Genoa vs. AC Milan: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
For the second match in succession, AC Milan travel to face a team in need of a positive result. Having held on to beat a desperate Udinese side without a victory since the opening day of the season, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men will now venture to play Genoa, a team that hasn’t won—or scored—in Serie A since beating Verona on August 30.
In fairness, Genoa’s start to the season has involved difficult away trips to Palermo, Fiorentina and Lazio, as well as a home clash with reigning champions Juventus. Their home game against Verona was the only fixture in which they were truly favoured to win, and that they did.
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However, Genoa face another daunting prospect, as Milan are in high spirits after recording two consecutive league wins for the first time since Mihajlovic took charge in the summer.
The 3-2 win away to Udinese came on the back of a home win over Palermo by the same scoreline. While Milan showed defensive deficiencies and occasional signs of tactical incoherence in both games, they managed to grind out the victories.
It is this new-found fortitude that will most please Milanisti, who had become accustomed to watching their team throw away points against lesser teams in recent seasons. The Rossoneri's air of indomitability is, albeit very gradually, returning under Mihajlovic’s analytical eye.
Date: Sunday, 27 September
Time: 11:30 a.m. BST / 5:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK)
Live Stream: Not Available
Form Guide
Lazio 2-0 Genoa
Genoa 0-2 Juventus
Fiorentina 1-0 Genoa
Genoa 2-0 Verona
Palermo 1-0 Genoa
Udinese 2-3 Milan
Milan 3-2 Palermo
Inter 1-0 Milan
Mantova 2-3 Milan
Milan 2-1 Empoli
Team News and Predicted Lineups
During their 2-0 defeat to Lazio, Genoa had two men, Goran Pandev and Issa Cissokho, sent off. As a result, both Pandev and Cissoko will be missing from the Grifone’s clash with Milan on Sunday.
Genoa are also without exceptional young goalkeeper Mattia Perin, Argentinian centre-back Ezequiel Munoz and technical midfielder Tino Costa because of injury. However, Armando Izzo returns from a one-match suspension after being sent off in the home loss to Juventus.
Izzo could well come back into Genoa’s back three alongside captain Nicolas Burdisso and the consistent Sebastian De Maio. If not, Giovanni Marchese will retain his starting spot on the left side of the defence.
Should he not slot into the back three, Izzo could also be utilised on the right of the midfield four with Cissokho missing. A better option there, however, could be Diogo Figueiras, who joined on loan from Sevilla at the start of the season.
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini will probably opt for Tomas Rincon and Blerim Dzemaili in central midfield, and the promising Diego Laxalt will occupy the left-sided berth.
Without Pandev, there are question marks up front for Genoa. Diego Perotti will try to work his magic from the left wing, while 19-year-old Olivier Ntcham, who is on loan from Manchester City, can play in either the more central or right-wing role. It is a possibility Ntcham will take on the former spot, allowing Diego Capel to cut inside from the right.
Milan are still going to be without right-back Ignazio Abate and forwards M’Baye Niang and Jeremy Menez through injury, though they could welcome back Luca Antonelli, Andrea Bertolacci and Juraj Kucka, who have all had spells on the treatment table of varying lengths.
Mihajlovic will most likely opt to retain the same back four that started away to Udinese in an attempt to establish some consistency. That would mean 18-year-old Davide Calabria remains at right-back, with Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli in the centre and Mattia De Sciglio on the left of the back four.
Up front, Mario Balotelli has shown his full repertoire of skills recently, as well as great desire, so he should continue his strike partnership with Carlos Bacca. Behind them, Milan’s greatest quandary concerns who plays in the trequartista role.
Keisuke Honda has taken the reins there so far this season but has failed to impress, and with Bertolacci and Kucka possibly returning to the lineup in central midfield, Giacomo Bonaventura could well be pushed up to take Honda’s place.
Per OptaPaolo, Bonaventura has been involved in five of Milan’s last seven goals, and he deserves the chance to show what he can do in a more attacking area.
Genoa (3-4-3): Eugenio Lamanna, Sebastian De Maio, Nicolas Burdisso, Armando Izzo; Diogo Figueiras, Tomas Rincon, Blerim Dzemaili, Diego Laxalt; Diego Capel, Olivier Ntcham, Diego Perotti.
Milan (4-3-1-2): Diego Lopez, Davide Calabria, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, Mattia De Sciglio; Nigel de Jong, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Bertolacci; Giacomo Bonaventura; Mario Balotelli, Carlos Bacca.
Players to Watch
Olivier Ntcham (Genoa)
Ntcham spent last season playing for Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, but after moving to Genoa on loan at the start of this season, he now finds himself playing regular Serie A football.
He has found himself occupying the withdrawn centre-forward role for Genoa and has shown good levels of athleticism, intelligence and technique in the process.
Coach Gasperini is keen on the 19-year-old Frenchman. As Jamie Jackson and Fabrizio Romano relayed for the Guardian, he said, “Ntcham is an unbelievable player. He’s a surprise for me—Olivier is only 19 but plays like a leader. He will become a top player.”
Given he is still relatively unknown, Ntcham could be a threat to Milan’s rearguard this weekend.
Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan)
Bonaventura has played in the left-sided central-midfield role within Milan’s midfield diamond thus far this season, though the poor form of Honda could well see him start in his more natural trequartista role.
The Italy international has been heavily involved in Milan’s recent high-scoring, and he could be the perfect linkman to connect the Rossoneri’s hard-working midfield with the potent attacking duo of Balotelli and Bacca.
With nimble feet, an eye for a pass and willingness to attempt shots from distance, Bonaventura is made to create and could revel in the space between Genoa’s defensive and midfield lines.
Key Battle
Davide Calabria vs. Diego Perotti
Calabria has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence, benefiting from the misfortune of more experienced team-mates to earn a starting spot on the right-hand side of Milan’s back four.
After Abate was taken off with an injury in the first half against Palermo, Calabria stood in and has not looked out of place in spite of his inexperience. Indeed, the youngster showed enough proficiency against both Palermo and Udinese to suggest it is no certainty that Abate will regain his place upon returning to full fitness.
Against Genoa, Calabria will face arguably his toughest examination to date. Perotti often plays on the left of a front three for the Genovese, and should he start there against Milan, he will look to exploit any space afforded to him by his youthful opponent.
Few forwards in Serie A have the Argentinian’s grace and ball control, and his subtle movements and deft touches will give Milan’s right-back plenty to think about. If Perotti can use those traits to infiltrate the area between Calabria and centre-back Zapata, Genoa should be able to halt their run of three games without scoring.
