Milan need to be completely perfect until the end if they want to return to Europe next season
With four rounds left, Genoa are stranded near the middle of the table while AC Milan need to be completely perfect until the end if they want to return to Europe next season.
The season is over for Genoa as the Red and Blues sit 21 points away from the Top 6 and a whole 14 points above the drop zone. Venezia’s draw on Friday confirmed Genoa’s safety and based on their underwhelming form, we shouldn’t expect too much from them in the remaining matches. Il Grifone picked up three wins in their last 10 Serie A games but the last one was over a month ago. Genoa haven’t scored a goal in three consecutive games since then, while also losing the last two.
It is fair to say that AC Milan have played their best football in recent weeks and it is some positive ahead of their Coppa Italia final against Bologna. The Rossoneri are a whole six points behind the Top 6 right now, with just four rounds remaining. Getting to either of UEFA’s competitions through the traditional route nears impossible right now, but Milan have a far easier way back.
One of the key benefits of winning the Coppa Italia is that the winner also earns a spot in the Europa League. So, instead of winning four Serie A matches and still potentially not end up there, Milan could just focus on the final and qualify with one good result.
There are some interesting stats in this rivalry, including the fact that both sides generally perform better as a visitor. For instance, Milan often struggle to beat Genoa at San Siro but always crush them on the road. The Rossoneri won four of their last five visits to Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Given their incredible away form in the current campaign, it is easy to expect more of the same. Otherwise, the overall picture shows Milan won six of the last 10 H2Hs, while Genoa managed a single win.
Probable line-up
Genoa: Leali, Martin, Vasquez, Winter, Norton-Cuffy, Frendrup, Masini, Massias, Thorsby, Zanoli, Pinamonti.
AC Milan: Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez, Reijnders, Fofana, Jimenez, Pulisic, Abraham, Leao.