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Serie A | Gameweek 5
Sep 22, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
San Siro
V

AC Milan
2 - 0
Venezia

Diaz (68'), Hernandez (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Forte (25'), Caldara (77')

Preview: AC Milan vs. Venezia - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: AC Milan vs. Venezia - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Serie A clash between AC Milan and Venezia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

AC Milan will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the new Serie A campaign when they host newly-promoted Venezia on Wednesday evening.

The two sides will meet for the first time since February 2002, when they Rossoneri claimed a 4-1 victory away from home.


Match preview

AC Milan are just one of four Serie A sides who remain unbeaten so far this season, after claiming a 1-1 draw against Italian giants Juventus last weekend.

Alvaro Morata's fourth-minute chip was cancelled out in the 76th minute when Ante Rebic headed in from a Sandro Tonali corner, with both sides eventually forced to share the spoils.

After claiming maximum points against Sampdoria, Cagliari and Lazio in their first three matches, Stefano Pioli's men were unable to maintain their 100% record against Juve, but Sunday's result means they stay level with city rivals and current holders Inter Milan at the top of the table.

The Rossoneri head into Wednesday's encounter with a good record against Venezia, having lost only one of their last 12 top-flight meetings against them. They also have an impressive record against newly-promoted sides, after winning 13 and drawing five of their last 19 matches against them, keeping 11 clean sheets in the process.

AC Milan, who are keen to challenge once again for their first Scudetto since 2010-11, would move onto 13 points from their first five league games if they were to win at San Siro, the same tally they had accumulated at this stage last season and one they have achieved on only three previous occasions this century.

Venezia were unable to follow up their first win of the campaign against Empoli with another three points, as they came up short at home against Spezia, losing 2-1 last weekend.

Pietro Ceccaroni's 59th-minute header cancelled out Simone Bastoni's first-half opener, however the hosts suffered a dramatic blow in the 94th minute when a stunning 25-yard strike from Mehdi Bourabia snatched all three points at the death for the visitors.

Paolo Zanetti's men have now conceded beyond the 89th minute in each of their last three league games, something the 38-year-old will be keen for his side to cut out quickly.

Venezia, competing in their first top-flight campaign for 19 years, now sit just one place above the relegation zone and seven points behind Wednesday's opponents AC Milan in second place.

The Arancioneroverdi last beat Milan back in March 2000, winning 1-0 on home soil, but they are set to face a challenging encounter in midweek and repeating their success from over 20 years ago could prove to be a tall order.

AC Milan Serie A form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D

AC Milan form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D

Venezia Serie A form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Venezia form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L


Team News

AC Milan centre-back Simon Kjaer was the latest name added to their lengthy injury list, after limping off with a hamstring problem midway through the first half against Juventus.

The Denmark international joins Olivier Giroud (back), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Achilles), Rade Krunic (muscle), Junior Messias (fitness), Tiemoue Bakayoko (leg) and Davide Calabria (muscle) on the treatment table.

Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is set to switch from the right side of defence to centre-back in Kjaer's absence, which could also see Alessandro Florenzi handed a start at right-back.

Aside from enforced changes, Pioli is not expected to make too many alterations to his starting lineup, so the likes of Rebic, Alexis Saelemaekers and Brahim Diaz are all set to keep their places in the side.

As for Venezia, Luca Fiordilino (shoulder) Lauri Ala-Myllymaki (knee) and Luca Lezzerini (muscle) are all ruled out of Wednesday's game with injuries.

Chelsea loanee Ethan Ampadu could be in line to make his debut for the club after completing a period in quarantine, and it will be intriguing to see whether the versatile Welshman is used as a midfielder or a defender in Zanetti's side.

Strikers Thomas Henry and David Okereke are expected to start once again, with winger Dennis Johnsen set to join them in a three-man attack.

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Florenzi, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Tonali, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Rebic

Venezia possible starting lineup:
Maenpaa; Mazzocchi, Caldara, Ampadu, Schnegg; Heymans, Vacca, Busio; Okereke, Henry, Johnsen


We say: AC Milan 2-0 Venezia

AC Milan will be strong favourites to claim all three points on Wednesday, even though a number of first-team players are ruled out injured.

The hosts still have plenty of quality among their ranks and we expect them to secure a routine victory at San Siro, extending their unbeaten league run to five matches.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CInter Milan34285181186389
2AC Milan34217664392570
3Juventus341811547262165
4Bologna341712549272263
5Roma34178961412059
6Atalanta BCAtalanta331761061372457
7Lazio34174134335855
8Fiorentina331481150371350
9Napoli341311105243950
10Torino341113103131046
11Monza341111123644-844
12Genoa33912123540-539
13Lecce34812143149-1836
14CagliariCagliari33711153656-2032
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona34710173145-1431
16FrosinoneFrosinone34710174363-2031
17Empoli3487192650-2431
18Udinese34417133251-1929
19SassuoloSassuolo3468204070-3026
RSalernitana3429232673-4715
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