GENOA
Frey
Bovo, Portanova, Morretti
Pisano, Rigoni, Tozser, Vargas, Antonelli
Bertolacci
Borriello
AC MILAN
Abbiati
Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant
Flamini, Ambrosini, Montolivo
Boateng, Balotelli, El Shaarawy
Four years ago AC Milan supporters wouldn’t have been allowed to travel to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. In 1995, a Genoa fan was stabbed to death by Milan ultras outside this stadium, and it was only in 2010 that the ban on away fans was lifted.
Both sets of ultras would do well to keep their team’s targets in mind when this match kicks off on Friday. AC Milan are just five points behind Napoli ahead of the 28th round of fixtures and Genoa are fighting to stay above the relegation zone.
Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has as close to a full squad as he could hope to have this late in the season, with only defender Didac Vila and midfielder Nigel de Jong out injured.
Philippe Mexes returns from suspension and will start in the centre of defence for the Rossoneri, who will no doubt have one eye on next week’s Champions League match away to Barcelona.
Genoa, who lost 3-1 to Roma the last time out, will be missing striker Antonio Floro Flores, who has a muscle problem, and midfielders Marco Rossi and Ruben Olivera will both miss out due to calf strains.
Enis Nadarevic is injured as well, and while Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem returns from suspension he has been experiencing muscle problems and could miss out. Midfielder Juraj Kucka is suspended.
DID YOU KNOW?
AC Milan have posted the best record in Serie A since the last time they faced Genoa - an October 27 match that ended 1-0 in favour of the Rossoneri.
Milan have not lost in Serie A this calendar year, and their only defeat in 2013 in all competitions came against Juventus in the Coppa Italia.
Giampaolo Pazzini’s brace in Milan’s 3-0 win over Lazio last weekend took him to 12 Serie A goals on the season. He and Stephan El Shaarawy have combined for 26 tallies so far this season. The next-highest goalscorer for the Rossoneri is Mario Balotelli, with four.
Genoa have won just three times in Serie A since the end of November - a stretch of 13 matches that now has them fourth-from-bottom in the division.
Striker Marco Borriello, who represented Milan between 2008 and 2010, is Genoa’s highest scorer this season with eight goals.
Genoa last beat Milan in 2010 and have since taken just one of a possible 15 points from the Rossoneri.
Prediction
Milan are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment and a struggling team just trying to keep its head above water is unlikely to get in the way. There will be fireworks (literally) during this one—the history of the fixture almost requires it—but on the field the Rossoneri shouldn’t have much trouble defeating their hosts.
Editor's Prediction
Genoa 0-2 Milan
