Serie A
AS Roma vs Milan Preview
Both sides desperate for a victory to kickstart their seasons.
- Date: Sunday, October 27, 2019
- Time: 12noon (EST)
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Venue: Stadio Olímpico
- Capacity: 72,698
Roma take on Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday in a game both sides need to win.
Both clubs have struggled so far this season and are in need of a confidence booster.
Roma are currently sixth and have drawn their last four games in all competitions. They may have lost just once in Serie A so far this season but their big problems have been going forward and a growing injury list.
This was apparent as they failed to break down bottom side Sampdoria last weekend.
Meanwhile, Milan has won just one of their last five Serie A games. Last week, they were denied a first win under new boss Stefano Pioli, as they were held by Leece at the San Siro.
It is their inability to keep clean sheets, which will be of big concern for Pioli. That is an area where they have to improve quickly if they are to get their season back on track.
Team News
Roma’s midfield is looking very thin on the ground. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Madou Diawara and Bryan Cristante are all out injured. Also, defender Davide Zappacosta and attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Cengiz Under are also on the sidelines.
Nikola Kalinic is also missing due to a fracture in his fibula while Justin Kluivert is suspended after being sent off last weekend.
For Milan, only defender Mattia Caldara is the only senior member of the squad guaranteed to miss Sunday’s fixture.
Roma vs Milan Previous Meetings
Milan are unbeaten in their last three Serie A meetings against Roma, winning two of them.
Both sides have drawn six of their last 11 Serie A meetings at the Olimpico, three wins for the Giallorossi and two for the Rossoneri.
Last season, Roma and Milan drew 1-1 at the Olimpico back in February.
Predicted Line-Ups
Roma (4-2-3-1): Pau Lopez; Spinazzola, Mancini, Smalling, Kolarov; Veretout, Pastore; Florenzi, Zaniolo, Perotti; Dzeko
Milan (4-3-3): G Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Paqueta, Biglia, Kessie; Suso, Leao, Calhanoglu
Roma vs Milan Prediction
Both sides go into this game low on confidence and both know this is a must win game, which may help kick start their seasons.
Roma are injury ravaged and are looking to bounce back from their controversial draw against Borussia Monchengladbach where a wrongly given penalty denied them a victory.
Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has some big decisions to make. With so little options in midfield it is likely that defenders Davide Santon or Gianluca Mancini will have to fill in midfield.
They will know that they have their work cut out against a Milan side who last week looked more potent going forward.
However, Pioli also has big decisions to make. Last weekend, he decided to put Krzystof Piatek on the bench. The Polish international came on and scored against Leece but is likely that Pioli will keep the same attacking trident of Rafael Leao, Hakan Calhanoglu and Suso.
Given Roma’s injury problems, Pioli will feel this is a great opportunity to get his first win as Milan boss. They will be hoping that this will be a springboard to kickstart their season.
Prediction: Roma 1-2 Milan
Written by David Coates
Follow David and TSJ: Soccer on Twitter:
Photo credit to World AC Milan via Twitter
Follow TSJ on YouTube and Twitter
