Saturday’s Serie action rounds off at the San Siro as out-of-form Milan take on newly-promoted Frosinone lock horns in a must-win clash. A textbook definition of a ‘make or bust’ clash for Stefano Pioli comes right after another European disappointment.
Pioli’s skin is not a pleasant place to be at the moment. When Theo Hernandez inspired injury-plagued Milan to a narrow 1-0 home win against Fiorentina last weekend, it seemed like Rossoneri could turn the corner amid a significant injury crisis. However, a harsh reality check followed up in the Champions League.
With their bid to reach back-to-back knockout stages of Europe’s most prestigious competition, Milan slumped to a woeful 3-1 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The German’s comprehensive triumph on Italian soil left Rossoneri on the verge of an early Champions League exit, nailing them to the bottom of Group F.
Left in agonizing pain, Pioli admitted that their fans ‘have the right to be angry and disappointed’ in the aftermath. As the pressure continues to mount on the Scudetto-winning manager, Milan may see Frosinone’s upcoming visit as a perfect opportunity to atone for a poor European campaign and stay within striking distance of the table’s summit.
However, Milan would be well advised not to take this fixture lightly. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side won the battle of the newcomers last weekend, with Ilario Monterisi’s 94th-minute winner helping them topple Genoa 2-1 on home turf. It was an appropriate response to a 2-0 loss at Inter on the stroke of November’s international break.
Match Preview
Milan
Hernandez’s first-half penalty propelled Milan to their first Serie A win since early October, curtailing their embarrassing four-game winless streak (D2, L2). More importantly, Rossoneri halted a dismal run of back-to-back 1-0 league defeats on home turf, posting their fourth victory in six top-flight outings at the San Siro this term.
Since three of those triumphs yielded a clean sheet, keeping Frosinone at bay could prove crucial to Pioli’s effort to dig his team out of trouble. Milan can draw confidence from their formidable recent record against promoted clubs, having won eight of their last nine such encounters at home (D1).
Player to Watch: Samuel Chukwueze
With Olivier Giroud still banned and Rafael Leao out injured, Milan will turn to Chuwkueze. The quicksilver forward delivered an impressive performance against Dortmund, picking up his first competitive goal in the Rossoneri shirt for his trouble.
Frosinone
Safe in mid-table comforts – eight points clear of the drop zone – Frosinone can dare to dream big. Only three points separate Canarini from the Serie A top six as a last-gasp win against Genoa in the previous round saw them leapfrog last season’s runners-up Lazio in the standings. But Di Francesco has to galvanize his team’s away form.
Inter condemned Frosinone to their fourth consecutive league defeat on the road, leaving them as one of only five top-flight sides yet to win away from home this season (D2, L4). To put the visitors’ struggle on hostile turf in context, only five of their 19 Serie A goals this season have come outside the Stadio Benito Stirpe.
Player to Watch: Matias Soule
Juventus loanee Sule has been making strides in Serie A this season. With six goals, the 20-year-old is Frosinone’s leading goalscorer. He has made himself an early menace as his last three goals have arrived before halftime.
Team News
Milan cannot catch a break this season. Ismael Bennacer, Pierre Kalulu, Mattia Caldara, and Simon Kjaer are long-term absentees. This game will come too soon for Noah Okafor and Leao. Like that’s not troubling enough, Malick Thiaw picked up an injury against Dortmund and will have to sit out this game.
On the other hand, Abdou Harroui is the only notable absentee in the visiting camp. Frosinone captain Luca Mazzitelli is on the verge of returning to the fold from a minor injury setback.
Milan vs Frosinone Potential Lineups
Milan (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Rade Krunic, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Tijjani Reijnders, Yunus Musah; Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic; Luka Jovic.
Frosinone (4-2-3-1): Stefano Turati; Ilario Monterisi, Caleb Okoli, Simone Romagnoli, Anthony Oyono; Mehdi Bourabia, Enzo Barrenechea; Matias Soule, Reinier, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Walid Cheddira.
Milan vs Frosinone Prediction
There’s no longer a margin for error if Pioli is to weather the storm. Milan can’t afford to drop points here despite Frosinone’s impressive start to the season. Even without Giroud and Leao, Rososneri should still have enough firepower to break down the visitors’ porous defense.
Prediction: Milan Win
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