Serie A: Now Milan Must Nail a Top Four Spot

Sassuolo vs AC Milan

AC Milan head to the Citta del Tricolore in Sassuolo on Sunday hoping to close in on a Champions League place and tick off another game in that aim.    

Massimiliano Allegri took over at the San Siro, for the second time, at the start of this season, taking over a club which has missed out on European football for the first time in a decade, following an eighth-placed finish. So, the pressure was on to perform for the serial winner Allegri, and for much of the campaign a top four place seemed assured while I Rossoneri also looked like mounting a serious challenge for the Scudetto. But a run of poor results has cast the slightest doubt over Milan’s top four spot and that makes Serie A: Sassuolo vs AC Milan a must not lose game for Allegri’s men.       

AS Roma have been pushing for a Champions League spot all season and Como are back in the top four race; both are six points behind AC Milan in third and three behind Juventus in fourth and, with four matches left it’s all to play for.  

Sassuolo boss Fabio Grosso can be pleased with his team on their return to the top flight as they sit comfortably in tenth place, with no chance of European football or relegation, so they will play with freedom and no pressure, which makes the hosts dangerous. 

Both teams played out a 0-0 draw last week, Milan at home to Juventus while Sassuolo picked up a useful point away to Fiorentina. The pre-match Sassuolo vs AC Milan betting odds say the Rossoneri should pick up a much-needed win but it certainly won’t be a stroll in the park. 

 

Talking Points

Sassuolo present a real danger 

Thanks to a consistent set of results in recent weeks, Sassuolo have climbed away from the bottom group and up to tenth in the Serie A table. Wins over Como and Cagliari and draws with Juventus and Fiorentina are impressive performances, particularly those against the top six duo, so Milan will be under no illusions when they head to Sassuolo. 

After finishing 1^st in Serie B last term to earn promotion back to the top flight Grosso has worked his magic again and his team plays without fear and with no little flair. 26-year-old striker Andrea Pinamonti has been in fine form, with eight goals and three assists and, at 6ft 2in he’s a real handful, strong in the air and difficult to knock off the ball.    

I Neroverdi’s star man is Azzurri veteran Domenico Berardi who stuck with the team when they were relegated and has racked up 104 goals in 304 games for his beloved club. Still only 31 years of age Berardi has scored seven goals and made four assists this term and, having just served a two-match ban, he is back and firing ready for the visit of Milan. In Berardi’s absence against Como, winger Cristian Volpato and M’Bala Nzola scored the goals in a 2-1 win, and both will play a part again this weekend.  

 

Goal-shy Milan must sharpen up 

While Sassuolo have been scoring regularly their visitors have struggled in front of goal. Milan’s clash with Juventus last week was a turgid affair to watch for Rossoneri fans who witnessed their team outplayed by the Bianconeri and manage just one shot on target in the entire game; though a draw was not the worst result for Allegri against a top four rival.  

Rafael Leao with nine goals and three assists and Christian Pulisic with eight goals and three assists have bags of ability and are potential match-winners; and with Luca Modric still pulling the strings in midfield this is a team dripping with quality, but with one goal in four games, in a 1-0 win over Verona, a lack of goals has put Milan under unwanted pressure.     

 

History 

I Rossoneri are bossing the head-to-head Sassuolo vs AC Milan results by 14 wins to nine and there have been six draws in all competitions, but I Neroverdi have been just as successful at the San Siro Stadium as they have on their home turf, with five victories and four respectively; and when the two teams met in Milan in December, they played out a 2-2 draw. 

Sassuolo have won two, drawn two and lost two over the past six games while Milan have won two, drawn one and lost three.     

 

Betting Tip

Sassuolo are priced here at SBOTOP at 4.45 to win and 4.02 to draw, with Milan odds on at 1.72 but I suspect the hosts will give their illustrious visitors a tough time on Sunday. The most likely score line is 1-1 at odds of 7.25 and that could give Allegri a mild headache if results elsewhere go against the Rossoneri.

   

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