Serie A: Jose Mourinho Gunning for Milan

AS Roma vs AC Milan

Fourth faces second at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday when Roma entertain AC Milan in a mouthwatering Serie A clash.

And former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho will have his players primed to cause problems for his old rivals. But Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri are in fine form since they’re on a winning run of five in the league and they are strong in every position.

The latest Serie A 2021 betting odds pitch Milan in a three-way battle with leaders Napoli and reigning champions Inter, while Juventus struggle to recover from a slow start.

Meanwhile, Roma have a good chance of holding on to their Champions League spot and are very strong on home soil.

Both teams come into the match on the back of a midweek victory. Roma triumphed with a 2-1 away to Cagliari while Milan beat Torino 1-0 at the San Siro stadium.

Talking Points

Norwegian nightmare has sparked Roma

A humiliating 6-1 defeat for Roma to minnows Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Conference League was one of the results of the year as fans throughout Europe watched I Giallorossi capitulate in front of Mourinho’s eyes.

Lazio fans in particular looked on with particular glee, but a home match with early leaders Napoli gave Roma a chance to redeem themselves and so they did, putting in a typical Jose performance to draw 0-0 and end Napoli’s 100-per cent record.

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Roma followed that impressive result with a 2-1 win over Walter Mazzarri’s Cagliari thanks to goals from centre-back Roger Ibanez and skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini who has been in fine form.

The midweek goal was his fifth of the campaign and he has also made four assists. I Giallorossi’s front line has also been strengthened by the arrival of former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham who has settled in well, helped by his former Chelsea boss.

But Mourinho will be missing defenders Leonardo Spinazzola and Chris Smalling who are out injured.

Milan’s Oldies are Golden

I Rossoneri are competing with Napoli for top spot and Roma’s recent draw with the Azzurri did Pioli’s men a huge favour.

They are now locked together on 28 points with nine wins and a draw each, and seven points clear of the chasing pack.

Another former Chelsea striker, the veteran Olivier Giroud, scored an early winner in the 1-0 victory over Torino to make it four goals for the season to equal the tally of Rafael Leao while young forward Brahim Diaz has three.

Serie A: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his teammates will try to avoid defeat against AS Roma — Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates as he scored AC Milan’s fourth goal in a Serie A game against Bologna

But the headlines in Milan are still being written by the Swedish phenomenon Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibra scored in both ends as Milan beat Bologna last week – an own goal giving their opponents encouragement before he took any hope away by scoring in the right end.

It was his first goal since turning 40 and the man is a legend. Roma will just try to keep him out of the Serie A 2021 highlights.

Pioli will be without the injured winger Ante Rebic while Diaz and Brazilian forward Junior Messias are doubtful, so Pioli may have to rely on the evergreen duo of Ibrahimovic and Giroud.

History

This is a clash between two of Italy’s aristocracy. I Giallorossi have won the Scudetto three times and the Coppa Italia nine times, while Milan are 18-time league champions and five-time Coppa winners.

Milan have a slight edge in the head-to-heads, winning 23 of the last 62 encounters while Roma have won 19 and there have been 20 draws.

Last season, Milan came out on top in this fixture with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie and Ante Rebic while Jordan Veretout replied for Roma.

The French midfielder is in good form again this season, linking up well with Pellegrini in Roma’s engine room and contributing four goals.

Roma have won four and drawn one at home this season while Milan have won four and drawn one away, so unless this ends up in a stalemate then someone is going to lose an unbeaten run.

Unbeaten in 15 matches at home in all competitions, Roma will be hopeful of frustrating another league leader.