Serie A preview: Juventus vs. AC Milan

AC Milan and Juventus will battle it out on Sunday night, with one aspect seeking to prolong a profitable run, the opposite to bounce again.

It has been a powerful begin to the season by Milan, with 4 wins in 5 video games, and they’re at the moment on the high of the standings. Juventus have additionally finished nicely as they’re only one level behind, however the final two league video games have resulted in attracts (4 in all competitions!).

As such, the 2 groups are getting into the sport in barely totally different moods. Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged throughout his press convention that will probably be a troublesome sport, however made positive to spotlight simply how nice these encounters are.

Recreation Date: Sunday, Octaber 5kick-off Time: 20:45 (CEST) Venue: Juvenus Stadiumreferee: Marco Guida (Var: Di Bello)

Group information

Milan are getting into this sport in an excellent second, not simply when it comes to outcomes but in addition injury-wise. Fikayo Tomori was a giant doubt for this one, after the minor harm he picked up in opposition to Napoli, however he has recovered and might be accessible tomorrow.

That leaves simply Ardon Jashari on the sidelines. In the course of the aforementioned presser, Allegri acknowledged that the midfielder most likely wants one other month earlier than he’s again in motion. He has began working on sand, so the whole lot goes in the best route.

In fact, as a result of pink card final trip, Pervis Estupinan will sit this one out and meaning Milan will begin with one other left wing-back for the primary time this season (within the league). Every thing suggests will probably be Davide Bartesaghi as he’s the plain alternative.

Relying on Tomori’s situation, as he didn’t prepare absolutely the whole week, Allegri may give the nod to Koni De Winter as a substitute. The Belgian did nicely off the bench in opposition to Napoli and can certainly be wanting to show himself from begin.

Except for these two adjustments, nevertheless, the beginning eleven is anticipated to stay the identical with Santiago Gimenez getting the prospect once more. Christopher Nkunku and Rafael Leao nonetheless haven’t recovered full health, however they’re getting there, so the Mexican wants a purpose quickly.

In any case, this implies Milan have some sturdy gamers on the bench that may make a distinction within the second half. Samuele Ricci is one other one, and given his ties to Torino, beating Juventus might be much more of a precedence for him.

Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; De Winter/Tomori, Cage, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Gimenez, Pulisic.

Predicted bench: Terracciano, Pittarella, Athekame, Tomori/De Winter, Odogu, Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku, Leao.

Accidents & suspensions: Jashari.

The opponents

Let’s begin with a very powerful factor: Juventus made fairly a number of key adjustments over the summer season. Jonathan David, Joao Mario, Lois Openda and Edon Zhegrova have been all introduced in, whereas Randal Kolo Muani, Samuel Mbangula, Timothy Weah, Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez all mentioned goodbye.

Moreover, the Bianconeri determined to verify Tudor because the supervisor of the group, having taken over mid-season in 2024-25 after the sacking of Thiago Motta. Contemplating they solely misplaced one sport within the league with Tudor, that wasn’t precisely a shock, additionally as a result of there weren’t that many choices in the marketplace.

The Bianconeri could also be fifth within the standings with 11 factors, however they’re just one level behind Milan in first place. Along with Atalanta and Cremonese, they’re additionally the one unbeaten aspect, having gained the primary three video games after which drawn the final two.

It’s slightly ironic that the difficulty that successfully received Motta sacked final season, too many attracts, has come again to hang-out Juventus regardless of the managerial swap. It appears to be extra of a mentality factor, as such, particularly when you think about scorelines like 4-4 in opposition to Dortmund.

Shifting on to the group information for tomorrow, Juventus have a number of gamers on the harm listing and the one which hurts them probably the most is Juan Cabal. That’s saying one thing as his substitute is the sensible Andrea Cambiaso, so it’s not a lot of a blow for the Bianconeri.

Gleison Bremer’s to be or to not be, alternatively, is a little more troubling for Tudor. The Brazilian has performed virtually each sport from begin this season, however missed the most recent Champions League conflict attributable to a muscular harm. His presence for tomorrow remains to be unsure.

As for the beginning eleven, Tudor ought to nonetheless be capable to subject a powerful one with Dusan Vlahovic main the road. Joao Mario, because the Serie A newcomer, would be the one for Milan’s forwards to focus on. In the meantime, the previous Milan man Pierre Kalulu may begin as a wing-back.

Predicted Juventus XI (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Joao Mario, Gatti, Kelly; Kalulu, Locatelli, McKennie, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; Vlahovic.

Predicted Bench: Perin, Pinsoglio, Bremer, Rugani, Okay. Thuram, Koopminers, Kostic, Adzic, Zhegrova, David, Openda.

Accidents & suspensions: Cabal, Miretti, Milik and probably Bremer.

Face to face

This fixture has been performed 289 instances and Juventus maintain a bonus, with 89 wins in opposition to Milan’s 66. A whopping 73 of them have resulted in attracts, although, which suggests that is something however a simple sport for both aspect.

In fact, the head-to-head file has evened out massively since Juve’s golden period got here to an finish, with simply three defeats for the Rossoneri since 2020 onwards. In truth, they’ve gained greater than the Bianconeri in that interval with 5 wins.

The latest conflict, nevertheless, ended 2-0 in favour of Juventus at Allianz Stadium after objectives from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah. Each gamers have since left the membership, which is a humorous coincidence. Milan’s final away win in opposition to the Bianconeri dates again to Could, 2023.

Key information and stats

➤ There are 106 official earlier conferences between the 2 groups in Turin since 1929/30: 51 Juventus wins, 28 attracts and 27 Milan victories.

➤ In 1906, Juventus-Milan determined the scudetto. The title went to the Rossoneri (Milan), 0-0 within the first leg in Turin and 2-0 within the return leg in Milan; the second tricolore in Milan’s historical past.

➤ Milan are with out objectives at Juventus’ dwelling for 230 minutes: the final purpose was scored by Giroud within the fortieth minute of Milan’s 1-0 win in Could 2023.

➤ Juventus, with Cremonese and Atalanta, is likely one of the three unbeaten groups after 5 rounds of Serie A motion. It’s the second consecutive yr with out defeats within the first 450 minutes for the Bianconeri: a yr in the past, 9 factors gained, on this event, there are already 11.

➤ Juventus is likely one of the two groups in Serie A 2025/26 (along with Roma) that, within the second half, achieve probably the most factors in comparison with the outcomes on the forty fifth minute: +5 for the Bianconeri and the Giallorossi. Juventus has scored 4 objectives (out of 9 whole) within the final quarter hour, together with stoppage time, greater than anybody in Serie A.

➤ Milan hadn’t been on the high of the desk after 5 matchdays since 2020/21: that yr, the Rossoneri have been alone within the lead with 13 factors.

➤ Juventus is likely one of the 3 groups in Serie A which have probably the most totally different scorers: 8 Bianconeri scorers after 5 matchdays, like Napoli and Inter.

➤ Between Igor Tudor and Massimiliano Allegri, this would be the sixth official assembly. In all conferences, the house group has all the time gained.

➤ Towards Napoli, Christian Pulisic scored his fifteenth purpose with Milan’s shirt because the begin of 2025. In Italy, he’s second solely to Lautaro Martinez (21).

➤ Christian Pulisic is the primary American high scorer in Serie A historical past (single group format), along with his 4 objectives within the first 5 matchdays of the 2025/26 event. The American can be the participant from his nation to have scored probably the most objectives in Serie A, 27.

Ones to observe

It goes with out saying, beginning with Milan, that Pulisic will play a key function tomorrow. He has been on fireplace these days and with Gimenez getting the nod once more, it would almost certainly be as much as the American to offer the creativity as soon as once more.

Bartesaghi, assuming he begins, might be one other one to regulate. The teenager has proved to be succesful sufficient of enjoying in large video games, however up in opposition to the speedy Conceicao, he will certainly have lots of work to do. To not point out that he should assist in assault too.

For the house aspect, will probably be very fascinating to see how the brand new centre-back Joao Mario will tackle the sport. Pulisic is certain to float to the left so much, as we noticed in opposition to Napoli and Marianucci, so the Portuguese worldwide might be put to the check.

The final alternative is apparent, Yildiz. Similar to Pulisic, he’s the supply of creativity in assault and Milan should restrict his time on the ball. Above all, they’ll’t afford to go away house for him on the sting of the field. De Winter, if he begins, could have his arms full.

Prediction

That is an extremely robust sport to name, so I’ll go along with what my coronary heart says: a Milan win. Allegri has been in a position to restore the essential confidence and the win in opposition to Napoli, particularly contemplating the pink card, was an enormous confidence increase.

Juventus will trigger points to the Rossoneri’s defence, little doubt, however the feeling is {that a} sturdy assault may do the trick for Allegri’s aspect.

Juventus 1-2 Milan