AC Milan and Juventus are two of the big forces of Italian football and will go head-to-head on Sunday night at the San Siro in a game with huge importance as they both look for that runner-up spot in Serie A. Here’s our summary of the Serie A table, some useful stats, analysis of key players and all the latest odds, complete with our top betting tip.
Match Preview and Important Facts
The Serie A title is almost certain to be heading Inter Milan’s way, given they’re currently on 78 points, 12 clear of second-placed AC Milan, with just five games to go.
AC Milan have 66 points, and Juventus have 63. A defeat for Milan could see Napoli overtake them for second place, especially since Napoli have a relatively easy match against Cremonese at the weekend.
As for Juventus, a win for them would mean they’d be tied on points with AC Milan and with a chance of even finishing in second, let alone third. But a loss against Milan here, and if Como, currently in fifth, beat Genoa, they’d be under serious pressure to secure that all-important fourth place that gives access to the Champions League.
But aside from this season’s table, this is the ultimate game in Italian football. Juventus are the single most successful side in the history of Serie A by a country mile, with 36 titles, while AC Milan lies third on this metric with 19, just one short of rivals Inter, who have 20.
It is the oldest running and most played Italian Derby, having first been contested in 1901.
Even though AC Milan and Juventus aren’t quite the European powerhouses they were in the 1990s and 2000s, this is still one of the most popular and most-watched football matches in the world.
Betting Tip: AC Milan - Juventus
These two teams have a habit of playing out low-scoring matches of late, with nine of the last 10 going under 2.5 goals.
But with eight of the last nine seeing at least one of the two teams keeping a clean sheet, we prefer the 2.1 on the ‘no’ option for both teams to score market.
- Prediction: BTTS No
- Odds: 2.1 (at the time of writing)
Players to Watch and Betting Odds on Them
Milan’s Portuguese winger, Rafael Leao, who will be an important player for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup, is a good place to start. He’s a tricky, speedy wide player who makes things happen and already has 10 goals this season to go with a load of assists.
On the other wing or in the Number 10 role, Milan are likely to go with the US’s big superstar Christian Pulisic, formerly of Chelsea. Curiously, he has the same 10 goals this season that Leao has and is one of the most technically gifted players on the pitch. Both players are around the 3.5 mark to score anytime.
On the goal for Milan will be Michael Maignan, who is France’s number 1 keeper these days and is yet another, alongside the two above, who will be playing a big role for his country at this summer’s World Cup. A good game from him and the 3.4 for a Milan clean sheet could be in business.
As for Juventus, Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz will, as ever, be tasked with pulling the attacking strings. With Juve 11 goals to his name already this season, multiple assists and a few man-of-the-match performances, he’s their main in advanced areas. He’s 4.5 for an assist and 3.5 to get a goal.
Playing as an all-action midfielder is another USA international in Weston McKennie, who can operate either centrally or in a wide position and certainly has an engine on him to go with some decent pace. If it’s a hard-working player you want, he’s your man. He doesn’t score that many goals, but he’s 12.0 to be the first goal scorer here.
Michele di Gregorio is keeping Juve's goal. He’s got a knack for saving his best performances for the biggest games, and though keeping a clean sheet against this fine Milan side is no easy task, it’s 4.0 that the Bianconeri win to nil.
