AC Milan host Carpi at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Thursday night as they try to achieve back-to-back wins under new coach Cristian Brocchi.
In defeating Sampdoria 1-0 on Sunday night, the Rossoneri broke a run of five games without victory. They currently find themselves in sixth place in the Serie A table with 52 points after 33 rounds, seven points behind Fiorentina in the battle for Europa League qualification.
Carpi also go into this match on the back of a victory against Genoese opposition. The Biancorossi defeated 10-man Genoa by a score of 4-1 on Saturday night for a third win in their last five games. Carpi have moved up to 17th in the league with 31 points, one point above of the relegation zone with five games remaining.
These two sides have already played against each other twice this season. Neither team could be separated in a 0-0 draw in Modena back in Week 15 of Serie A action but AC Milan emerged triumphant at home in the Coppa Italia with a 2-1 victory.
Striker Kevin Lasagna is expected to start on the bench for Carpi on Thursday night but his coach Fabrizio Castori could count on him to make an impact. In the Emilian side’s two appearances at the Meazza this season, Lasagna assisted in Matteo Mancosu’s goal in the defeat to Milan while he found himself on the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw against Inter in Serie A.
Juraj Kucka and M’Baye Niang will be missing from the Rossoneri squad with suspension and injury respectively while the suspended Riccardo Gagliolo and injured Eddy Gnahore and Igor Bubnjic will not be at the disposal of the Biancorossi.
Andrea Poli is expected to take the position vacated by Kucka in the Milan midfield and Cristian Zaccardo will likely return to the Carpi defence in place of Gagliolo.
Form Guide: AC Milan (D-D-L-L-W) Carpi (W-W-L-L-W)
Expected Starting XIs
AC Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; A Poli, Montolivo, Bertolacci; Bonaventura; Balotelli, Bacca
Carpi: Belec; Zaccardo, Romagnoli, F Poli, Letizia; Pasciuti, Bianco, Crimi, Di Gaudio; Lollo; Mbakogu
Infographic Sourse: www.sporticos.com
