aims to increase its lead in serie a Standings, AC Milan continue their Scudetto challenge on Sunday afternoon when they welcome Sassuolo to the San Siro.
While the Rossoneri are unbeaten in the league since August, they now have to face their bogey team, who have adapted to life in the big time.
match preview
Although they are without European football and were recently eliminated from the Coppa Italia, Milan have made a good start to their latest Serie A campaign, putting themselves in the title race.
The Rossoneri have surpassed 30 points after 14 games for the first time since the 2021-22 season, when they finally went on to claim the Scudetto.
Keeping pace with reigning champions Napoli – and leading on goal difference – Massimiliano Allegri’s men fought mightily to beat Torino last time out, despite falling behind by two goals inside 20 minutes.
Adrien Rabiot’s Rockets reduced their early deficit on Monday evening, before Christian Pulisic – who was suffering from flu – came off the bench to net a match-winning brace.
The win in Turin extended Milan’s top-flight unbeaten streak to 13, and they will look to prolong that run on Sunday, before heading to Saudi Arabia to defend their Supercoppa Italiana title.
Playing their final home game of 2025, the Lombardy giants will face last season’s Serie B champions: after losing to Cremonese and drawing with Pisa, they will aim to beat the third promoted club this weekend.
However, Sassuolo are somewhat of a disappointing team for the Rossoneri, having won only one of the last five league meetings at the San Siro, while losing three.
© Imago/Gribaudi
Despite the huge difference in stature, there has been nothing to separate these two very different clubs in recent seasons, with a run of three wins and two draws – including a 3-3 thriller in their most recent league meeting.
Milan recorded a 6-1 home win in last year’s Coppa Italia tie, but Sassuolo fans will never forget an incredible 5-2 away win in January 2023.
History aside, the Neroverdi will in any case travel to Italy’s second city full of confidence, having made a promising start to their comeback campaign.
Much closer to the top six than the bottom three, Fabio Grosso’s side surprisingly beat strugglers Fiorentina 3-1 last week, moving them up to eighth on 20 points.
Earlier, they had suffered a rare defeat away from home – a 2–0 defeat at Como – but this was Sassuolo’s only defeat in their last five road trips, which suggests they may be ready to surprise the San Siro.
AC Milan Serie A form:
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AC Milan form (all competitions):
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Sassuolo Serie A form:
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team news
© Imago
With Milan forward Rafael Leao suffering a minor muscle injury, Allegri is ready to make further changes – especially as top scorer Pulisic has now fully recovered from the illness.
He is likely to be paired with Christopher Nkunku as Santiago Jimenez is still absent, with the USA international averaging a Serie A goal every 64 minutes this season.
Elsewhere, Youssouf Fofana is struggling with an adductor problem and young wing-back Zachary Athekem is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
While Leao had scored in a six-goal draw the last time these clubs met, Sassuolo’s French winger Armand Lorient had netted twice on that occasion.
This time around, with talisman Domenico Berardi out of action until 2026, Lorient should join Andrea Pinamonti and Cristian Volpato in the visitors’ front three.
Recently, Volpato has hit a purple patch, playing a direct role in four goals in his last four matches.
Once again, a long list of players will sit in the stands with Berardi: Ester Vrancx, Daniel Boloka, Filippo Romagna, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Stefano Turati, Lars Skjellerup and Jefferson Paz are all unavailable.
AC Milan probable starting lineup:
Megann; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovich; Selmaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartessaghi; Pulisic, Nkunku
Sassuolo probable starting lineup:
Muric; Walukiewicz, Izdes, Muharemovich, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kon; Volpato, Pinamonti, Lorient
We say: AC Milan 2-1 Sassuolo
Most of Milan’s mistakes have come against smaller clubs in Serie A this season, but they are in great form at the moment and should beat Sassuolo.
Allegri’s men have become adept at scoring valuable points, and they could be clear at the top before they play Napoli in a few hours.
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