9 Dec 2021
Recent Form
Both of these sides have seen their form dip in recent weeks after blistering starts to the season, though Milan enter this fixture just a point off league leaders Inter, while Napoli have slipped to fourth place following defeats in their past two domestic games hosting Atalanta and Empoli.
Napoli are W2-D2-L4 in all competitions since early November as injuries have taken the wind out of their sails. Key centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly isn’t expected back until the New Year, while Fabian Ruiz, a key midfielder, is out with a muscle problem as well. Both were missing in those recent losses to Atalanta and Empoli, as their continued absence threatens to derail their title chances.
Piotr Zielinski is the latest whose participation is uncertain, being withdrawn after just 20 minutes last weekend against Empoli with breathing difficulties.
Fellow midfielders Elif Elmas and Stanislav Lobotka look set to miss out as well, though Luciano Spalletti should have Andre-Zambo Anguissa back in the engine room after making his return as a substitute last time out.
There’s better news in attack with captain Lorenzo Insigne managing nearly 70 minutes off the bench against Empoli as he replaced Zielinski, though it remains to be seen if he can last the full 90 minutes here.
Star striker Victor Osimhen suffered a fractured cheekbone last month and could potentially play with a protective face mask, but it would be a risk to field to 22-year-old Nigerian with so much of the campaign still to play.
Milan aren’t without their own injury concerns either. Forward trio Ante Rebic, Rafael Leao and Pietro Pellegri are all expected to miss out, though the latter has failed to impress in his rare appearances to date and wouldn’t have been involved anyway.
AC Milan Draw No Bet
Olivier Giroud could return to the squad here, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the line, with Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Rade Krunic, Junior Messias and Sami Castillejo battling for the three positions behind him.
At the back, Mike Maignan’s return between the sticks in recent weeks has been welcome after an impressive debut campaign for the club before being struck down with a wrist injury in October.
The loss of centre-back Simon Kjaer for the season is however a massive blow, even if club captain Alessio Romagnoli is there to fill the void alongside Fikayo Tomori.
Right-back Davide Calabria remains sidelined with a calf complaint, but there is at least healthy competition in that area with the experienced Alessandro Florenzi and impressive youngster Pierre Kalulu vying for a starting berth.
Milan need to pick up their form as well given they’re only W3-D3-L3 since the start of November, suffering defeats to Fiorentina, Sassuolo and Liverpool.
However, they have had some tough fixtures of late with this spell also including tussles with Porto and Atletico Madrid in Europe, as well as the Milan derby domestically.
The Rossoneri appear better equipped to cover the cracks and will hope having their key personnel in available in midfield will help them get the better of this clash, especially given their visitor’s problems in that area.
Napoli have won just one of their past four road trips in Serie A, while Milan have lost just one 10 home games since the start of May, and the hosts will be bitterly disappointed to not at least claim a point seeing as they’ve lost just one of the past six head-to-heads in all competitions.
PREDICTION:
AC MILAN DRAW NO BET
18+BeGambleAware
GENTING CASINO ONLY OFFERS SPORTS ARTICLES AND NOT SPORTS BETTING
Genting Casino is a leading global casino brand. We provide a premium online casino experience with our huge selection of online slots and live casino games. Genting has been recognized many times for its work in creating fun, safe gaming experiences winning multiple industry awards during its 50 years in business.
