Manager Gennaro Gattuso must lead his team to victory on Sunday at SPAL to have any hope of making the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14. The Rossoneri also need Atalanta or Inter Milan to slip up and drop points on the final day.
AC Milan are one point behind both Atalanta and Inter Milan. There will be drama around Italy on Sunday night as the three clubs battle for the final two Champions League qualification places.
SPAL won’t roll over for AC Milan at the Stadio Paolo Mazza. Despite losing back to back matches, SPAL have put together another respectable season in the Italian top flight. SPAL are currently 11th but could move up to 10th with a victory against the Rossoneri.
Since SPAL returned to Serie A in 2017, they have failed to beat AC Milan in all three encounters. AC Milan have won all three matches by a combined score of 8-1.
The Rossoneri’s last trip to the Stadio Paolo Mazza ended in a 4-0 win in February 2018. Gattuso will hope his squad can achieve a similar victory on Sunday.
SPAL have claimed 22 of their 42 points at home while AC Milan have only taken 25 of 65 points on their travels. Away form has been AC Milan’s biggest downfall and it could be the reason they miss out on Champions League football once more.
Striker Krzysztof Piatek arrived at AC Milan in January from Genoa. He has since scored nine goals for the club and goes into the final day as its leading scorer.
Piatek scored last week against Frosinone in AC Milan’s 2-0 victory. It was Piatek’s first goal in six games for the Rossoneri.
SPAL have found their own top goal scorer courtesy of striker Andrea Petagna. The Italian has bagged 16 goals which is his best single season tally. Petagna is a former AC Milan player, but only played four times at the club.
AC Milan will be without Lucas Paqueta due to suspension while Davide Calabria and Mattia Caldara are sidelined with knee injuries.
SPAL’s Vasco Regini and Simone Missiroli are recovering from knee and rib injuries, respectively. They could be past fit in time for AC Milan’s arrival.
The Rossoneri should be pushed the entire game by SPAL, but Gattuso’s men will prevail thanks to their quality. Just like their previous game this season, Sunday night’s fixture should finish 2-1 with AC Milan coming out on top.
Piatek and Petagna could light up the night at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in a must-win game for AC Milan.