AC Milan kick off the Serie A campaign hosting Torino at the iconic San Siro on Saturday night, marking the beginning of Paulo Fonseca’s tenure at the club.
Recent Form and Context
Milan enter the match with a wave of optimism following a successful pre-season, where they secured victories against top teams such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. They also retained the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy against Monza, showcasing their readiness for the new season. However, Fonseca has emphasized the importance of translating these friendly results into league success, making this opening match crucial.
Torino, on the other hand, finished ninth last season and made a significant change in management by appointing Paolo Vanoli, who previously led Venezia to promotion. Despite a promising start, Torino face challenges, including injuries to key players like Alessandro Buongiorno and Perr Schuurs, which could impact their defensive solidity.
Team News
AC Milan will be looking to build on their strong form, but they will be without Samuel Chukwueze and Ruben Loftus-Cheek due to injuries. Additionally, defender Matteo Gabbia is suspended, which could disrupt their defensive lineup. Milan is expected to field a strong team, likely in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Olivier Giroud leading the attack after scoring in their season opener against Bologna.
Torino will likely adopt a 3-5-2 formation, with Milinkovic-Savic in goal and a back three consisting of Vojvoda, Lovato, and Masina. The absence of key defenders will force Vanoli to rely on converted full-backs, which could be a significant vulnerability against Milan’s attacking prowess.
Tactical Battle
Milan are expected to dominate possession, utilizing their attacking midfielders to create chances for new striker Alvaro Morata and the wingers. The Rossoneri will look to exploit any gaps in Torino’s defence, especially given the latter’s injury woes. Conversely, Torino will aim to defend resolutely and hit Milan on the counter-attack, relying on the pace of players like Sanabria and Zapata.
Prediction
Given Milan’s strong pre-season form and their historical advantage at home against Torino, they are favoured to win this match. Torino’s defensive challenges, combined with Milan’s attacking depth, suggest a potential scoreline of 2-0 in favour of the hosts. However, as always in football, anything can happen, especially in the opening match of the season.
