After the international break, AC Milan is back in action, and they will have a challenging match against Fiorentina at Stadio Artemio Franchi this evening.
Milan’s recent record in Florence indicates that games there are never simple, but they will be trying to win their sixth straight in all competitions, which would demonstrate their recent upswing in form.
The match between Nicolas Gonzalez and Alessandro Florenzi on Milan’s right defense is the first of several crucial encounters that will determine the result of the match.
Gonzalez will be confident in his chances against a temporary left-back on Saturday night, as Milan will not be fielding him on his preferred side. He’s already scored ten goals this season, although he may not be as focused as usual because he recently played for Argentina.
Andrea Belotti is another player the Rossoneri need to be mindful of. He has played against Milan more times than any other team in his career, but he has six goals to show for it, and he will try to build on that to help his team’s chances of qualifying for Europe at the end of the year.
The Italian striker is expected to be picked up by Fikayo Tomori, who is hoping to build on his recent success and make a case for a spot in the England squad for the European Championships after returning from a serious injury.
Mikko Milenkovic will face Olivier Giroud on the opposite end. This week, Giroud’s desire to leave the club with a bang has been the subject of numerous stories. He will try to snap his four-game scoring drought in the league, which began on February 18 against Monza-Milan (4–2).
In contrast, Milenkovic has spent more than five years in Serie A despite having connections to several elite teams, including Milan. Should he come off the bench, a brawl with his countryman Luka Jovic might also break out.
There will be an intriguing midfield battle between Arthur Melo and Tijjani Reijnders. After performing brilliantly for the Netherlands over the international break, Reijnders will be brimming with confidence. He’ll partner with Ismael Bennacer as they continue to develop synergy.
But after a challenging few seasons, Arthur has found his game again, and the Brazilian has cemented a position in Vincenzo Italiano’s 4-2-3-1 system as the double pivot. As such, both players will need to contribute in every phase.
Finally, we have what could be the most exciting matchup of all, pitting Rafael Leao against Michael Kayode on Milan’s left flank. Although Kayode is considered one of the league’s top young full-backs, this could be the most difficult test he has faced.
Leao has proven to be a true triple threat in 2024 as he can still outmuscle his opponent when dribbling, provide an assist, and score goals. It’s excellent if he feels joyous against Kayode news for Milan.
