Prediction: AS Roma vs AC Milan

Although Roma and AC Milan are still considered to be two of the superpowers in Italian football, both sides will have to wait another year before mounting a serious title challenge in Serie A. With both sides in search for European football at the end of the season, high-flying AC Milan will travel to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night.

For the hosts on Sunday night, Roma will be looking to immediately bounce back from their 2-1 loss away at Shakhtar Donetsk in their last-16 Champions League first-leg on Wednesday night. Despite winning three on the bounce before their trip to Ukraine in midweek, Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma side have slipped off the pace since the turn of the New Year and now find themselves in a battle to secure a top-four finish come the end of the season. Giallorossi currently find themselves sat third in the Serie A table and are already 16 points adrift of league leaders Napoli.

Team News

Eusebio Di Francesco will be missing defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons and right back Rick Karsdorp through injuries.

AC Milan

Despite suffering a disappointing start to the season, Gennaro Gattuso’s side currently find their confidence at a seasons high. After picking up a 1-0 home win against Ludogrets in the Europa League on Thursday, Milan have now booked a showdown with Arsenal in the final 16. Winning their last four matches in all competitions, Rossoneri are now unbeaten in their last 11 matches and although they may sit eight points adrift of the top four, Gattuso’s side will now be confident about securing European football come the end of the season, Milan currently sit seventh in the Serie A table. Boasting an all-star team, it has been the Red and Black’s defensive performances that have really begun to catch the eye. Without conceding a single goal in their last four matches, Milan have also scored 10 in their last four away matches.

Gennaro Gattuso is missing right back Andrea Conti due to injury, but otherwise has a full squad to pick from for this match.

Key Factors to Consider

• Roma are unbeaten against AC Milan in their last five matches against each other (W4, D1).
• There have been six red cards in the last 11 matches between the two sides.
• AC Milan have no single player who has scored more than six Serie A goals this season.
• Milan are now unbeaten in their last 11 matches in all competitions (W8, D3).
• Both teams have scored in 62% of the away side’s matches on the road.

Conclusion

Although four places and nine points may separate the two sides, we Roma to face a tough test on Sunday night. Despite going on a three-match winning run prior to their midweek blip in Ukraine, Francesco’s Roma side have struggled in the second half of the season and were on a nine-match winless run. On the other hand, Milan will travel to the Stadio Olimpico with their confidence at a season high as they’re still unbeaten in 2018. Backing Gattuso’s side to come away with three points seems like a smart bet at 16/5.

Verdict: AC Milan win

Best Odds: 16/5