AC Milan vs AS Roma
Named as one of the five matches remaining in the 2019/20 Serie A season that you can’t afford to miss, my job is to tell you why!
Well, for a start, Milan need to do better than in their last contest against a major rival, so will surely attack.
In fact, if they lose this one then they can all but kiss goodbye to European football next term.
Roma are far more comfortable but their quest for Europe looks more like the Europa League than the Champions League they have become accustomed to in recent seasons unless they can claw back a sixth point deficit on high-flying Atalanta.
The San Siro would be a good place to start.
So, there you have it – two reasons why this will be worth watching and why a compelling encounter awaits.
Talking Points
Milan marked their return to football with a convincing win over lowly Lecce this week but if they are to qualify for Europe next season – after their Coppa Italia hopes were narrowly ended–should be setting their sights on sixth placed Napoli, rather than Roma.
On saying that, finishing seventh would be enough for Europa League football next term thanks to Napoli’s Coppa Italia triumph last week.
Since replacing Marco Giampaolo at the helm in October, there have been signs of improvement for Milan under Stefano Pioli.
Despite that, there is increased speculation Pioli will be replaced by Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season.
That is because while they have only lost one of their last seven matches, they have only won two out of their last eight at home.
As well as losing to Genoa in their most recent home league outing, Milan have also dropped points to Hellas Verona, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Napoli and Lazio at San Siro since early November.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still out of action, but Ante Rebic is more than comfortable filling in as a more mobile centre-forward, supported by Samu Castillejo, HakanCalhanoglu and Giacomo Bonaventura.
Simon Kjaer suffered a knee injury against Lecce but the scans showed no damage to the ligament and the 31year-old, initially ruled out for this clash against the Giallorossi, may yet make it. If not, Matteo Gabbia is likely to step in.
For Paulo Fonseca’s men, the main threat will be frontman Edin Dzeko who, according to renowned Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport this week, will be offered a new contract until June 2023.
Only one year has passed since the Bosnian international seemed set for a move to Inter, but the deal fell through due to economic complications.
In recent weeks, the Nerazzurri had reportedly returned for the striker, who has contributed 14 goals and six assists in his 26 Serie A games this term.
But the 34-year-old has taken over the captaincy at the Olimpico and the report claims he will be offered to extend his current deal with a further year in the Eternal City.
Dzeko, who has scored four goals against Milan in Serie A (three of which have come at San Siro),is currently on 104 goals, 34 behind the club’s former hero Roberto Pruzzowho has claimed Dzeko can catch his tally of 138 goals in the Giallorossi shirt, second only to Francesco Totti.
Roma fought back to beat Sampdoria 2-1 in their first game since March, thanks to a brace of Dzeko volleys. This weekend, Fonseca should rotate his squad, with Gianluca Mancini returning from injury, Cengiz Under and Lorenzo Pellegrini stepping in for Carles Perez and Javier Pastore.
So, with both sides needing the points, Serie A highlights are very likely.
History
Milan have traditionally had the upper hand in this heavyweight battle.
They have won 79 of their encounters, Roma have enjoyed 48 victories and there have been a further 54 draws.
Roma beat Milan 2-1 earlier this season in Rome when Dzeko and NicoloZaniolo cancelled out Theo Hernandez’s equaliser.
Milan won this fixture last term though by the same scoreline when Patrick Cutrone scored a last minute winner.
That is only one of two victories Milan have managed over Roma in their last 15 games, dating back to 2012.
Betting Tip
 |
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AC Milan vs AS Roma | Over 2.75 @ 2.03 |
| June 28, 23:15 (GMT+8) |
Legendary Italian boss Fabio Capello has claimed the nine-point gap between Roma and Milan doesn’t represent the difference in quality and he’s probably right.
That is why I am expecting a close encounter.
The one thing neither side wants is a draw which you can back 1X2 @ 3.30 with SBOBET’s Serie A betting odds, compared to Milan @ 2.68 and Roma @ 2.53.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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