AC Milan are gearing up for a significant weekend, preparing to face rivals Juventus on Sunday night. This match follows the groundbreaking development in their efforts to establish a new stadium, replacing the iconic San Siro.
Sitting at the top of the standings due to their goal difference, Milan have been on fire with five consecutive wins in both the league and cup competitions. Their recent victory over champions Napoli reinforces their status as title contenders this season.
Milan, Napoli, and Roma are all tied with 12 points, each facing different opponents this weekend: Napoli against Genoa and Roma against Fiorentina. Milan is just a point ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, adding intensity to Sunday’s clash.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri returns to Turin, where he previously led the team to five Serie A titles. Unlike Milan’s European-entangled adversaries, Allegri’s squad has had a full week of rest, buoyed by the triumph over Napoli.
AC Milan’s opening defeat by Cremonese now seems like an anomaly rather than a damaging start. With fewer matches to play this season, the seven-time European champions appear strong contenders for the title.
Milan’s chances are further bolstered by injuries to Juventus players Gleison Bremer and Khephren Thuram, crucial members of the host team, who were injured during last weekend’s draw with Atalanta.
Off the pitch, there’s significant progress as the city of Milan approved the sale of the San Siro to AC Milan and their local rivals, Inter Milan, giving a major boost to the clubs’ ambitions. This development followed an extensive and contentious city council meeting.
The decree for the sale came in on Tuesday morning after a lengthy debate, highlighting the political tension surrounding the decision to sell 28 hectares of prime public land and dismantle one of the world’s most iconic stadiums.
Paolo Scaroni, CEO of AC Milan, expressed expectations for the new stadium to be operational by 2030, catering to the anticipated 2032 European Championship.
Inter Milan, currently sixth and three points behind the leaders, will play against promoted Cremonese, who revisit the ground of their earlier season triumph.
Player to watch: Adrien Rabiot
French midfielder Adrien Rabiot returns to Italy with Coach Allegri, resuming their unique mentor-mentee dynamic that saw him make the move from France’s Marseille. Rabiot has seamlessly integrated into Milan’s midfield alongside veteran Luka Modric.
Key Statistics
Milan, Napoli, and Roma each stand with 12 points after five matches.
AC Milan is enjoying a five-match winning streak in both league and cup competitions.
Upcoming Fixtures
Friday
Verona vs Sassuolo
Saturday
Parma vs Lecce, Lazio vs Torino, Inter Milan vs Cremonese, Atalanta vs Como
Sunday
Udinese vs Cagliari, Bologna vs Pisa, Fiorentina vs Roma, Napoli vs Genoa, Juventus vs AC Milan