AC Milan host current Italian champions Juventus at the San Siro on Saturday, in what is undoubtedly the tie of the round three in Serie A.
The Bianconeri’s Massimiliano Allegri returns to his former club, having left the Rossoneri last season after a disappointing campaign. It will be hugely interesting to see the reception Allegri receives from the San Siro faithful, having guided them to a Scudetto win in in 2011 as well as second and third place finishes in subsequent seasons.
However, after having seen most of the club’s top players leave, Allegri was unable to make a success of the 2013/14 campaign and was eventually replaced by Clarence Seedorf.
Current standings show Milan at the top of Serie A, albeit it after only two matches, leading the Bianconeri on the strength of having scored more goals. The Rossoneri beat Parma last time out in a nine goal thriller, with Jeremy Menez scoring what might already be considered the goal of the season with the cheekiest of back heels.
However, defensive frailties were evident as the Crociati failed to crumble and were a little unfortunate not to snatch a draw as Filippo Inzaghi’s side looked anything but assured at the back.
Inzaghi, himself a former Juventus player, will be missing number one keeper Diego Lopez but new striker Fernando Torres may make an appearance, arriving on loan from Chelsea, as Milan hope to carry on their rampant goal scoring. Eight goals in two games is no bad achievement, though the Juventus rear guard will be considerbly tougher than any they have faced previously.
Stephan El Shaarawy is also expected to be available, having missed the game with Parma due to injury, and could provide his coach another option in the final third.
Juventus, like their opponents, are also unbeaten and Allegri is seemingly continuing the fine work left behind by former tactician Antonio Conte. Confidence will be sky high after beating Malmo in midweek. Carlos Tevez scored a brace, as they opened their Champions League account with maximum points.
Talisman midfielder Arturo Vidal is still very doubtful but may make the bench, whilst Andrea Pirlo is unlikely to feature in any way as his rehabilitation from injury continues.
Last season, Juventus won both fixtures against Milan but current form would suggest that this time things might be a little closer for the team with three straight Italian league titles to their name.
The added spice of both coaches having featured in some way for the two clubs, is an extra ingredient to what could be an explosive cocktail of football, come Sunday evening.
Expected Starting XIs
Milan (4-3-3): Abbiati; Abate, Rami, Zapata, De Sciglio; Poli, De Jong, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Bonaventura.
Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Marchisio, Pereyra, Evra; Llorente, Tevez.
