No one can doubt Milan's ability and propensity to entertain and thrill this campaign. The Rossoneri have been sensational at times with star striker and mercurial creative mind Zlatan Ibrahimovic weaving his sorcery from time to time, but since the beginning of the new year they appear to be struggling to get the points.
The hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cagliari was followed by a brilliant yet eventually disappointing 4-4 draw with Udinese, and last weekend things went worse as Milan failed to get anything more than a 1-1 draw in Lecce against a side set to suffer relegation at the end of the season.
Now four points clear at the top of the table in Serie A with 41 points from 20 matches, Milan need to start picking up wins. Massimiliano Allegri's side comfortably went through to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Thursday night as they destroyed Bari 3-0 at San Siro and will hope for a similar result against a similarly struggling side.
Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice, Does It?
Cesena were a revelation at the start of the 2010-11 campaign as they went on to reach the pole position in Serie A, albeit for short period of time. En route to that orgasmic moment was the 2-0 humiliation of Italian giants and former European champions Milan in what remains one of the most shocking results of the Serie A season.
Four months fast forward, and the Seahorses will hope for lightning to strike twice. The Rossoneri are not exactly in the best of form result-wise at the moment and this could be the time that Cesena resurrect their campaign by achieving a great result.
It's easier said than done, though, as Massimo Ficcadenti's side have an appalling record on the road, having won once and lost six times in nine away league encounters. With 19 points from 20 matches, Cesena are level on points with third-from-bottom Lecce - time as well as games is running out.
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Boateng, Zambrotta, Inzaghi, Amelia and Pirlo are out injured for the Rossoneri, who are expected to leave Cassano and Pato on the bench and start with Ibrahimovic and Robinho as the two forwards in a 4-3-1-2 formation.
Cesena
Lauro and Nagatomo are out injured for the Seahorses while Giaccherini is suspended. Malonga and Jimenez will be the two attacking midfielders deployed behind striker Bogdani in a 4-3-2-1 system.
Prediction
A win for Milan appears to be the most likely outcome but given that the Rossoneri haven't always looked formidable in the league this month, the Seahorses could make it tough for them if they get an early goal.
Milan 3-0 Cesena 
