A game against Juventus is always a big occasion and it is made even bigger by the fact that a win on Saturday will push the Bianconeri further down the table and possibly out of the Scudetto race for good. It will also propel the Rossoneri to the pole position in Serie A for at least one day.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are currently second in the table with 17 points from eight matches, although by the time they take to the pitch against the Bianconeri they would slip to third if Inter win against Genoa on Friday evening.
The former Italian and European champions had a tough time against Napoli on Monday and narrowly won 2-1. Their performance wasn’t particularly bad but it wasn’t hugely impressive either especially after they allowed the Azzurri to halve the deficit.
Moreover, Milan will have an eye on next week’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid at San Siro but will need to get things right on Saturday to sustain their league title challenge.
No Krasic, No Problem?
Milos Krasic has been Juventus’ best player so far this season but the Serbia international will be absent from their game against Milan on Saturday. His dive against Bologna in their 0-0 draw that earned his side a penalty (which Vincenzo Iaquinta couldn’t convert) also earned him a two-game suspension and it will now be tough for the Bianconeri without their highly rated winger.
Juve are currently fifth in the league table with 12 points from eight matches and are seven points behind league leaders Lazio. Luigi Del Neri’s side need to win this match or else they face the prospect of going a massive ten points off the pace, meaning that they will be forced to relinquish all remnant hopes of a Scudetto triumph.
The good news for la Vecchia Signora is that they are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions and have showed signs of improvement. Juventus will attempt to continue to march on the road of recovery but it remains to be seen whether the most successful of Italian clubs will be able to do so without Krasic.
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Ronaldinho and Zambrotta are out injured for the Rossoneri, which means that Allegri will opt for a 4-3-1-2 system with Pato and Ibrahimovic as the two strikers with Robinho playing just behind them. Gattuso, Pirlo and Boateng will be the three midfielders with Thiago Silva and Nesta as the two central defenders.
Juventus
Buffon, Traore, Rinaudo, Lanzafame, Grygera, Amauri and Iaquinta are out injured for the Bianconeri. Krasic is suspended for this fixture.
Prediction
This is a difficult game to call and it will be a close encounter. However, Milan will be slight favourites for this fixture as Krasic is out for the visitors and could just about eke out a narrow victory.
Milan 2-1 Juventus 
