SM
Fulham vs. Brentford: 1 hr 25 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
ML
Serie A | Gameweek 22
Jan 17, 2022 at 5.30pm UK
San Siro
SC

AC Milan
1 - 2
Spezia

Leao (45+1')
Kalulu (22'), Gabbia (62')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Agudelo (64'), Gyasi (90+6')
Gyasi (19'), Kiwior (32'), Provedel (44'), Maggiore (65'), Bastoni (90+2')

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

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

Title-challenging AC Milan will be looking to make it four Serie A victories in a row when they welcome lowly Spezia to San Siro on Monday night.

Milan are currently second in the table, one point behind division leaders and bitter rivals Inter Milan, while Spezia occupy 16th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.


Match preview

Milan have not won Serie A since 2011, but the Red and Blacks are firmly in the title picture at this stage of the season, having picked up 48 points from their opening 21 matches, which has left them in second spot.

Leaders Inter Milan are one point clear of their rivals with a game in hand, and the reigning champions will have the chance to open up a four-point advantage when they travel to Atalanta BC on Sunday night.

Milan are crucially 10 points clear of fifth-placed Juventus, though, and will be looking to secure, at the bare minimum, a top-four spot, having claimed second behind Inter last term.

Stefano Pioli's side have been victorious in their last three Serie A matches, overcoming Empoli, Roma and Venezia, since suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Napoli on December 19.

The Red and Blacks also triumphed in the Coppa Italia on Thursday, recording a 3-1 win over Genoa, and they will know that another victory on Monday is necessary in order to stay in touch with leaders Inter.

Spezia, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Genoa last weekend, with Simone Bastoni netting the only goal of the contest in the 14th minute.

The Little Eagles have now won two of their last three in the league, suffering just one defeat in the process, which has moved them into 16th position in the table, boasting a record of five wins, four draws and 12 defeats from 21 matches to collect 19 points.

Spezia are still only three points clear of the relegation zone, though, and they face a battle to secure their status as a top-flight club for another season.

Thiago Motta's side have won three times on their travels this season, including a 1-0 victory at Napoli on December 22, so they are certainly capable of overcoming Milan on Monday evening.

Spezia also beat Milan 2-0 on home soil during the 2020-21 campaign but suffered a 2-1 loss when the two teams locked horns at Stadio Alberto Picco earlier this season.

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

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

Spezia Serie A form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W

Spezia form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W

Team News

Milan will be missing Alessio Romagnoli, Pietro Pellegri, Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer through injury, while Sandro Tonali will be unavailable for selection through suspension.

The Italian giants will also be without Ismael Bennacer, Fode Ballo-Toure and Franck Kessie due to their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will again lead the line for the home side, while Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers should retain their spots in attacking areas for the title hopefuls.

Spezia, meanwhile, will be without Ebrima Colley due to his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The visitors have managed to recover those who recently tested positive for coronavirus, though, so head coach Motta should have a strong squad to choose from on Monday night.

Spezia are expected to line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation at San Siro, with Daniele Verde supporting M'Bala Nzola, who has two league goals to his name during the 2021-22 campaign.

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Florenzi, Kalulu, Gabbia, Hernandez; Krunic, Bakayoko; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Ibrahimovic

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Amian, Erlic, Nikolaou, Reca; Kovalenko, Sala, Bastoni, Gyasi; Verde; Nzola


We say: AC Milan 2-0 Spezia

Spezia have won their last two Serie A matches on their travels, but we are finding it difficult to back the visitors to triumph here. Milan need to win to stay in touch with the leaders, and we are expecting the home side to secure all three points courtesy of a two-goal success.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win 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.Home Win:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__475364 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:00:22:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:00:22 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
AC Milan 'make approach for Man United's Eric Bailly'
A lasting legacy, motivated by money? Edu leaves Arsenal and breaks silence on exit
Preview: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups
Postecoglou's master plan: Spurs to rival Liverpool for Serie A midfielder?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Juventus115601971221
6Lazio106132213919
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Roma113441214-213
12Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
13Empoli1025379-211
14CagliariCagliari10235817-99
15Como102351221-99
16Parma101631416-29
17Monza111551014-48
18VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
19Lecce11227420-168
20Genoa10136721-146
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

1

HF

Five Man City players missing from training ahead of Sporting clash

2

FM

Preview: Besiktas vs. Malmo - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PB

Was the injury serious? City reveal Sporting squad after Haaland scare

NEW

4

WT

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

5

MM

Premier League move? Real Madrid 'questioning Vinicius Jr commitment level'

6

PL

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PI

Walking a tightrope: Which two Liverpool stars could miss Real Madrid clash?

8

WA

Pictured: Liverpool star returns to training after painful injury

9

PL

Chelsea suffer Osimhen transfer blow as £42m January twist 'revealed'

10

CS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .