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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.<\/p>\n
That victory spared Conceicao\u2019s 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\u2019s runners-up, Conceicao will expect nothing less than three points against Como \u2013 a side he defeated 2-1 in January\u2019s reverse fixture despite conceding a second-half opener.<\/p>\n
Como will be out to enact revenge for that stomach-wrenching loss and atone for last weekend\u2019s dismal 1-1 home draw against relegation-battling Venezia. Despite taking this trip on a two-game winless league run (D1, L1), Cesc Fabregas\u2019 charges boast a healthy seven-point on 18th-placed Empoli pre-round.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s result at the San Siro. However, there\u2019s no doubt Fabregas would appreciate another upset after making a habit of defying the odds this term.<\/p>\n
Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Therefore, Milan will aim to make amends when they take on Como \u2013 a team they have not lost to since the 1984\/85 season (W8, D5). Conceicao\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Indeed, they\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n Como<\/strong><\/p>\n In contrast to Milan\u2019s recent struggles, Como\u2019s quest to secure Serie A survival is progressing smoothly. Fabregas\u2019 men have only lost once in their last four league matches (W2, D1), beating more heavily esteemed rivals Napoli and Fiorentina in that sequence.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve accumulated just ten of their 29 Serie A points on the road (W2, D4, L8).<\/p>\n Moreover, this hasn\u2019t been a happy hunting ground for the Lariani throughout history. Como have only won one of their 12 previous Serie A visits to Milan\u2019s home venue (D4, L7), underscoring the magnitude of the task awaiting them this weekend.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 standout young duo, Assane Diao and Nico Paz, who have tallied 11 league goals combined this season.<\/p>\n Milan (4-2-3-1):<\/strong> Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bondo, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez.<\/p>\n Como (4-3-3):<\/strong> Butez; Smolcic, Goldaniga, Kempf, Valle; Caqueret, Perrone, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Diao.<\/p>\n One win from Como\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Prediction: Milan to Win<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nTeam News<\/h2>\n
Milan vs Como Potential Starting Line-ups<\/h2>\n
Milan vs Como Prediction<\/h2>\n