Introduction
Inter have won the title but there is still a lot to play for in this Serie A season. The top 4 battle is coming down to the wire, with Napoli, Atalanta, Juventus, Milan all forge down for a total of 3 spots. Given the close proximity within which these clubs find themselves, this weekend’s match may prove to be decisive. Two heavyweights of European football, Juventus and AC Milan, face off to stake their claims to continue in Europe’s biggest club competition. Here is an in-depth preview of this heavyweight clash.
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Why you should you watch this match
The answer is simple – you should watch this game because it is arguably the most important game of both team’s seasons. Juventus and AC Milan will be desperate to play in Europe’s top competition and will go full throttle for the win. This game can also have consequences for head coach Andrea Pirlo, as missing out on Europe will almost definitely put him on the firing line. Another reason for watching is that this might just be one of Ronaldo’s last games for the Italian giants, as he is likely to exit should they miss out on Champions League qualification. The contrasting playing styles and the tactical nous of Pioli also add to this already mouthwatering clash.
Form
Juventus are coming into this match on the back of a last gasp win against Udinese, where Ronaldo had to bag two late goals to ensure the 3 points. A quiet uncertain but entertaining team of Turin, will battle it out for rhe ultimate UCL spot in this league.
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AC Milan are also coming into this game after a win, but they had a much easier time against lowly Benevento, winning 2-0 with goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Theo Hernandez. This team has comes back from its Ashes and wants to get back their spots of UEFA Champions league.
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Team News
Juventus are bit unstable without Federico Chiesa and Merih Demiral, though there is some hope that they may make a return to the match day squad. Other than that, they have a fully fit squad and are well equipped to take on AC Milan.
AC Milan also have a nearly fully fit squad, with the entire team barring Daniel Maldini (injury) and Samu Castillejo (suspension) available for selection. Unlike the last occasion, both teams can go all out for victory in this crucial encounter.
Predicted line-ups
Juventus
Formation 4-4-2
GK- Szczesny
Defense- Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Sandro
Midfield- Cuadrado, Bentancur, Rabiot, Chiesa
Attack- Morata, Ronaldo.
AC Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
GK- Donnarumma
Defense- Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez
CDM- Kessie, Bennacer
Attack- Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu, Rebic
Forward- Ibrahimovic
Head to Head Statistics
Total matches played – 292
Matches Won by Juventus – 109
Matches won by AC Milan – 95
Draws- 88
Juventus Goals Scored – 424
AC Milan Goals Scored – 410
Largest Margin of Victory – Milan 8-1 Juventus (1912)
Last Match- AC Milan 1 – 3 Juventus
Ones to watch for
AC Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been one of the stars of this Serie A Season. Though he has tapered after a promising start, he has been extremely crucial to AC Milan’s resurgence to the top spots in Serie A. His ability to be clinical in front of a goal and his aerial prowess will prove crucial in what will be a game of fine margins.
Gianluigi Donnaruma
Gianluigi Donnaruma has been one of the best keepers in Serie A for a few seasons now, a fact that is made even more impressive because of his age. His reflexes and soft stopping ability make him one of the most essential cogs in the AC Milan team, and he will have to be on the top of his game to ensure that Juventus are kept off the scoresheet in this important clash.
Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo
Arguably one of the greatest players in world football, Ronaldo will be a man on a mission to qualify for the UCL. He has been delivering for Juventus, albeit not to his extremely high standards, and he has definitely proven to be a big match player multiple times in the past. Juventus will be looking at him to make a major impact in this crucial encounter.
Giorgio Chiellini
Chiellini is one of the most experienced players in world football at the moment, and his tactical mindset and defensive abilities will play an important role in ensuring that AC Milan’s attacking threats are neutralized. He has to ensure that he keeps up with AC Milan’s faster players both on the ground and in the air.
Conclusion
The outcome of this game will be crucial in determining who qualifies for the Champions League. Both teams will be going all out for the win and ensuring that they leave everything on the pitch under the Turin lights. It promises to be a fascinating encounter in Serie A. So hold on to your remote and tune in for this game.
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