AC Milan host Genoa at the San Siro on Thursday night in the Coppa Italia. The Rossoneri are aiming to continue their good form in all competitions against one of Serie A’s relegation-threatened teams.
Genoa have struggled in Serie A this season and coach Andriy Shevchenko has had a rude introduction to club coaching. The Coppa Italia has been a breath of fresh air for Genoa, however.
The Grifone claimed a Coppa Italia 3-2 win over Perugia before defeating Salernitana 1-0. Thursday night’s match at San Siro is the first Coppa Italia fixture for AC Milan this season.
AC Milan have won their last two games against Genoa. The Grifone went to San Siro in 2019-20 and won 2-1. Although Genoa are in awful form, they will give it their all on Thursday night at San Siro.
How bad is Genoa’s form going into the Coppa Italia against AC Milan? Just one of their last 19 matches in all competitions finished as a win. Shevchenko was hired in place of Davide Ballardini, which is increasingly looking like a mistake.
Ballardini was a relegation escape expert. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that Ballardini is reappointed coach this winter/spring with the aim of getting Genoa away from relegation. In truth, Thursday night’s match is just a distraction from Genoa’s relegation fight.
Milan are on a three-match winning streak in Serie A ahead of the game at home. The Rossoneri went to Venezia at the weekend at won 3-0. Now, Stefano Pioli’s side can punch its ticket into the next round of the domestic cup.
Pioli has a number of players on the injury and absent list going into the game this week. Samu Castillejo, Davide Calabria, Alessio Romangnoli, and Fikayo Tomori tested positive for COVID-19 and are set to miss the game.
Fode Ballo, Ismael Bennacer, and Franck Kessie are all three at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Meanwhile, Simon Kjaer is ruled out for the rest of the season.
Shevchenko has two players on the Genoa injury list. Defenders Nikola Maksimovic and Laurens Serpe are both set to miss the game. Maksimovic has a muscle injury and Serpe tested positive for COVID-19.
AC Milan are on a two-match winning streak against Genoa in Serie A. They should have no issue with transferring that league form over to the Coppa Italia on Thursday. AC Milan will ease to a win to nil over the Grifone in the Coppa Italia.
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