Serie A: Milan Can Beat Old Lady to Nail Down Top Spot

AC Milan vs Juventus 

First plays third in the Serie A match of the weekend as AC Milan welcome Juventus in a Sunday Scorcher which could see the hosts pull away at the top of the table.    

Milan come into the game on the back of a battling 1-0 win away to Genoa, while Juventus won the Turin Derby 2-0 on home soil. And when Inter Milan squandered a two-goal lead to drop points at home to Bologna, I Rossoneri jumped to top spot.

Inter have a tricky test away to Torino this weekend, so if results go their way, Milan could find themselves with a bit of breathing space should they do the business against the Old Lady.    

The Serie A 2023 betting odds say these two teams will both finish in the top three this season with I Rossoneri priced at 3.20 to win the 2023/24 Scudetto and I Bianconeri at 5.00 with only the Nerazzurri at a shorter price.

Juve are unbeaten in three games and, if they can snatch a win, they will climb to within a single point of Milan.  

This could be the most competitive Scudetto race in years, but Milan can put seven points between them and the Old Lady with a win on Sunday. That is a huge incentive, and I believe they have every chance. 

Talking Points

Pulisic is at home in Milan

Stefano Pioli led Milan to a first Scudetto win in 11 years in 2022, but a fourth place finish last term was a bit of a letdown.

The head coach moved cleverly in the summer market, bringing in two USA stars, midfielders Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic. And it is the former Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea attacking midfielder who has made a great start to his life at the San Siro.

Pulisic had some high moments at Chelsea but became a lost figure amongst the hoards of big money signings at Stamford Bridge, and he looks much happier since he landed in Milan.

Pulisic scored a late goal in Milan’s win over Genoa to make it four goals for the campaign alongside veteran striker Olivier Giroud, while the France striker finished the game as a makeshift goalie after Mike Maignan had been sent off.

Pulisic is part of an electrifying front line alongside the livewire Rafael Leao, who has scored three goals and made three assists and his clever footwork, passing range, and shooting skills make him the all-round advanced midfielder. 

Giroud performed heroics between the stick against Genoa, but he will be happy to return to an attacking role with sub keeper Marco Sportiello ready to step in.

Meanwhile, another suspended player, Theo Hernandez, will make room for right-back Alessandro Florenzi to take his place.             

Juventus’ squad is getting stretched  

While Milan have been forced into a couple of defencive changes, I Bianconeri boss Max Allegri has some bigger problems than his opposite number.

Dusan Vlahovic is joint-top scorer with four goals alongside Federico Chiesa, and both will face late fitness tests over the next 24 hours.

Since moving from Fiorentina, Vlahovic has scored 27 goals and made seven assists for Juventus, but he drew a couple of blanks in his last two games before missing fixtures against Atalanta and Torino with a back injury.

Allegri will hope to have at least one of his main strikers fit to face Milan, while he has headaches elsewhere in his squad. Defender Danilo picked up an injury on international duty with Brazil, and Alex Sandro is also sidelined.

In other Serie A 2023 news, the Old Lady has another major problem with the news that midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is starting a seven-month ban after breaching betting regulations, and Paul Pogba is still serving a ban after failing a dope test.   

Juventus will try to interrupt the flow of Milan’s football, and midfielder Adrien Rabiot will be a key man.

He is never far from the action with a goal and two assists so far while picking up four yellow cards, and he won’t be slow to get stuck in to the Rossoneri frontline.   

History

Juventus have won 37 of the 73 clashes between these two Serie A giants, while Milan have won 23 and there have been 18 draws in all competitions since 1993.

Last season, this fixture went the way of I Rossoneri as goals from Fikayo Tomori and Brahim Diaz gave Pioli’s men a 2-0 victory. 

In terms of recent form, there’s not a lot to choose between them with both winning four of the last six games. But Milan are unbeaten with two draws, while Juve have drawn and lost one.

Milan have a 100-per cent home record with three wins at the San Siro so far this season. 

Betting Tip

Milan are the favourites to win this game at SBOTOP odds of 2.20 with the draw at 3.06 and Juventus at 2.89. It could be a tight affair and, for an alternative bet, under 2.25 goals is available at 1.95.

But while Juventus look like serious contenders this year, they come into this game with too many problems to face the league leaders, and I think Milan will take advantage. 

 

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