Two teams vying for the Scudetto aim to bolster their Serie A title hopes on Tuesday when AC Milan welcomes Napoli to San Siro.
Also Read: Match Preview: Lecce vs. Hellas Verona – prediction, team news, lineups (29th October,2024)
Milan, currently eight points behind league leaders Napoli, looks to capitalize on their recent form after their weekend game was postponed due to hazardous weather conditions.
Match Context
Milan’s fixture against Bologna was called off due to flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region, leading to concerns for player safety.
A new date for the match is expected to be confirmed soon, with February being a suggested option, as both clubs have commitments in the Coppa Italia and Champions League.
In European competition, Milan finally secured a victory over Club Brugge last week, which revived their campaign. The match was marked by a stunning goal from Christian Pulisic, who opened the scoring directly from a corner.
After an equalizer from Brugge, two clinical strikes from Tijjani Reijnders sealed the win for the Rossoneri, providing redemption for Reijnders, who had been sent off in Milan’s previous league match against Udinese.
Napoli’s Recent Form
Napoli, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, aims to build on their strong start to the season. They tightened their grip at the top of the table after a win over Lecce, with a second-half strike from captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
The team has shown formidable defensive strength, keeping clean sheets in six of their last seven matches, which includes a Coppa Italia victory over Palermo.
Napoli’s aggregate scoreline of 16-1 in that span demonstrates their potential to challenge for the title against rivals like Juventus and both Milan clubs.
Historical Context
Historically, AC Milan has had the upper hand in recent encounters, remaining unbeaten against Napoli across their last five matchups, including a narrow victory earlier this year and a 2-2 draw last season in Naples.
Team News
Milan will be without suspended duo Theo Hernandez and Reijnders, requiring adjustments in their lineup. Davide Calabria or Filippo Terracciano may step in at left-back, while the midfield replacement for Reijnders remains uncertain.
Alvaro Morata will lead the attack, with support from Christian Pulisic, who has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last seven league matches.
Long-term absentees include Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi, although Tammy Abraham could return from a brief injury layoff.
On Napoli’s side, first-choice wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano are expected to return to the starting XI after being rested against Lecce, replacing David Neres and Cyril Ngonge.
Romelu Lukaku aims for a milestone, as a goal or assist at San Siro would mark his 100th goal involvement in Serie A. Meanwhile, midfield star Stanislav Lobotka may return just in time to compete with Billy Gilmour for a spot in the starting lineup.
Possible Lineups
AC Milan’s Possible Starting XI:
- Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano; Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Okafor; Morata
Napoli’s Possible Starting XI:
- Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Kvaratskhelia; Lukaku
With both teams eager to improve their Scudetto aspirations, this clash at San Siro promises to be a thrilling encounter with significant implications for the title race.
