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

Milan take on an impressive Sassuolo side at the San Siro on Tuesday morning in what should be a thrilling Serie A contest to start up the 2015 calendar year.

Sassuolo are in mid-table, only one point below Inter in 12th place. Their coach Eusebio Di Francesco has done a fine job with the pieces he has available, including a very young core of technical players, such as Domenico Berardi, Simone Zaza and Sime Vrsaljko.

Milan, on the other hand, must get all three points to continue their recent impressive run, where they've been able to keep to consecutive clean sheets against both Napoli and Roma, while defeating Real Madrid by a 4-2 scoreline in the winter friendly.

The biggest story surrounding the Rossoneri is one you've all heard plenty of times before in recent years—injuries and suspensions. 

Philippe Mexes has been their best central defender in the past two months, but he will miss this game due to a knee injury. Filippo Inzaghi will also have to cope with the absences of Keisuke Honda, Nigel De Jong and Pablo Armero.

Honda will be gone for the next month due to Asia Cup responsibilities, while De Jong and Armero are suspended.

The first issue has to do with another makeshift Milan back line having to go up against one of the most explosive Serie A tridents, consisting of Zaza, Berardi and Nicola Sansone.

Berardi has fond memories of playing Milan, as he scored four past them last season in a game that led to Massimiliano Allegri's firing.

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The latest probable lineups from La Gazzetta say that Inzaghi will have to play Adil Rami as a right-back since Ignazio Abate still hasn't reached full fitness. Alex returns from injury after having played a great match against Real Madrid, and he'll be paired up alongside Cristian Zapata in the center.

A rusty De Sciglio should also be making his comeback from injury, and he'll need every bit of fitness to go up against Domenico Berardi and the overlapping runs from Croatian international Sime Vrsaljko.

In the attack, Inzaghi has a big decision to make, as always. There is quite a bit of depth there now with Alessio Cerci, even though La Gazzetta reports that he will not be starting from the opening whistle, but he could see time in the second half.

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A big decision has to do with the return of Stephan El Shaarawy. Il Faraone was not a starter in Milan's last two league games, but he played very well against Madrid and even scored a brace in the process.

El Shaarawy should be starting in the 4-3-3, with Jeremy Menez as the false No. 9 and Giacomo Bonaventura on the right wing in place of Honda. 

The heart of Sassuolo's defense is very slow, with both Francesco Acerbi and Paolo Cannavaro being statues on the counter-attack, so the Rossoneri could exploit that weakness if Sassuolo decide to play a high line at any point in the match.

In the end, expect a very entertaining battle between two young attacking sides that have plenty of flair in the build-up as well.