they have a record of 9-3-0 so far, making AS Roma the strongest home team in Serie A. On average, “La Lupa” scored 2.58 goals per game in their home matches this season.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has played the biggest part in the Romans’ offensive output. With nine goals and nine assists, the Armenian is the most important offensive player in the Giallorossi squad. The 32-year-old is expected to regain his place in the starting eleven against AC Milan. If AS Roma prevail against AC Milan, odds of 2.35 are paid for tip 1.
Predicted AS Roma line-up:
Lopez – Mancini, Fazio, Spinazzola – Karsdorp, Veretout, Villar, Peres – Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan – Mayoral
AC Milan – Statistics & current form
AC Milan are currently experiencing a bit of a relapse into the old days. After an impressive start to the season, they led the table for long stretches of the current season, but in the fight for the Scudetto, they have recently suffered two bitter setbacks. The surprising defeat against Spezia Calcio was followed by a derby defeat against Inter last matchday.
The gap to the city rivals has now increased to four points. If the upcoming away match in Rome is also lost, in a worst-case scenario even the chasing team from Torino can overtake the Rossoneri. Juventus are four points behind AC Milan, but have one game less on their account than the second-placed team.
Is AC Milan’s form crisis worsening?
The Rossoneri have been winless in four matches in all competitions. In the Europa League, AC Milan narrowly missed out on a place in the last 16 after two draws against FK Crvena zvezda. The international match during the week was definitely exhausting, as the Serbian representatives were on a par for long stretches of the second leg.
Against AS Roma, head coach Stefano Pioli wants his team to show an act of defiance and keep up with the league leaders. The Rossoneri have a record of 9-1-1 away from home so far this season, which currently puts AC Milan at the top of the away table. So far, the Rossoneri have only lost the away game at Spezia Calcio.
Zlatan, the linchpin of the Milan attack
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the current top scorer at AC Milan. So far, the 39-year-old “oldie” has already scored 14 goals, which puts Zlatan just four goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the Serie A goalscoring charts. If Ibrahimovic leads the Rossoneri out of their crisis on Sunday evening, attractive betting odds can be picked up for a prediction on the Lombardy visitors in AS Roma vs. AC Milan.
Predicted AC Milan line-up:
Donnarumma – Hernandez, Romangnoli, Kjaer, Calabria – Kessie, Tonali – Rebic, Calhanoglu, Saelemaekers – Ibrahimovic
