AC Milan vs AS Roma: Coppa Italia Quarter-Final Preview
Date: February 5, 2025 | Venue: San Siro | Kick-off: 21:00 CET
The Coppa Italia quarter-finals will witness a thrilling clash between **AC Milan** and **AS Roma** at San Siro, as both teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals. With a rich history of competitive encounters and high stakes, this match promises drama and tactical intrigue.
—
Build-Up and Context
AC Milan, under manager Sergio Conceição, enters the match after a chaotic Serie A derby against Inter Milan, where they conceded a stoppage-time equalizer. Despite domestic inconsistency, the Rossoneri have shown resilience in cup competitions, recently lifting the Supercoppa Italiana and defeating Sassuolo 6-1 in the Coppa Italia’s last round . Their focus now shifts to securing a semi-final berth for the first time since 2022.
AS Roma, managed by Claudio Ranieri, arrives with renewed confidence. The Giallorossi are unbeaten in seven Serie A matches, including a hard-fought 1-1 draw against league leaders Napoli. Their Coppa Italia journey includes a 4-1 thrashing of Sampdoria, highlighted by Artem Dovbyk’s brace . Roma aim to overcome their poor away form and advance further in the competition.
—
Team News and Lineups
AC Milan Injuries and Tactics:
– Key Absences: Alessandro Florenzi (cruciate ligament), Emerson Royal (calf), and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (muscular injury) are sidelined .
– Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlović, Hernández; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leão; Abraham .
– Players to Watch: Rafael Leão’s pace and Tijjani Reijnders’ midfield creativity will be crucial. New signing Santiago Gimenez could feature as a late-game impact substitute .
AS Roma Adjustments:
– Suspension: Gianluca Mancini (central defender) is suspended, likely replaced by Mats Hummels .
– Predicted XI (4-3-3)**: Svilar; Rensch, Hummels, Ndicka, Angeliño; Cristante, Koné, Pisilli; Dybala, Dovbyk, El Shaarawy .
– Players to Watch**: Paulo Dybala, with 10 career goals against Milan, and Artem Dovbyk, in fine scoring form, pose significant threats .
—
Tactical Battleground
1. **Milan’s Home Advantage**: San Siro’s atmosphere has propelled Milan’s early goal-scoring trends, with goals often coming within the first 13 minutes .
2. **Roma’s Counter-Attacking Threat**: Roma’s improved defensive organization under Ranieri, combined with Dybala’s creativity, could exploit Milan’s injury-hit backline .
3. **Midfield Duel**: Yunus Musah and Youssouf Fofana must dominate Roma’s trio of Koné, Cristante, and Pisilli to control the game’s tempo .
—
Key Stats and Trends
– **Head-to-Head**: In 70 meetings, Milan edge Roma with 25 wins to 22. However, Roma are unbeaten in their last three encounters .
– **Goals Galore**: Both teams scored in 10 of their last 11 clashes, making “BTTS – Yes” a popular betting tip .
– **Milan’s Cup Pedigree**: The Rossoneri have won 24 Coppa Italia semi-final appearances, second only to Juventus and Inter .
—
Predictions
– **Scoreline**: Experts lean toward a narrow **2-1 Milan victory**, citing their home strength and Roma’s defensive vulnerabilities .
– **Safe Bet**: “Both Teams to Score” (BTTS – Yes) is highly recommended, given historical trends .
– **Wildcard Factor**: If Roma’s Dybala starts, his experience in big games could tilt the balance .
—
Conclusion
This quarter-final clash epitomizes the essence of cup football: unpredictability, intensity, and moments of individual brilliance. For Milan, it’s a chance to salvage a turbulent season with silverware; for Roma, an opportunity to defy their away struggles under Ranieri’s resurgence. With both teams prioritizing attack, fans can expect a spectacle filled with drama and decisive moments.
Predicted Outcome: AC Milan 2–1 AS Roma .