AC Milan vs Spezia

AC Milan will be looking to leapfrog Inter Milan at the Serie A summit when they take on relegation-battling Spezia at the Stadio San Siro.

Milan overcame Genoa in midweek Coppa America action, coming from a 1-0 HT deficit to claim a 3-1 extra-time win and progress to the competition’s quarter-finals. Additionally, ‘I Rossoneri’ have won their last three Serie A matches in a row, scoring 3+ goals on each occasion as they face the prospect of netting over 2.5 goals in four consecutive top-flight games for the first time since November 2011. Stefano Pioli’s men have been ruthless against sides currently languishing in the bottom half of the table, having won ten of their last 11 such Serie A fixtures (D1), with no other Italian team amassing more points against such opponents this season (31). Interestingly, despite winning two of their three top-flight meetings with Spezia (L1), Milan have failed to score before half-time on each occasion.

In the meantime, Spezia eked out a 1-0 victory at fellow relegation strugglers Genoa last time out, making it two successive Serie A away triumphs on the trot. Curiously, Thiago Motta’s men have won their last two top-flight away games without conceding after keeping just three clean sheets in their first 28 travels in the competition beforehand. Despite their underdog status here, Spezia can draw confidence from going unbeaten in three of their five Serie A meetings with sides starting a matchday inside the top two (W2, D1, L2). But to improve that record, the visitors will have to avoid conceding first at the San Siro, considering they’ve lost ten of 11 Serie A games when falling behind this season (W1), including all five on the road.