Roma vs AC Milan: Inspired Milan look to continue strong start to season
AC Milan will be looking to make it three wins in three when the Rossoneri travel to face Roma on Friday evening. Stefano Pioli’s men have made a flying start to the new campaign following comfortable victories over Bologna and Torino, and will look to take advantage of Roma’s poor form as they aim to establish an early lead on top of the table.
A brilliant start for American international Christian Pulisic
Milan come into this game having cruised to a 4-1 home win over Torino, with new signing Christian Pulisic scoring his first home goal for his new team. The American international, who was signed on a four year contract this past July, looks like he’s enjoying his football again after scoring and assisting during Milan’s 2-0 win over Bologna on matchday one, and now will be looking to score in three consecutive matches. Pulisic has quickly endeared himself to the Milan supporters with his strong showings for the team, which is an encouraging fact also for USMNT fans after the Pennsylvania-born attacker endured a largely frustrating spell during his time with Chelsea.
Meanwhile, veteran striker Olivier Giroud is showing that age is nothing but a number with his continued top-class showings for the Rossoneri. The French international, who is set to turn 37 next month, has already scored three times for Pioli’s squad, while his one assist means that he has been directly involved in all but two of his team’s six goals scored so far this season.
Roma’s frustrating start to the 2023/24 Serie A season
By contrast, Roma, have had a rough start to the season. They needed a late goal from Andrea Belotti to avoid an embarrassing loss to Salernitana, and were beaten 2-1 by another minnow, Hellas Verona, last weekend. Jose Mourinho’s team have been hampered by injuries to key players like Tammy Abraham and Paulo Dybala, and while Dybala may be fit in time to make the bench, they are still really lacking in key options up front. Romelu Lukaku will have completed his move to Roma by the time Friday’s game kicks off, but the big Belgian is still lacking match fitness and as such will not be available for selection just yet.
Overall, the Rossoneri have lost just one of their last 11 Serie A clashes against the Giallorossi, and while Roma are unbeaten in eight of their last 11 meetings with Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, Friday’s hosts have generally struggled against Milan, with no wins from their last seven meetings across all competitions.
In addition, Milan are just one of a few Serie A teams (the others being Napoli, and surprisingly, Venezia) that Mourinho has been unable to beat as a Serie A manager. Given all this, it’s safe to say that Milan will heavily fancy their chances at making it three wins in three to open up an early lead on the chasing pack ahead of Napoli and Inter’s games being played later this weekend.
