Serie A Preview: Roma vs Milan – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Everything is on the line for old foes Roma and Milan as they square off in a ‘make or break’ Serie A clash at Stadio Olimpico. Sunday’s mouth-watering showdown in the capital has all the makings of a season-defining battle, with European football and pride hanging in the balance for both clubs.

Roma’s grip on the final Champions League qualification spot loosened earlier this week as Atalanta narrowly edged them in Bergamo. A gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat knocked the Giallorossi down from a remarkable 19-game unbeaten league streak. More importantly, it left them a point adrift of fourth-placed Juventus.

Milan did Roma a favor at Stadio San Siro by coming from behind to beat Bologna 3-1. Yet, Claudio Ranieri’s charges failed to hold up their end of the bargain. With five teams scrambling for the coveted fourth place and only two points separating Juventus and seventh-placed Bologna, it’s needless to stress the significance of returning to the win column.

Another loss would likely see Roma drop out of the European qualification zone altogether and hand Milan a substantial boost in their faltering pursuit of a top-five finish. Sergio Conceicao failed to win his second piece of silverware in charge of the Rossoneri in midweek Coppa Italia action as Bologna bested his team at the Olimpico.

Dan Ndoye’s second-half strike consigned Milan to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat, ending their dream of winning a first cup title since 2003. Moreover, that result probably squandered Milan’s best chance to secure European football for next season, putting more pressure on the visitors to take three points in Rome.

Match Preview

Roma

Keen to bounce back from Monday’s slump at the Gewiss Stadium, Roma return to the Olimpico, where they’ve been in formidable form. After a 2-0 defeat to Atalanta in early December, they have embarked on an eye-catching 11-game unbeaten league streak on this ground (W9, D2), even defying the absence of standout forward Paulo Dybala.

Yet, scoring has been an issue since losing the Argentine superstar to injury. That’s perhaps best illustrated by Roma’s dismal run of netting precisely one goal in four consecutive home league outings, though three have ended 1-0. Ranieri probably wouldn’t mind another tight victory, especially given Roma’s long-standing struggles in this match-up.

A 1-1 draw in December’s reverse fixture extended Giallorossi’s winless streak against Milan in Serie A to ten games (D4, L6). Indeed, you’d need to go back to October 2019 for the last time Roma got the better of the Rossoneri in top-flight action. Therefore, they must deal with a massive psychological disadvantage here.

Milan

There’s no margin for error in the last two rounds for Milan as Forbes takes stock of the club’s immediate future after the Coppa Italia heartache. Maurizio Sarri has emerged as the leading candidate to take over from Conceicao at the end of the season. However, a season without European football would be a devastating blow for the San Siro outfit.

Playing on the road against one of the division’s most in-form teams could be a blessing in disguise. Indeed, Milan have racked up four victories across their last five Serie A away games, including three wins on the trot via a combined score of 8-1. However, Conceicao’s men would be well-advised not to get ahead of themselves.

That’s because they’ve only won one away league encounter against teams starting this round above them (D1, L4). And it’s worth noting that the lone success in that unenviable run came against Inter at San Siro. Signs are not encouraging, but Milan can take confidence from drawing first blood in nine of their last ten meetings with Roma in Serie A.

Team News

In addition to Dybala, Roma will be without their captain, Lorenzo Pellegrini, who sustained a season-ending muscle injury. With the Italian midfielder out, Ranieri may turn to Eldor Shomurodov to increase his side’s firepower. The Uzbek forward will likely play a support role to top-scorer Artem Dovbyk.

On the other hand, Milan cannot call upon winter arrivals Riccardo Sottil and Warren Bondo. However, the rest of Conceicao’s morally-hit squad is fit and ready, including Santiago Gimenez, who may replace Luka Jovic at the heart of the visitors’ 3-4-2-1 formation.

Roma vs Milan Potential Starting Line-ups

Roma (3-4-1-2): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Cristante, Kone, Angelino; Soule; Shomurodov, Dovbyk.

Milan (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Leao; Gimenez.

Roma vs Milan Prediction

Milan’s indomitable league run against Roma puts them in pole position to take three precious points in the capital. Despite a disjointed midweek performance in the Coppa Italia showpiece, the visitors could take advantage of Roma’s scoring woes to make it five league wins in a row for the first time this term.