The Biancorossi's Difficult Mission Against the Rossoneri

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Following five wins from six matches in all competitions, AC Milan will visit Monza in the Italian League continued, Sunday (18/2/2024) evening or Monday (19/2/2024) early morning at 02.45 WIB.

Monza have not been able to pick up a single point against their illustrious neighbors. Therefore, it is natural to call the Biancorossi a difficult mission to face the Rossoneri.

Continuing their impressive performance since the turn of the year, Milan managed to beat their opponents in the Europa League playoffs, Rennes last week.

That followed a fourth win in five Italian League games, when the Rossoneri toppled Scudetto holders Napoli at the San Siro last weekend. The decisive goal was created by Theo Hernandez. This French player is only three goals behind Paolo Maldini in the club's list of top scorers, especially defenders.

Milan's recent run has taken them to just one point adrift of second-placed Juventus, although city rivals Inter Milan are still well ahead, and hopes of stealing the Scudetto are slim.

Milan is currently in third place in the standings with 52 points after 24 matches. Juventus is above him with 54 points with 25 matches. Inter is firmly at the top with 63 points.

The Rossoneri have scored 23 goals in nine games this year. Coach Stefano Pioli hopes that his team will be sharper in scoring goals.

Milan scored three goals in their last three away games, against Empoli, Udinese and Frosinone.

Monza seems wary of Milan's revival. The Rossoneri and other regional rivals, Atalanta, are the two teams that Monza have not taken a single point from since competing in Serie A two years ago.

Raffaele Palladino's troops are also the only team that has not managed to beat any opponents occupying the top half of the Italian League standings this season.

Nonetheless, Lombardi's club are proving tough to beat at the moment, having kept clean sheets in their last three games. After a 1-0 win over Sassuolo last month, they recorded back-to-back goalless draws against Udinese and Hellas Verona.

Milan is unlikely to make many changes this weekend in its line-up.

Captain Davide Calabria was withdrawn from the center of the pitch against Napoli due to injury. He joins fellow defenders Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori on the bench.

However, Malick Thiaw, who appeared from the bench on Thursday last week, can now get the opportunity to play more as a starter.

Samu Chukwueze also returned to action after several weeks on duty for Nigeria. Tijjani Reijnders will be available after serving his domestic suspension last week.

With 11 goals and eight assists So far this season, Olivier Giroud could become the first player in a decade to be involved in 20 goals in Serie A after turning 36. However, Luka Jovic has proven to be a capable player of late and might replace him if Stefano Pioli decides to rotate.

Monza, meanwhile, will again be without the long-absent Samuele Vignato and Gianluca Caprari, but the hosts should have a fully available squad.

On loan from Milan, Lorenzo Colombo hasn't scored a goal since November, so new arrival Milan Djuric will probably lead the line. Maybe they are a duet. Both will be supported by top scorer (7 goals) Andrea Colpani.

Monza vs Italy player forecast:
Monza: Di Gregorio; Izzo, Mari, Caldirola; Birindelli, Gagliardini, Pessina, Zerbin; Mota, Colpani; Colombo

AC Milan:
Maignan; Florenzi, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Jovic

Head to head:

17/12/2023: AC Milan 3-0 AC Monza
18/2/2023: AC Monza 0-1 AC Milan
22/10/2022: AC Milan 4-1 AC Monza
30/8/1987: AC Monza 0-2 AC Milan
13/3/1983: AC Milan 4-0 AC Monza