Sassuolo vs AC Milan – News and Probable Lineups

In search of crucial points to secure a top-four finish, AC Milan will travel to Sassuolo on Sunday afternoon.

Having dropped out of contention for the title, Milan must now concentrate on securing Champions League qualification, while their opponents aim for a spot in Italy’s final top 10.

Match overview

After a dull goalless draw against Juventus last weekend, Milan’s hopes of winning the Scudetto were dashed, plunging them into a contest for Champions League spots.

Following four losses in seven matches, the Rossoneri have managed to stabilize their performance by defeating Hellas Verona and frustrating fellow top-four rivals Juve, although concerns remain.

Goals have been hard to come by, with the Lombardy side averaging less than one per game over the last nine matchdays, amidst disappointing performances from key players Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic.

Under the pragmatic management of Massimiliano Allegri, Milan averages just 13.3 shots per game, one of their lowest figures in the last 20 Serie A seasons.

Currently third with four matches remaining, Allegri’s squad must strive to finish strong, fending off the late challenges from Como and Roma, who are now only six points behind.

On a brighter note, Milan has kept two consecutive clean sheets, pushing their season total to 15 from 34 matches – their highest tally at this stage since 2012, during Allegri’s previous tenure.

Although the Rossoneri have historically struggled against Sassuolo at San Siro, they are undefeated in their last eight away encounters with this week’s adversaries, having recorded six victories at Mapei Stadium over the last decade.

However, after managing to secure a 2-2 draw in the previous fixture in December, Sassuolo has lost only twice in their last eight league encounters, having previously only earned two points from the last nine battles.

The Emilian club is currently showing better form than their esteemed visitors, allowing them to play freely after achieving their primary goal.

A total of 23 points from the last 13 matches, which places them fifth in that timeframe, has assured last season’s Serie B champions will remain in Italy’s top division.

Following a 0-0 stalemate with Fiorentina in their latest outing, the Neroverdi currently occupy 10th place and aim for a top-half finish by the end of the month.

Before welcoming Milan to Reggio Emilia, Fabio Grosso’s team have triumphed in five of their last seven home fixtures, boosting confidence within the squad.

Team News

Milan’s draw against Juventus was overshadowed by a serious facial injury to Luka Modric, who will miss the remainder of the Serie A season; Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari are contending to step in for the Croatian midfielder on Sunday.

Aside from that, Allegri is likely to have a fully fit squad to choose from, with critical defender Matteo Gabbia recently returning from injury. When available, the Rossoneri have lost just 4% of their league matches this season; that figure rises to 50% in his absence from the starting XI.

In attack, Leao and Pulisic have been struggling to find their form for several weeks, with the latter currently going 16 appearances without scoring – his longest drought in Italy’s top division.

Despite their inconsistency, Christopher Nkunku, Niclas Fullkrug and Santiago Gimenez are all pushing for one of the two available spots.

On the other hand, Sassuolo’s key player Domenico Berardi always relishes facing Milan: he has found the net 11 times in 19 Serie A encounters against the Rossoneri, including a memorable four-goal display back in January 2014.

With Berardi returning from a two-match suspension, his availability is timely – although Cristian Volpato may be the one to make way.

The status of first-choice goalkeeper Arijanet Muric’s return to starting duties remains uncertain, with Stefano Turati currently in goal; defenders Filippo Romagna, Edoardo Pieragnolo, and Fali Cande are all ruled out for the rest of the season.

Sassuolo probable starting XI:

Trustee; Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Garcia; Kone, Matic, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Pinamonte, Laurenti

AC Milan probable starting XI:

Cousins; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Ricci, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Leao

As Milan continues to struggle, visiting one of their difficult opponents is not ideal, and even taking a single point back to the second city could be seen as a positive outcome.

Sassuolo boasts a potent attacking trio and consistent lineups, enabling Grosso’s side to be a threat to any team on home soil.