Champions League Pursuit Continues for Milan and Torino
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The final fixture of the weekend in the Italian Serie A sees Torino travel to the San Siro to take on AC Milan.
This is a vital match in the pursuit of Champions League football next season as both teams currently have desires of finishing in the top four. AC Milan start the match in 4th place, which is the final Champions League qualifying position. They have 25 points from fourteen games.
Torino are in 6th place, 4 points behind AC Milan but know a win would move them within one place of the Rossoneri and close to the top four.
Milan defeated Parma 2-1 at home last weekend to make it two wins in as many games following the victory over F91 Dudelange in the Europa League. AC Milan were made to work for their win against Parma after going 1-0 down but came back to win the match 2-1.
The victory over Parma was AC Milan’s first in three games having previously lost 2-0 at home against Juventus and been held to a 1-1 draw at Lazio, the latter of which was a decent result. Despite the loss to Juventus, home form is good and AC Milan have won four of their last five home Serie A games.
However, keeping a clean sheet has been tricky and AC Milan have conceded at least one goal in each of their last ten home league matches. Trends show both teams have scored in fifteen of their last eighteen Serie A games.
Torino secured their place in the next round of the Coppa Italia in mid-week as they defeated Sudtirol 2-0 at home. That win kept their momentum going following the loss to Parma and Torino have since picked up a point at Cagliari and defeated Genoa in Serie A.
Away form has been excellent for Torino and trends show they have remained undefeated in their last nine away Serie A games and have tasted defeat in only one of their last twelve away league matches. Torino have drawn five and won two of their seven away Serie A games this season and although they have not picked up many wins, Torino have been tough to beat.
Looking ahead to the team news and AC Milan still have problems in defence with Alessio Romagnoli, Mateo Musacchio, Ivan Strinic and Mattia Caldara injured. Gonzalo Higuain has served a two match and will return to the attack for this game.
Torino have a fully fit squad to choose from and Walter Mazzarri can select his strongest team for this match. Simone Zaza played up-front in mid-week but his place in the team is expected to go to Andrea Belotti.
On current form, it is difficult to split the two teams. AC Milan have the home advantage but Torino have been good on the road this season. Expect to see both teams scoring in what could easily finish a draw.
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