AC Milan vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-01-07 19:45.
Serie A (SA) champions AC Milan made a winning return to action last round when defeating Salernitana 2-1 on the road courtesy of two early goals, including one from sought-after striker Rafael Leão. Manager Stefano Pioli was “satisfied” with the performance of his side as they closed the gap to runaway leaders Napoli to five points, thanks in part to a favour from arch-rivals Inter.
The Rossoneri are now unbeaten in each of their last four SA games (W3, D1), although those three wins all came by a one-goal margin, so their matches are proving tight affairs. The San Siro is proving a fortress for Milan this season as they aim for their first back-to-back titles since 1993/94, with their only blemish in the league in eight home encounters coming against main Scudetto rivals Napoli.
While they might be down in sixth after the latest round of fixtures with the aim of getting into a Champions League place, Roma could even insert themselves into the more serious title conversations with a win here and a good run thereafter. Victory would lift José Mourinho’s men to within three points of Milan, after they returned to league action by beating Bologna 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
One of just a handful of teams with a better away record than at home in the league after losing just once on their travels (W5, D2), Roma should provide a stern test here for the champions. Recent history suggests that too, as despite losing both H2Hs against Milan last term, Roma have held their own against the Rossoneri down the years, with last season the first time they suffered defeat in both fixtures since 2011/12.
Key battle: Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali scored and assisted in their victory over Salernitana, meaning that each of his six all-time goalscoring games for Milan have resulted in victory. He’ll be up against compatriot Lorenzo Pellegrini, who despite directly contributing to five goals in ten meetings with Milan (G1, A4), has won only one of those contests (D2, L7).
Hot stat: Only Juventus (six) have scored more than Milan’s five goals in the 15 minutes following half-time at home this season.