AC Milan vs SPAL
Italy – Coppa Italia
Date: Thursday, 15 January 2020
Kick-off at 17:00 UK / 18:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) (Milan).
AC Milan
Stefano Pioli has some pressing concerns to deal with ahead of the visit of injury SPAL. On Wednesday, the manager of AC Milan is scheduled to lose the services of six first-team players, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Davide Calabria, Mateo Musacchio, Ricardo Rodriguez, Lucas Biglia and Hakan Çalhanoğlu loss.
In the absence of this Donnarumma, January signing Asmir Begovic, who joined on loan from Bournemouth this week, could be in line for his AC Milan debut. However, Antonio Donnarumma is likely to get the nod in goal for the hosts.
Musacchio injury enforced absence also creates an opportunity for the debut. Simon Kjaer is set to feature for the first time to AC Milan, partnered captain Alessio Romagnoli in the heart of the defense. With Calabria and Rodriguez absent, Theo Hernandez and Andrea Conti will form full-back pair.
Pioli successfully experimented with a 4-4-2 formation last time out and the same system should be applied against SPAL. Samu Castillejo, who will be a creative force for AC Milan, will start on the right wing, with Giacomo Bonaventura likely to get the nod on the left.
Ismael Bennacer | Kaat Bennahid and Franck Kessie will partner in the central area. Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be given a bit of a breather to begin with against SPAL, with Krzysztof Piatek is likely to replace the Swede. Piatek should have Rafael Leao as his strike partner.
Possible Lineup (4-4-2): Antonio Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Castillejo, Kessie, Bennacer | Kaat Bennahid, Bonaventura; Piatek, Leao
SPAL
Just like his colleague in the break room AC Milan, Leonardo Semplici has some major injury problems also hamper preparations. On Wednesday, the manager SPAL will be without three first-team players, with Arkadiusz Reca, Marco d'Alessandro, and Mohamed price absent.
Semplici has rested several key players ahead of the Coppa Italia, which means that some changes could be imminent. However, there is no replacing Etrit Berisha in goal SPAL. Nenad Tomovic serve a one-match ban last time out and is likely to return to the back three, with Thiago Cionek and Felipe into its main defensive partner.
With Reca absent, Igor emergency is likely to start as a left wing-back once again, with Gabriel Strefezza starts on the opposite side. Simone Missirolli will hold down the fort in the middle of the park, seeking to provide cover for the backline. Missirolli will be supported by Alessandro Murgia and Mattia Valoti.
Upfront, Sergio Floccari and Andrea Petagna expected to return to the starting lineup, with the duo formed a strike partnership for SPAL.
Possible Lineup (3-5-2): Berisha; Cionek, Tomovic, Felipe; Strefezza, Murgia, Missiroli, Valoti, Igor; Floccari, Petagna
STATS
Since the game Coppa Italia, there are not many facts and statistics are available. Then again, you do not need statistics to tell you that Milan are the favorites to win the game. However, in recent times, they have struggled to score in regulation time (Coppa Italia). Look at the facts and statistics below.
AC Milan have failed to score in seven of their last eight games (Coppa Italia).
AC Milan have won their last 5 games against SPAL 2013 in all competitions.
There has been under 2.5 goals in 7 of the last 8 matches AC Milan (Coppa Italia).
There are more than 2.5 goals in the last 3 games SPAL 2013 (Coppa Italia)
PREDICTION
As already mentioned, this Pioli man is a favorite, and rightly so. Hopefully, they can build on the performance against Cagliari and grab another victory to further boost their confidence. After a rocky start to the season, they really could use it, as the turning point needed as soon as possible.
AC Milan 2-0 SPAL
