Milan vs Sassuolo

Milan are desperate at this point, a loss tomorrow means top four is in jeopardy.

The 28 year old is having a slow season after he decided to remain at the club despite numerous offers. He is expected to get a start for the first time since the Empoli league game in October last year. Stefano Pioli needs to a win to ensure the team does not spiral as we are currently without a win in the previous five games across all competitions.

AC Milan will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they welcome Sassuolo to San Siro on Sunday.

AC Milan and Sassuolo are two of the most exciting teams on paper. - But Sassuolo have won both of their last two away games against Milan in the league. The Spaniard needs to rediscover top form to take some of the burden off Rafael Leao in the final third. Domenico Berardi has a stellar record against AC Milan and will be the go-to player for Dionisi. - AC Milan are unbeaten in their last two Serie A meetings with Sassuolo (W1 D1) without conceding a goal. Against Sassuolo on Sunday, the AC Milan manager will be bereft of the services of half a dozen first-team players. And the Italian international will join Armand Lauriente and Agustin Alvarez in the final third. The Bosnian will link up with Sandro Tonali in the double pivot in the middle of the park. The reverse fixture saw AC Milan and Sassuolo play out a goalless draw at the Mapei Stadium in August. And the duo will likely remain unavailable for a few more days. Hamed Junior Traore will be the creative supremo for Sassuolo, with the 22-year-old reprising the no. The Sassuolo manager will be without only two first-team players on Sunday.

AC Milan are desperate for a win after five consecutive games without one and on Sunday mid-day, they will take on Sassuolo at San Siro.

The Bosnian has recently returned and might not be in the best of form, but his simplistic playing style could come in handy if Sassuolo decide to press high. He will be crucial for Sassuolo in the midfield battle tomorrow. Both teams have been very poor lately but Milan are still the favourites to come away with the win. Furthermore, and what might be concerning, Sassuolo have had a couple of upsets at San Siro in recent time. The quality is there, he just needs to make use of it. The Rossoneri have struggled big time over the last three weeks, failing to win a game in their last five attempts. Milan have fond memories of facing Sassuolo, after they were initially labelled a bogey team, as the Rossoneri secured the Scudetto at Mapei Stadium last season. Pioli’s men were toothless in that clash and didn’t deserve to win, especially considering Berardi missed a penalty. It’s been a very tough season for Sassuolo and especially in recent time. As such, Simon Kjaer will be the one starting next to Pierre Kalulu tomorrow. Ultimately, though, it will come down to the final score of tomorrow’s game. It’s a huge boost for Milan given the Frenchman’s importance.

For all of the team news and statistics, including injuries and suspensions, probable line-ups and predictions with facts and odds, read our detailed Serie ...

AC Milan's second half of the season kicks off with a fixture against Sassuolo from Alessio Dionisi. A non-trivial crossroads, a match that in the past at ...

One, however, came in the last match (Ferrari in the 13th minute against Monza), while the Rossoneri have not scored two in the first half since the two goals against [Salernitana](https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/videos/highlights/2023-01-04/salernitana-v-ac-milan-serie-a-2022-23-the-highlights) at the start of the month. [the fourth best attack in the league](https://www.acmilan.com/en/season/2022/standings/serie-a) - are third in terms of goals scored in the first 15 minutes of the game (seven, 20% of their total goals), while Dionisi's side have only scored twice in the first half of the game. It will be, incidentally, the first fixture of the season at 12:30 CET on Sunday (the last one was AC Milan v Sampdoria in February 2022). [After three weeks](https://www.acmilan.com/en/season/2022/schedule/serie-a), AC Milan return to play a league match at San Siro. [Calabria](https://www.acmilan.com/en/teams/men-first-team/players/davide-calabria/statistics) and Theo Hernández. Sergiño [Dest](https://www.acmilan.com/en/teams/men-first-team/players/sergino-dest/statistics) could find space on either flank, while up front the Rossoneri coach should opt for the Saelemaekers-Leão duo.

Serie A champion AC Milan hosts Sassuolo in the hope of ceasing its current downward spiral in form.

[Start your free trial today](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/?page_slug=RAIITA&title=Watch%20RAI%20Italia%20Online%20with%20fuboTV&pack=fubotv-basic&addons%5B%5D=raiitalia¶ms=pack=fubotv-basic&addons%5B%5D=raiitalia&irad=665821&irmp=2936331&sharedid=Canada-SI-Match-Serie_A-AC_Milan_vs_Sassuolo) Sassuolo travels to the San Siro amid its own sense of desperation just five points above the relegation places, though there’s cause for comfort considering Alessio Dionisi’s side has already taken points off Saturday’s foes so far this season. [Start your subscription now!](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/?page_slug=RAIITA&title=Watch%20RAI%20Italia%20Online%20with%20fuboTV&pack=fubotv-basic&addons%5B%5D=raiitalia¶ms=pack=fubotv-basic&addons%5B%5D=raiitalia&irad=665821&irmp=2936331&sharedid=Canada-SI-Match-Serie_A-AC_Milan_vs_Sassuolo)

Back on home turf. The Rossoneri are set to take to the San Siro pitch as they look to return to winning ways and put a difficult January behind them.

On Sunday, in addition to AC Milan v Sassuolo at 12:30 CET, the following games will be played: Juventus v Monza (15:00 CET), Lazio v Fiorentina (18:00 CET) and Napoli v Roma (20:45 CET). [AC Milan 2-0 Salernitana on 4 December 2021](https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/videos/highlights/2021-12-04/ac-milan-v-salernitana-serie-a-2021-22-the-highlights). This also applies to Rade Krunić, who was named on the bench in Rome and is in contention to start in Bennacer’s place, and [Fodè Ballo-Touré](https://www.acmilan.com/it/news/articoli/media/2023-01-02/comunicato-ufficiale-fode-ballo-toure), who has recovered from his shoulder operation at the start of the month. The man in the middle for the San Siro clash will be Antonio Giua, who is set to take charge of his 37th Serie A match. [January](https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/articles/schedule/2023-01-02/january-back-on-the-pitch) behind them. The Neroverdi finally added to their points tally in the league on Sunday with an away draw against Monza, putting an end to a four-game losing streak.

A Scudetto hopeful Milan host Sassuolo before Juventus look to continue their climb up the table with a win over Monza.

[Juan Cuadrado](https://football-italia.net/player/juan-cuadrado/) and [Federico Chiesa](https://football-italia.net/player/federico-chiesa/) are unavailable for the Monza clash, dealing with injuries. Rogerio and [Domenico Berardi](https://football-italia.net/player/domenico-berardi/) are only a booking away from picking up a one-game suspension. [Pablo](https://football-italia.net/player/pablo/) Marì, [Marlon](https://football-italia.net/player/marlon/); Birindelli, Pessina, Rovella, [Carlos Augusto](https://football-italia.net/player/carlos-augusto/); Ciurria, Caprari; Petagna. Gleison [Bremer](https://football-italia.net/player/bremer/) and [Manuel Locatelli](https://football-italia.net/player/manuel-locatelli/) are one yellow card away from suspension. [Mike Maignan](https://football-italia.net/player/mike-maignan/), [Fikayo Tomori](https://football-italia.net/player/fikayo-tomori/), [Alessandro Florenzi](https://football-italia.net/player/alessandro-florenzi/) and [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://football-italia.net/player/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) all out injured. Later on in the day, Juventus host Monza at the Allianz Stadium at 14.00.

Milan are in a full-blown crisis and look to Charles De Ketelaere, Rade Krunic and Olivier Giroud to turn things around against Domenico Berardi's equally.

[Mike Maignan](https://football-italia.net/player/mike-maignan/), [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://football-italia.net/player/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) and [Alessandro Florenzi](https://football-italia.net/player/alessandro-florenzi/) also out of action, joined at the last minute by Sergino Dest, but at least Theo Hernandez and [Davide Calabria](https://football-italia.net/player/davide-calabria/) have shaken off knocks to start. [Rafael](https://football-italia.net/player/rafael/) Leao is dropped to the bench in favour of [Ante Rebic](https://football-italia.net/player/ante-rebic/), while [Matteo Gabbia](https://football-italia.net/player/matteo-gabbia/) is preferred to [Simon Kjaer](https://football-italia.net/player/simon-kjaer/) at the back. [Rade Krunic](https://football-italia.net/player/rade-krunic/) is preferred to [Tommaso Pobega](https://football-italia.net/player/tommaso-pobega/) in midfield, with De Ketelaere and [Alexis Saelemaekers](https://football-italia.net/player/alexis-saelemaekers/) stepping in for Brahim Diaz and [Junior Messias](https://football-italia.net/player/junior-messias/). [Andrea Consigli](https://football-italia.net/player/andrea-consigli/) returns in goal. [Milan](/teams/milan) are in a full-blown crisis and look to [Charles](https://football-italia.net/player/charles/) De Ketelaere, [Rade Krunic](https://football-italia.net/player/rade-krunic/) and [Olivier Giroud](https://football-italia.net/player/olivier-giroud/) to turn things around against [Domenico Berardi](https://football-italia.net/player/domenico-berardi/)’s equally troubled [Sassuolo](/teams/sassuolo), but surprisingly drop [Rafael](https://football-italia.net/player/rafael/) Leao to the bench. [Fikayo Tomori](https://football-italia.net/player/fikayo-tomori/)’s injury and Ismael Bennacer’s ban.

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has named an interesting starting line-up for today's game against Sassuolo at San Siro.

Alexis Saelemaekers has been selecting in the right wing role and the main surprise is that Ante Rebic has been picked over Rafael Leao, with Olivier Giroud up front. Ismael Bennacer is suspended after picking up too many yellow cards so his place in the midfield has been taken by Rade Krunic, with Sandro Tonali alongside the Bosnian and Charles De Ketelaere ahead of them in the No.10 role for his first start in four months. Ciprian Tatarusanu has been named in goal with a back four of Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Matteo Gabbia – in for the injured Fikayo Tomori – and Theo Hernandez ahead, marking two changes from the defeat to Lazio.

Grégoire Defrel (19') · Davide Frattesi (21') · Domenico Berardi (30') · Armand Laurienté (47' PEN) · Matheus Henrique (79').

[Davide Calabria](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/194747/Davide-Calabria)'s cross into the top corner, but Berardi quickly restored Sassuolo's two-goal lead. [Davide Frattesi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/250850/Davide-Frattesi) doubled the lead two minutes later when he hammered a low shot into the net. [Armand Lauriente](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/272719/Armand-Laurienté) converted a penalty two minutes after the interval, and Matheus [Henrique](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/200671/Henrique) added the fifth 11 minutes from time. [Ante Rebic](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/163794/Ante-Rebic) had a good chance to get a goal in first-half stoppage time, but Sassuolo keeper [Andrea Consigli](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/65400/Andrea-Consigli) saved his volley. [Domenico Berardi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/173817/Domenico-Berardi) sent a cross into the box and an unmarked [Gregoire Defrel](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/156883/Grégoire-Defrel) tapped in. "Recent performances show we are struggling, this must push me to understand what situations need to be improved and dealt with differently.