Alessandria vs. AC Milan: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

AC Milan must avoid complacency if they are to overcome Alessandria in their Coppa Italia semi-final, the first leg of which takes place on Tuesday night.

The Rossoneri have progressed to the last four of the competition on the back of solid wins over Sampdoria and Carpi in previous rounds.

Now only a win over a team from Italian football’s third tier blocks their path to the cup final, but they cannot take victory for granted.

Alessandria have already knocked out Serie A opposition en route to this phase. In the fourth round they travelled to Sicily to knock out Palermo, and in the next round they travelled to the Marassi to see off Genoa.

The Lega Pro side are motivated not just by the thrill of pulling off an upset, but by the memory of a player—Piermario Morosini—who died of a heart attack while playing in April 2012.

Alessandria coach Angelo Gregucci worked with Morosini at Vicenza before the player's passing, and he dedicated his team’s progress to his former colleague, telling RAI television (h/t ESPN FC) after his side defeated Spezia in the quarter-finals:

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My lads have rewritten the history books tonight. It’s one of the most beautiful nights of my sporting life and at a moment like this, I want to remember one of the saddest moments of my life—I want to dedicate this win to a lad I coached who is no longer with us: Piemario Morosini.

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Milan have a crucial derby clash with Inter to prepare for on Sunday night, but they cannot underestimate the test they could face against an emotionally charged Alessandria side with nothing to lose.

Rossoneri right-back Ignazio Abate alluded to this issue in an interview with Milan channel (h/t FourFourTwo), saying: “Alessandria are not to be underestimated. If they have come this far, it means that they are a good side.”

Date: Tuesday, 26 January

Time: 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET)

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Turin, Italy

TV Info: Sky Sports 3 (UK)

Live Stream: Bet365.com

Form Guide

Alessandria 1-0 Cuneo

Spezia 1-2 Alessandria (Coppa Italia)

Feralpi Salo 3-0 Alessandria

Alessandria 1-1 Padova

Reggiana 1-1 Alessandria

Empoli 2-2 Milan

Milan 2-0 Fiorentina

Milan 2-1 Carpi (Coppa Italia)

Roma 1-1 Milan

Milan 0-1 Bologna

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Alessandria have shown never-say-die spirit to reach this stage of the Coppa, having scored twice in the last 10 minutes of their quarter-final tie with Spezia to turnaround a one-goal deficit.

Both of those match-winning goals were scored by Riccardo Bocalon, a striker with 13 goals to his name in all competitions so far this season. He usually leads a front three in a 4-3-3 system with support coming from Manuel Marras and Manuel Fischnaller.

Although it would not surprise if Gregucci opted for a slightly more conservative style of play against Milan, it is worth noting that he did not compromise on his preferred tactic for either of his team’s previous ties with Serie A opposition.

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Milan will probably continue with the 4-4-2 system that they have utilised of late, although they can expect to dominate possession against Alessandria. This is something they have struggled with in recent months.

In games against the likes of Carpi, Verona and Bologna this season, Milan have controlled the games for large spells only to fail to use their possession effectively. They must be more incisive against Alessandria while also remaining alert against counter-attacks.

Mihajlovic is unlikely to rest his key players for the game, even though a vital league meeting with Inter looms on the horizon. While his side are heavy favourites this Tuesday, a cup semi-final is not the time for tinkering, something he made clear in his pre-match press conference (h/t Football Italia), saying:

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If we win tomorrow we’ll have one foot in the final, we must prepare for it as if it was a knockout match. We need to start well, we’re undoubtedly stronger than they are but it’s always the pitch that talks. We need to have the right attitude...thinking that we’re already in the final because we’re Milan is the best way to make a bad impression...I will put my best team on the pitch.

 

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Alessandria (4-3-3): Gianmarco Vannucchi; Vedran Celjak, Cristian Sosa, Leonardo Terigi, Roberto Sabato; Gianluca Nicco, Adriano Mezavilla, Simone Branca; Manuel Marras, Riccardo Bocalon, Manuel Fischnaller

Milan (4-4-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Ignazio Abate, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, Luca Antonelli; Keisuke Honda, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Bertolacci, Giacomo Bonaventura; M’Baye Niang, Carlos Bacca

Players to Watch

If Milan are to open up Alessandria’s defence, Giacomo Bonaventura will be key. The attacking-midfield livewire has been in superb form this season; according to WhoScored.com he has been his team’s best player by far with five goals and seven assists to his name.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Alessandria will pin their attacking hopes on Bocalon, who was once on Inter’s books as a youth. Signed at the start of this season for £189,000, per Transfermarkt, the 26-year-old striker will have to be clinical with his chances if his team are to spring an upset.

Odds

Alessandria: 57/10

Milan: 4/6

Draw: 16/5

All odds were kindly provided by Odds Checker.