Coppa Italia
AC Milan vs Napoli Preview
- Date: Jan. 29, 2019
- Time: 2:45 p.m. (est)
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
- Seating Capacity: 80,018
Just days after a nil-nil draw at Stadio Giueseppe Meazza, both side meet again for the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia.
Both Milan and Napoli come to this matchup hoping they didn’t have to play it.
Milan wants to remain in contention for UEFA Champion League slots in the standings as they are atop Roma with 35 points.
Meanwhile, Napoli has a place pretty much guaranteed but is waiting to continue success in Europe playing in Europa League.
Views From Both Camps
AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso:
“Caldara and Biglia trained for a small part of practice with us yesterday, they are currently working on a fitness. I think they should be available within a week. We are happy, they have a great desire to return to the field.”
“One day a player is a in terrible form, then one day he is a phenomenon. Today I hear a lot of things, he has to put his characteristics at disposal of the team. Bakayoko is a player who beats his man, a technician. He is giving us a big helping hand.”
“He reminds me of Tomasson, he has specific characteristics. Piatek has just arrived, but I like him, he is a curious guy who looks at the photos at Milanello. He likes to observe, speak and experience the structure – which is something good.”
Also, Gattuso is set to start newly acquired Krzysztof Piątek against Napoli.
Additionally, Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti will be without Ivan Strinic, Pepe Reina, Cristian Zapata, Lucas Biglia, Giacomo Bonaventura and Mattia Caldara due to injuries.
Possible Lineup
AC Milan XI: Donnarumma; Abate, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Bakayoko, Paquetà; Castillejo, Piatek, Calhanoglu.
Napoli XI: Meret; Malcuit, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Callejon, Allan, Hamsik, Zielinski; Insigne, Milik.
Prediction
All odds favor the home team as Napoli is playing their fifth consecutive away game.
However, both sides will have a minimal amount of star players in their squad.
Nevertheless, Napoli are unbeaten in their last five matchups against AC Milan. Additionally, Milan have only managed draws since 2018 against the ‘Gli Azzurri’.
AC Milan 1 – 1 Napoli
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