An all-Italian classic awaits in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League quarter-final as AC Milan welcomes AS Roma for the first leg of this epic. It may be a European knockout tie, but AC Milan versus Roma is a matchup between 2nd and 5th in the Serie A standings.
AC Milan vs AS Roma Preview
Previous Encounters
There is a lot of familiarity between both teams as Milan is enjoying a nine-game unbeaten run against the capital side and Yacine Adli, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Hernandez were the goalscorers when they last met at the San Siro in January.
I Rossoneri bring lots of pedigree into the Europa League as seven-time European champions themselves. The Italian giants dropped down from the Champions League having finished level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain in the ‘Group of Death’ in that competition.
Milan are now on course for a deep run into the second-tier tournament after reaching the semi-final of last season’s UCL. They currently sit 14 points behind runaway Serie A leaders, Inter Milan, so a continental triumph is the only route to a trophy this season.
Stefano Pioli’s side started their domestic season with three consecutive wins but a 5-1 thrashing against their city rivals was an early-season shocker. They won the next four matches in Serie A until a 1-0 loss to Juventus at home.
Meanwhile, their UCL campaign had begun with goalless draws against Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund as well as a 3-0 defeat at PSG. Milan went winless in the next two league matches but they secured their first victory on the continent at home to the Parisians.
A defeat against Dortmund took a top-two spot out of their hands but they still had a chance to enter the Europa League playoff round. This set up a Matchday 6 showdown against Newcastle which lived up to its billing as Joelinton’s first-half goal was turned around by Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze to spark incredible scenes at St. James’ Park.
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Milan went into the Europa League playoff clash against Rennes with a nine-match unbeaten run in the league and they duly smashed the French side 5-3 on aggregate. Another big home win in the first leg against Slavia Prague ended 4-2 to set them on their way to this massive Last Eight encounter with Roma.
Milan’s Current Form
Stefano Pioli’s side are in a good run of form and they must harness all their experience to edge this domestic clash.
Roma started their own league season winless in the first three matches including a 2-1 defeat at home to Milan leaving the club near the relegation zone. A 7-0 win over Empoli proved their first of the season, while they also started the Europa League campaign with three points.
Wins against Servette and Slavia Prague followed until they were dealt a 2-0 defeat in the return leg against the latter. Four more points followed to ensure they finished runners-up behind the Czechs.
Domestic form however dwindled with one win out of five and the 3-1 defeat at Milan spelled the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure at the club. In came club legend Daniele De Rossi, and three successive victories followed.
League leaders Inter are the only team to have beaten the Giallorossi under the former midfielder who also orchestrated Europa League knockout victories over Feyenoord and Brighton. The home fixture against the English side was particularly pleasing as Roma ran riot in a 4-0 thrashing.
They are now in the quarterfinals and will be desperate for different fortunes against their domestic foes. Roma has some momentum and is playing with more confidence since the managerial switch, it is a synergy that they hope can deliver huge wins before the end of the season.
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Roma must embrace their underdog status for this tie and it hopefully inspires them to a thrilling outcome. The reward for winning this round is a Last Four encounter with either Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham United so things are set to get even more interesting.
It is pertinent that De Rossi’s men score some goals and bring a positive result for the deciding match in front of their home supporters.
Match Tickets
This UEFA Europa League Quarter-final clash takes place on Thursday, 11 April 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 8 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on both clubs’ websites with allocation guaranteed for season ticket holders while the rest will go on general sale from 15:00 CET on Friday 22 March, upon availability.
Given that over 80,000 people will fill the stands of the San Siro, getting your hands on tickets for this sold-out game is priceless. Both clubs being in the same country makes it even more difficult, hence, we urge supporters looking for AC Milan vs Roma tickets to make their search on a ticket resale site.
Team News
Tommaso Pobega, Pierre Kalulu, and Mike Maignan have fitness doubts while Ismael Bennacer also returned from international duty due to physical discomfort.
Romelu Lukaku is the latest injury doubt for Roma who also have Chris Smalling, Renato Sanches, Rasmus Kristensen, and Paulo Dybala out with injuries. It is yet unsure how many of them would be available for the big European night.
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Line-ups
Milan’s form has been impressive despite the challenge of bedding in new signings and overcoming injuries this term.
Christian Pulisic has been leading the charge for them with 12 goals and eight assists since moving from Chelsea. His attacking talents would be crucial to unsettling the Roma backline.
AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernández; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud.
Romelu Lukaku has scored in four of his five league starts against AC Milan and he could thus be a dangerman during both legs of this tie. Roma hitherto have some attacking firepower about them and they must be ready to hurt Milan.
AS Roma: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.
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Prediction
Both teams have scored in each of the last eight Serie A games between these sides so we are likely to see more of the same. This game may yet be won by which defence comes out on top.
AC Milan must be wary of a motivated Roma snatching the game away in key moments, hence, their experience and mental fortitude is highly needed.
AC Milan 2-1 AS Roma
