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Sunday\u2019s Serie A action gets underway at the San Siro as title-bidding Milan take on high-flying Sassuolo. Both teams head into this meeting in a buoyant mood after overcoming early deficits to win their league matches last weekend.<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite trailing Torino by two goals before the 20-minute mark, Milan pulled off a stunning comeback to win 3-2 in Turin on Monday night. Level on points with defending champions Napoli at the top of the table, Massimiliano Allegri\u2019s charges remain firmly in contention for a landmark 20th Scudetto.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to being relieved of European duties, Milan bowed out of the Coppa Italia, meaning the Rossoneri can fully focus on bringing the league title back to the San Siro for the first time since 2022. However, this season\u2019s Scudetto race promises to go down to the wire, with only a point separating the top three teams.<\/span><\/p>\n Though newly promoted Sassuolo harbor different ambitions, they enter this round as one of the division\u2019s most in-form sides. The Neroverdi fought back to beat out-of-sorts Fiorentina 3-1 at home, maintaining a rich vein of form. Indeed, Fabio Grosso\u2019s men sit only six points adrift of sixth-placed Como at the start of this round.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s quite an achievement for last season\u2019s Serie B winners. Yet, their European aspirations face a formidable challenge this weekend, as they seek their first league victory against a current top-six side.<\/span><\/p>\n Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n Newcomers Cremonese stunned the San Siro into silence on the opening weekend, beating Milan 2-1 on their home ground. However, Allegri\u2019s men have since gone 13 consecutive league matches without losing (W9, D4), including back-to-back home wins over Roma and Lazio.<\/span><\/p>\n Both triumphs yielded an identical 1-0 scoreline, highlighting the potential for another close contest. That\u2019s been a common theme for Milan this season, with each of their five home wins in Serie A coming by a single-goal margin. Nonetheless, the Rossoneri have not lost any of their six league games at the San Siro since Matchday 1 (W5, D1).<\/span><\/p>\n While this appears to be a routine task for Milan, at least on paper, the hosts would be naive to underestimate Sassuolo. Indeed, they\u2019ve failed to beat the Neroverdi in four of their last five home league encounters on this ground (D1, L3). Furthermore, after a 2-2 draw against Pisa, the 19-time Italian champions are at risk of starting the season with three consecutive winless matches against newly promoted clubs for the first time since 2014\/15.<\/span><\/p>\n Sassuolo<\/strong><\/p>\n Sassuolo\u2019s narrow 1-0 defeat on their last Serie A visit to the San Siro puts them at risk of losing successive league meetings with Milan for only the second time in club history. That\u2019s a realistic prospect, considering they\u2019ve lost all four top-flight clashes against current top-six teams, including a 2-0 defeat at Como on their last league road trip.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Grosso\u2019s side had emerged victorious from three of their four previous away league games (D1), keeping three clean sheets in the process. That said, they\u2019ve only registered one shutout across their last seven Serie A fixtures, suggesting Christian Pulisic and company could have a field day.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet, it\u2019s worth noting that Sassuolo have gone from strength to strength when taking the lead this season, winning all six league outings after drawing first blood. Meanwhile, they\u2019ve rescued four points from losing positions (W1, D1, L6).<\/span><\/p>\n Milan lost standout forward Rafael Leao to a muscle injury on Monday, meaning Christopher Nkunku is likely to start alongside Pulisic. Indeed, Santiago Gimenez has fallen out of favor amid a rough patch. Elsewhere, Youssouf Fofana and Zachary Athekame remain on the sidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n As for Sassuolo, Grosso has to deal with a growing list of absentees. In addition to the club\u2019s long-serving stalwart, Domenico Berardi, Aster Vranckx, Daniel Boloca, Filippo Romagna, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Stefano Turati, Laurs Skjellerup, and Yeferson Paz are unavailable.<\/span><\/p>\n Milan (3-5-2):<\/strong> Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Nkunku.<\/span><\/p>\n Sassuolo (4-3-3):<\/strong> Muric; Walukiewicz, Izdes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kone; Volpato, Pinamonti, Lauriente.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite Sassuolo\u2019s outstanding run at the San Siro and equally impressive return to Serie A, this is Milan\u2019s game to lose. Allegri\u2019s men have struggled against smaller clubs this term, but we expect the Rossoneri to defy that trend tomorrow.<\/span><\/p>\nMatch Preview<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Team News<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Milan vs Sassuolo Potential Starting Lineups<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Milan vs Sassuolo Prediction<\/strong><\/h2>\n