Sassuolo vs AC Milan

Mapei Stadium forms the backdrop for a lopsided Serie A encounter between relegation-threatened Sassuolo and runners-up AC Milan.

Sassuolo’s 11-year top-flight stay is in the balance for the first time in a while after a three-game winless Serie A streak (D1, L2) – bookended by a 2-2 draw against rock-bottom Salernitana last weekend – left them two points adrift of safety. If it’s any consolation, it was the first time in five matches under new manager Davide Ballardini that ‘I Neroverdi’ scored more than once. Back to the Mapei Stadium, where they’ve only won four league matches this season (D4, L7), Ballardini’s men must defy history to reignite their hopes of avoiding relegation. They’ve suffered six defeats across their last seven home matches against Milan (D1) and lost 1-0 in December’s reverse fixture at San Siro.

Despite Milan’s dominant record in Emilia-Romagna, they have a chance to complete their first Serie A double against Sassuolo since 2018/19. A result is not a priority for Stefano Pioli’s troops, as they’re on the verge of securing a top-three finish. Meanwhile, their continental ambitions took a hit in midweek as Roma defeated them 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, knocking them down from a seven-game winning streak. It was also Milan’s first scoring blank in 30 matches. However, they’ve been impressive in league action of late, racking up a five-game winning run for the first time since clinching the Scudetto in 2021/22, while they’ve also won their last four games on the road.