Genoa vs. AC Milan: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie A Game

Milan have a pivotal game coming up against a surprising Genoa side that's currently tied for third in the standings alongside Napoli.

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The Rossoneri finally won their last game after not having been able to get three points in the previous five Serie A matches. They kept a rare clean sheet and defeated Udinese by a 2-0 margin.

Filippo Inzaghi's men will hope to continue this recent success when they travel to the always atmospheric Luigi Ferraris Stadium, the home of Genoa.

Incredibly, the Grifoni haven't lost any matches in their past eight outings in Serie A—a record that speaks volumes about the work Gian Piero Gasperini has done with the side.

The first issue Milan have to deal with has to do with the defense. Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio and Alex are all iffy, meaning we might see another makeshift back line.

The much-maligned Daniele Bonera is expected to start at right-back, meaning he'll have to go up against the much-quicker Iago Falque, who joined Genoa from Rayo Vallecano over the summer.

The left-back position should be patrolled by Pablo Armero, who's much better going forward than tracking back and defending. He lacks discipline and could be caught out by the overlapping runs Genoa often employ to create width and send the ball into the box.

After an unsuccessful spell with Milan, Alessandro Matri is enjoying his time with Genoa, having scored six goals in 11 appearances. He feels important there and will be looking to prove his former club wrong about not giving him more of a chance.

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He'll be closely marked by Philippe Mexes in the box. After being seemingly shunned from the side earlier this seeason, Mexes has started the last few games under Inzaghi and has looked very solid so far.

Inzaghi's decision of who to start in the midfield will be pivotal in deciding an outcome. It's this unit which has constantly seen changes this season on a weekly basis, even more than the defense. Marco Van Ginkel earned his second start against Udinese and had a few promising patches.

He's expected to start the match on Sunday and will most likely be flanked by Nigel De Jong and Giacomo Bonaventura.

It's a more offensive look for Milan's midfield, one that failed to hold possession or create much for the attackers earlier this season.

The decision to employ two offensively gifted midfielders instead of going with a more robust look has proven to be a key in Milan's success. The attackers need quality balls to arrive in their path when they're making the runs into space.

Most importantly, Jeremy Menez should lead the line for Milan.

The issue of Fernando Torres is always in the background. The fact that he is earning over €4 million per year means that management will likely keep thrusting him into the lineup in hopes that he turns it back on, but time is ticking and there's a chance he could depart the club earlier than expected.

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As it stands, Menez should be the deciding factor, and the decision by Inzaghi to keep playing him as a false No. 9 should be one that reaps continued dividends for the club.

Recent history shows that it's a game that could go either way. Milan desperately need points to cement themselves back in the top five while everyone is waiting to see just how long this Genoa fairytale can continue.