AC Milan vs Sampdoria-Third-placed AC Milan is in high spirits ahead of Sunday’s early kickoff at home against struggling Sampdoria, following a successful week in both league and cup competitions.
The Scudetto candidates followed up their Serie A triumph in the Derby with a comfortable run to the Coppa Italia semi-finals and will be looking to continue that run at San Siro against a Sampdoria team that has only won once all season.
AC Milan vs Sampdoria – Team News:
While both Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Achilles) and Fode Ballo-Toure (muscular) are ruled out for Milan due to injury, Olivier Giroud is expected to take Ibrahimovic’s position up front, having scored seven goals in Serie A this season, one of which came at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Despite the fact that Ibrahimovic has previously scored seven league goals against Sampdoria, including two braces, the Rossoneri have not lost a league game this season without him in the lineup. With the Swedish star in the lineup, their 89 percent winning record decreases to 53%.
Meanwhile, Sampdoria sealed the signing of 35-year-old playmaker Sebastian Giovinco this week, adding to an older frontline for the visitors. Giovinco will likely start alongside ‘Ciccio’ Caputo and Antonio Candreva, with 38-year-old Fabio Quagliarella on the bench.
Albin Ekdal returns after serving a one-match suspension, perhaps pushing Tomas Rincon to the bench, while on-loan Inter midfielder Stefano Sensi and Andrea Conti – formerly of Milan – are also expected to play.
The journey to Lombardy may come too soon for long-term absence Mikkel Damsgaard, but center-back Maya Yoshida is expected to return from a hamstring injury, most likely as a substitute.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Florenzi, Romagnoli, Tomori, Calabria; Tonali, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Ferrari, Colley, Augello; Thorsby, Ekdal, Sensi, Candreva; Giovinco; Caputo
AC Milan vs Sampdoria – Head – to – Head:
Our Prediction: Home to Win
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