AC Milan vs SPAL 30/12/18

30 December 2018

AC Milan and SPAL will face-off at the Stadio San Siro as the hosts hope to end a three-game home winless streak.

The fallen giants come into this encounter following a frustrating 0-0 road stalemate with Frosinone, which was a fourth consecutive game in which Milan failed to hit the back of the net. It was the first time since 2001 the Milanese heavyweights have struggled to score in three successive Serie A meetings. Winless in their last four Serie A outings (D3, L1), the Rossoneri have tumbled down the table, as they currently sit sixth in with a three-point deficit to fourth-placed Lazio. What’s more, the 7-time Champions League winners have won just one out of their last four home matches, being held to one draw while suffering two defeats in the process. Therefore, a clash with a struggling SPAL side is a must-win game for Gennaro Gattuso, who could get fired in case of another failure.

The visitors are in an even worse crisis considering they’ve failed to secure all three points in their last nine Serie A clashes, suffering four losses while playing out five draws during the run. Just like Milan, the White-Blues have struggled to find the back of the net in their previous three league matches. All of SPAL’s last four Serie A games produced under 2.5 goals, with two ending with the identical 0-0 scoreline. Only Genoa (7) lost more matches on the road than SPAL (6) this season, with the Biancazzurri holding the joint-worst goalscoring record, having scored 6 in 9 road games so far. Also, Leonardo Semplici’s men have lost three out of last five competitive road games, with Gli Spallini failing to keep a clean sheet in seven out of nine away Serie A meetings this term.

Provisional line-up – AC Milan:

Gk: Gianluigi Donnarumma Defense: Rodriguez – Romagnoli – Musacchio – Calabria Midfield: Kessie – Bakayoko – Calhanoglu Attack: Castillejo – Higuain – Cutrone

Provisional line-up – SPAL:

Gk: Alfred Gomis Defense: Fares – Bonifazi – Cionek – Felipe – Dickmann Midfield: Valoti – Missiroli – Schiattarella Attack: Petagna – Floccari