On a run of four straight Serie A wins, and now in pole position to progress in the Champions League, AC Milan aim to continue such positive momentum on Sunday, when they visit mid-table Torino.
The Rossoneri followed up their 4-1 win over neighbouring Monza with a thumping midweek victory in Zagreb, to sit second in both Group E and the Italian top flight. Meanwhile, their hosts have bounced back from Derby della Mole defeat by posting wins in both league and cup.
Match preview
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With their only Champions League win before Tuesday coming in September's reverse fixture at San Siro, Milan were in dire need of a repeat result versus Dinamo Zagreb - and despite a lengthy injury list, the seven-time European champions were able to oblige.
After breaking the deadlock through the unlikely source of stand-in centre-back Matteo Gabbia, the Rossoneri ultimately strode to a 4-0 victory at Stadion Maksimir and could well have scored more.
Now, in next week's final fixture, Stefano Pioli's side require only a draw against closest rivals Salzburg to seal second spot behind Chelsea in Group E, which puts them tantalisingly close to a place in the last 16.
All is bright on the domestic front, too, for the Scudetto holders, who have now scored the most goals from open play in Serie A this season (21), following a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Lombardy locals Monza - like in Croatia a few days later, star man Rafael Leao was among the goals at San Siro.
That result helped Milan stay in touch with unbeaten pace-setters Napoli, who lead the league by three points, and it has been some commendably consistent away form that keeps the champions on their southern rivals' coat-tails.
Stretching well back into last season, Milan have gone undefeated during their last 17 Serie A away matches; winning on 12 occasions. Such a streak represents the longest ongoing run throughout the top five European leagues, and they last had a longer one in the early 90s - a staggering 38 under legendary coach Fabio Capello.
While the Rossoneri have drawn seven of their last 11 league meetings with this Sunday's opponents in Turin - including the most recent, in April - they will surely expect to take three points back to the second city this time, given their recent form.
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Torino may have managed to grind out a goalless draw against Milan six months ago, but had lost their previous four against them in Serie A without scoring.
To be more precise, the Granata have failed to score a single league goal in this fixture for 464 minutes (plus stoppage time); last finding the net in a 2-1 success back in September 2019.
While the Turin club have been consistently impotent versus Milan, they have been plain inconsistent this season: following a hard-fought victory at Udinese last time out, they now aim to win successive Serie A matches for the first time since January.
Goals from Ola Aina and former Rossoneri striker Pietro Pellegri saw Torino over the line in Udine, which came as sweet relief to coach Ivan Juric, whose side had lost five of their previous seven league games.
It also followed hot on the heels of beating Serie B side Cittadella in the Coppa Italia - with Pellegri again on target in a 4-0 win. That sealed a place in the last 16, where they meet none other than Milan at the start of next year.
Team News
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One of a handful of likely changes to Milan's side, for a game sandwiched between two crucial European encounters, Fikayo Tomori returns after serving a Champions League suspension on Tuesday. The England defender should join up with Matteo Gabbia at the heart of the visitors' back four, though Simon Kjaer will hope to keep his place.
Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are among those still sidelined, but Charles De Ketelaere recently returned to action and may start again despite a quiet game in Zagreb - particularly with in-form Brahim Diaz still hampered by injury.
Following his first Serie A goal last week, Divock Origi should come in to offer Olivier Giroud a rest up front, while on the left, Rafael Leao is the Portuguese player to have featured in the most goals across Europe's top five leagues (five of his own and four assists).
The hosts' attacking options, meanwhile, could be narrowed by Antonio Sanabria's absence, should a leg injury keep him sidelined. Ex-Milan man Pietro Pellegri will therefore lead the line for Toro, as he begins to fulfil his early promise after years plagued by muscular problems.
Though in good form, wing-back Ola Aina may miss out too, so Wilfried Singo or Mergim Vojvoda will come in to Ivan Juric's XI. The Croatian coach can choose between Nemanja Radonjic, Aleksei Miranchuk and Nikola Vlasic to support Pellegri up front.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Schuurs, Rodriguez; Lazaro, Lukic, Linetty, Vojvoda; Miranchuk, Vlasic; Pellegri
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Tonali, Pobega; Rebic, De Ketelaere, Leao; Origi
We say: Torino 1-2 AC Milan
Torino can finally end their scoring drought against Milan, but that may not prove enough to avoid defeat on Sunday evening. Even with a number of injuries still diminishing his options, Stefano Pioli has slowly built a Milan squad that features enough quality on the bench to make the difference when required.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
