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It is a new look AC Milan both on and off the pitch as the Rossoneri look to mount a serious and sustained Serie A title challenge. What they hope will be a title charge begins with a home game against another side beginning a new era in Torino.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports OR Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ OR Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+
AC MILAN PREVIEW: RECREATING THE ROSSONERI
Despite what appeared to be a relatively successful period, at least in relative terms when comparing to the last decade and a half or so, AC Milan decided to part company with Stefano Pioli in the summer due to some quite aggressive reactions to performances from the Rossoneri supporters.
Pioli has been replaced by Paulo Fonseca, who produced a proactive and interesting Lille side last summer. Under the ownership of RedBird Capital Partners, Milan have continued their quite impressive and wide ranging transfer policy with the arrivals of Alvaro Morata, Strahinja Pavlovic and Emerson Royal.
TORINO PREVIEW: NEW LOOK TORINO
Under the management of Hellas Verona boss Ivan Juric, Torino were supposedly one of the easiest on the eye teams to watch in Serie A last season but the Piedmont-based club regularly underwhelmed with just 36 goals scored and 36 goals conceded in their 38 matches as they finished ninth last season.
The Bull have decided to replace Juric this summer, with his departure announced before the end of the last campaign, with Paolo Vanoli coming in, who led Venezia to promotion from Serie B last season. The former Italy U16, U18 and U19 coach is an exciting coach with attacking principles in his football.
AC MILAN TEAM NEWS: FINDING PAULO FONSECA’S FORMULA
The interesting thing about this weekend will be seeing how AC Milan find a balance in midfield with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders representing quite an exciting group.
They are missing some key players for this weekend, though, with new signing Strahinja Pavlovic a doubt, whilst experienced Alessandro Florenzi is likely to be unavailable until the spring.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Jovic
UNAVAILABLE: Sportiello (Injured), Florenzi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Pavlovic (Injured)
TORINO TEAM NEWS: DEALING WITH INJURIES
With what is expected to be a new look and much more entertaining Torino side, they are still dealing with injury issues. For example, defender Perr Schuurs and striker Pietro Pellegri are sidelined.
Croatia international Nikola Vlasic missed UEFA EURO 2024 with injury and he is still unavailable but new signing Che Adams could make his Serie A debut this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Saul Coco, Masina; Bellanova, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Lazaro; Duvan Zapata, Tonny Sanabria
UNAVAILABLE: Schuurs (Injured), Gineitis (Injured), Vlasic (Injured), Pellegri (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AC MILAN VS TORINO PREDICTION
Paulo Fonseca’s AC Milan will look to get on the front foot at San Siro this weekend with his style of football being quite dominant on the ball. The Rossoneri have an abundance of technical talent well suited to his game. Torino are expected to play that similar possession-based style with hopefully more effectiveness this time around but the likelihood is that Milan edge out Torino in what could actually end up being quite a stale game in which teams cancel each other out.
AC MILAN VS TORINO TIP: AC MILAN TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS