AC Milan will return to the Serie A as they visit Genoa at the top of the Serie A. At Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Milan must now face an improving home team after their second consecutive scoreless draw in Europe.
Preview (Genoa vs. AC Milan)
With one exception, Stefano Pioli’s team is doing exceptionally well in the Italian top division. Milan has only earned two points from their first two Champions League Group F games. The Rossoneri have already amassed 18 points in Serie A. It ranks as their third-best total at this time in the 21st century. They join their city rivals at the top of the league. Their lone defeat was a 5-1 derby thrashing by Inter.
After seven games, Milan last had that record in the Scudetto-winning season of 2021–22. Last week, Milan defeated Lazio 2-0 at home thanks to goals from summer arrivals Christian Pulisic and Noah Okafor. All of this is encouraging for aspirations of a title campaign this season. The race appears to be wide open at this juncture in the season. Napoli still playing below their best and both Rome clubs lagging behind. Pioli will want to win more games on the road in Serie A after stopping Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Milan’s poor road performance cost them a shot at second place last year.
Their five league losses since February have all come as the away team. They can now head to Marassi with a strong recent record against Genoa behind them. Milan has won four of their previous five league games against the Grifone at Stadio Ferraris. In fact, Genoa’s last home victory against the guests this week occurred in October 2016. The Ligurian squad had only won one of the previous nine Serie A games between the two teams. The Grifone is now under the leadership of former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino. They bounced back from Fiorentina’s opening-day thrashing to earn eight points. They were only denied two more by a late own goal.
Team News
This weekend, Milan’s midfield options are still limited due to the continued absence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rade Krunic (thigh), and Ismael Bennacer (knee), along with other long-term absentees. Yunus Musah and Tommaso Pobega will try to beat out Yacine Adli after beginning in Germany in order to replace Tijjani Reijnders in the Rossoneri’s engine room. Milan are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues to have two players with three goals and three assists to their name this season, and both should appear up front in a 4-3-3 formation, despite their struggles in the final third in Europe.Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud both have three goals and three assists in the Serie A so far.
Meanwhile, Genoa will likely be without several of their starting midfielders as well because Kevin Strootman (muscular) and Milan Badelj (flexor) are still considered to be very questionable for Saturday night’s game at Marassi. However, Brazilian winger Junior Messias is in a position to face his native club after making a few cameo appearances since returning from injury and Stefano Sabelli (ankle) may be able to play a part. The previous time Genoa had two forwards on that mark after seven top-flight games was in 1977. Up top, Sweden’s Albert Gudmundsson and Italy’s Mateo Retegui have both scored three times this season in Serie A. To start versus Milan, the latter must get over a knee injury.
Milan may have scored just twice in their previous seven Champions League games, but their front line has demonstrated that it is capable of scoring frequently in Serie A. The second-city team can depart Liguria with all three points on Saturday night if they continue their superb performance against Marassi.
Genoa 1 – 2 AC Milan
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