AC Milan and Genoa will be looking for vital points in their bid to qualify for Europe when they meet at San Siro on Wednesday evening.
The Rossoneri have endured a frustrating season and have failed to win their last three games, while a good run of form has seen the visitors close the gap on the top six.
AC Milan
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Milan are in desperate need of a victory on Wednesday, with their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League hanging by a thread.
They have endured another frustrating season and instead of challenging for the title, they are a world away from getting close to Juventus and they currently sit a lowly 10th in the Serie A table.
The Rossoneri were dealt a further blow at the weekend as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Udinese to heighten the growing pressure from the supporters.
It has also been reported that Filippo Inzaghi was involved in a bust -up with his players after the match on the coach back to Milan and his position at the club is becoming increasingly uncertain.
The club have shown that they will take action if results are not being achieved on the pitch, but a severe lack of investment in their playing squad has hampered them in recent seasons and has threatened to destroy any chance they have of returning to their past glories.
Recent form: LWWDDL
Genoa
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While Milan may be in crisis, Genoa are enjoying a successful season under Gian Piero Gasperini and they could end the campaign with a spot in Europe.
A run of three wins from their previous four games has seen them climb up to seventh in the league and they are now just two points away from Fiorentina, who occupy the final Europa League qualifying spot.
The Rossoblu kept up their good run of form at the weekend by claiming a 3-1 win over Cesena, which helped them to beat last season's points tally with six games of this campaign left to play.
One of the key parts to their impressive league position has been their attacking prowess, and only four teams have scored more goals than they have in the top flight this season.
Iago Falque and Diego Perotti have been their main source of goals, while M'Baye Niang has also been a standout performer since joining the club on loan from Milan and the striker will be desperate to prove himself against his parent club.
Recent form: LDWWLW
Team News
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Stephan El Shaarawy and Riccardo Montolivo have both returned to training for Milan, but neither player is expected to be involved on Wednesday evening.
Alex is also doubtful, but Giampaolo Pazzini could retain his place in the side after scoring at the weekend.
Genoa will have to make do without the injured Perotti, while Tino Costa and Marco Borriello remain on the sidelines.
Leonardo Pavoletti has been struggling with an injury, but he is expected to start in the attack alongside Falque and Niang.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Lopez, Abate, Rami, Mexes, Antonelli, De Jong, Van Ginkel, Bonaventura, Cerci, Menez, Pazzini
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Perin, Roncaglia, Burdisso, De Maio, Edenilson, Rincon, Bertolacci, Bergdich, Falque, Pavoletti, Niang
Head To Head
In this season's reverse fixture, Genoa picked up the points by claiming a 1-0 victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Despite that result, Milan have tended to dominate this fixture over the years and they have lost just one of the previous nine meetings between the teams.
There have also been a number of red cards shown in games involving these clubs and four players have been sent off in their last seven clashes.
We say: AC Milan 1-1 Genoa
Genoa will be full of confidence ahead of their trip to San Siro and will be hopeful of achieving a surprise result against a Milan side in poor form. The Rossoneri look a shadow of their former selves, which is why we think they will struggle again, with this week's match ending in a draw.
Alex Meyers
