Juventus welcome AC Milan to Turin on Sunday in their 4th Serie A game of this season. Juventus have had a horrible start to their league campaign since they have drawn 1 and lost 2 of their 3 games so far. They have conceded 5 goals against teams that aren’t of the same pedigree as the Old Lady. The Italian giants are sitting 16th on the table and are desperate for a win.
Their fans would be optimistic after their 3-0 win in the Champions League opening week against Malmo but AC Milan are on top of their game right now and it is not going to be an easy battle. Milan have won all 3 of their games this season and have only conceded once doing so. They lost their game in the Champions League against Liverpool last week but it was a contest too close to call.
AC Milan improved by many folds last season under Pioli and it looks like they are keeping the momentum going. Juventus need a win to win the support of their fans especially after selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United.
TEAM NEWS
Juventus have Bernardeschi out due to a knee injury and will surely not start for them. Chiesa is back in the first team after recovering from a knock received during the international break but even he won’t be in the starting lineup.
Juventus Predicted Starting Lineup: Szczesny; Danilo, De Ligt, Bonucci, Sandro; Cuadrado, Locatelli, Bentancur, Rabiot; Dybala, Morata
Kessie was out injured for the last few weeks but the central midfielder played against Liverpool and will probably continue featuring for them. Ibrahimovic played a game for Milan after the international break but he has gone out on an Achilles injury again.
AC Milan Predicted Starting Lineup: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
GAME CHANGERS
PAULO DYBALA
Massimiliano oversaw Dybala’s growth during his earlier spell at Juventus and now that he is back, we are getting to see the true potential of the Argentine’s abilities. The player plays as their second striker since he is a great playmaker and also has goal-scoring prowess. He has scored 2 goals across all competitions so far and has even 1 assist to his name. He takes 3.50 attempts on goal per 90 and even creates 4.46 scoring opportunities per game on an average.
OLIVER GIROUD
Sono molto orgoglioso della nostra squadra di fratelli ✊🏼💪🏼🙏🏼
Una grande partita per i nostri tifosi rossoneri ❤️🖤⚽️⚽️ #ACMilan #MilanCagliari pic.twitter.com/CLbxs7xBmQ— Olivier Giroud (@_OlivierGiroud_) August 29, 2021
Giroud arrived at AC Milan this summer and has taken the club by the storm ever since. With so many playmaking attackers all over the pitch, Giroud is the perfect man to make their plans come to fruition especially when Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets injured. Giroud has 2 appearances in Serie A so far and has scored in both of them. His Xg stands at 0.52 and he also wins most of the aerial battles for his side. Giroud can be one of the most lethal strikers out there in his best days and that is exactly what we are witnessing at the moment.
PREDICTION
Milan would be hoping to keep their record of winning to get the momentum going for the rest of the season and Juventus needs to make amends and make an early comeback before things get out of hand. Although Juventus won their game in Europe, AC Milan are too good a team when in form to just get brushed aside. FootTheBall predicts Juventus 1-2 AC Milan.
