Yahoo Sports The five key battles that could win or lose the game for Milan against Sassuolo
AC Milan will begin their 2024-25 Coppa Italia campaign tonight at San Siro as they welcome Serie B side Sassuolo for a last 16 tie.
Milan have won consecutive games in the Champions League and Serie A against Slovan Bratislava and Empoli which has boosted spirits, and now a third competition in three games awaits.
Atalanta away looms on Friday night which means head coach Paulo Fonseca has some decisions to make when it comes to selections and rotating some of the key men.
However, in his interview with Milan TV he made it clear that he will aim to win the cup, and considers Sassuolo a Serie A level team still despite their relegation.
The key battles
Compared to other battles pieces this one is a bit more of a stab in the dark because of how many uncertainties there are from both teams regarding who will play.
Nonetheless, we start with someone who is on a double mission: Tammy Abraham. The English striker is now fully back to starting fitness and scored in Bratislava while getting an assist, so he has some good form to try and keep up.
Not only that but Abraham is hoping to convince the management to buy him permanently, and his opponent is likely to be Cas Odenthal. The Dutchman signed for Sassuolo in the summer and has established himself as a starter, while at 6ft3 the 24-year-old will be ready for the battle.
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At the other end, Armand Lauriente is someone the Rossoneri know well too given he scored twice when these teams last met in April in the 3-3 draw at the Mapei Stadium. In that game he played on the left, and a late rescue act was needed from Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor.
He should play on the left again tonight and that will mean a tough examination for Davide Calabria. The Italian has shaken off a troublesome calf problem but looked rusty in his first start in Slovakia, though this could be a good challenge to get back into things properly.
La Gazzetta dello Sport do not believe Domenico Berardi will start, but we aren’t so sure and thus will include him. He has scored 11 goals against the Rossoneri in his career, with the first four coming in the first meeting between the sides over 10 years ago.
Paolo Maldini actually wanted him in summer 2023 before being sacked, and he has three goals at San Siro against Milan. If he does start (or even comes on), his opponent will be Filippo Terracciano, who has filled in for Theo Hernandez multiple times this season but would face a tough task against an experienced and dangerous threat.
Moving to the midfield, Edoardo Iannoni is apparently in line to start on the right of a three for the Neroverdi. The 23-year-old has not been a regular starter this season, with less than 400 minutes of game time, but Fabio Grosso will entrust him with a very important role.
What is that task? Trying to limit the influence of Tijjani Reijnders, who is in the form of his life given he has six goals in 17 games already this season. His brace on Saturday against Empoli continued his brilliant run, and in the meantime it seems that a renewal is getting closer.
Finally, we come to perhaps the other surprise in terms of Milan team news: Rafael Leao should start on the left side of the attack. The Portuguese winger has had some rest though, playing 45 minutes against Slovan and starting multiple games on the bench in the past month.
He should have plenty of fuel in the tank to go at Jeremy Toljan, who is now in his fifth season with Sassuolo and is expected to start at right-back. The 30-year-old – who joined from Borussia Dortmund – already has three assists to his name this season so can get forward, but will relish the duel against one of Italy’s most exciting wingers.
