AC Milan Eyes Scudetto Momentum as Rivals Face Tough Away Matches

AC Milan is set to host Sassuolo this weekend, aiming to extend their unbeaten run in Serie A and solidify their position at the top of the table. The match comes on the heels of a significant week for Milan, during which they suffered an elimination from the Coppa Italia but remain focused on their league performance.

Milan’s journey to the summit has been impressive, with the team bouncing back from a loss to Cremonese on the opening day of the season. Since then, they have achieved nine victories in 13 matches, putting them in a strong position. Notably, they have a lighter schedule compared to their title rivals, as they are not involved in European competitions this season.

Sassuolo arrives at the iconic San Siro following a commendable 3-1 victory over Fiorentina, which has placed them eighth in the Serie A standings. Milan will be without their key winger, Rafael Leao, due to injury; however, they will have Christian Pulisic available. The American forward, who recovered from a bout of flu, made a significant impact in Milan’s last match against Torino by scoring two goals shortly after coming off the bench to help secure a 3-2 comeback win.

Pulisic’s role has been crucial for Milan’s aspirations for the Scudetto. Although he has started only five of his nine league appearances this season, he has already netted seven goals, showcasing his importance to the team’s attacking strategy. Sassuolo, on the other hand, will be missing forward Andrea Pinamonti, who sustained an injury during their recent match, having contributed four goals this season.

Title Rivals Face Challenges Away

Defending champions Napoli currently sit second in the standings, tied on 31 points with Milan. Despite recent league victories over AS Roma and Juventus, they faced a setback by losing 2-0 to Benfica in the Champions League. Manager Antonio Conte noted, “It’s not the single match, but the accumulation of many games that leads to a build-up you can end up paying for,” highlighting the pressure his team faces. Napoli will look to rebound in their away match against Udinese, who have struggled recently, losing three of their last four games.

Inter Milan trails closely behind in third place, just one point off the leaders. The team has won their last two league matches but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, marking their second consecutive loss in European competition. Inter will play against Genoa, a team that has shown resilience after sacking coach Patrick Vieira, going unbeaten in their last five matches and climbing to 14th in the standings.

Meanwhile, AS Roma has dropped to fourth place after back-to-back defeats, resulting in a total of 27 points. They will host Como on Monday, who are just three points behind. Juventus, following their loss to Napoli, sits in seventh place, eight points adrift of the leaders, and will face a challenging away fixture against Bologna on Sunday.

With the Serie A title race heating up, AC Milan’s focus on maintaining their momentum could be critical as they navigate the challenges posed by their rivals. The upcoming matches promise to be decisive in shaping the league standings as teams vie for dominance in the second half of the season.