Nearing the end of a sub-par Serie A campaign, AC Milan visit mid-table Genoa on Monday evening, aiming to post a fourth away win on the spin.
Almost out of the hunt for a top-six finish, Milan's focus is on the upcoming Coppa Italia final; meanwhile, their hosts have little left to play for.
Match preview
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Flying high following their superb derby win days earlier, Milan took that momentum into Serie A last Sunday, when they visited Venezia at Stadio Penzo.
The Rossoneri - who had just booked a place in the cup final by beating city rivals Inter Milan - struck after five minutes through Christian Pulisic, and substitute Santiago Gimenez then sealed the deal in second-half stoppage time.
As a result, Milan have won their last three away games without conceding, and they will now attempt to reach four in a row for the first time in over a year.
Lying only ninth in the standings, Sergio Conceicao's side have all but given up on European qualification through Serie A, instead placing all their chips on beating Bologna at Stadio Olimpico later this month.
In fact, Milan face a double-header with the Emilian club - meeting in the league, then for the cup final in Rome - but they must first visit Marassi.
Having won on five of their last six trips to Genoa, keeping four clean sheets, history suggests they can expect to build more momentum on Monday.
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All told, Genoa have managed just one win in their last 14 league games against Milan. Yet, they have drawn the last two contests - 3-3 and then 0-0 at San Siro.
Effectively safe from relegation for some weeks now, the Grifone are currently coasting towards the end of a campaign that started slowly but has improved since the arrival of head coach Patrick Vieira.
The former France midfielder - whose first taste of Italian football came with a move to Milan early in his illustrious playing career - took Genoa to within touching distance of the top half before a recent downturn.
Beaten 1-0 by fellow top-10 contenders Como last time out, the Ligurian club have lost their last two matches and have failed to score in their last three.
Only Parma had fewer shots than Genoa (29) throughout April - a month when they scored just one goal - so Vieira will hope his side finds their spark before the end of the season.
Team News
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Though Emerson Royal is back in training after a three-month layoff, Milan will be missing several men on Monday - and there is some doubt surrounding Luka Jovic.
Recently recalled from the wilderness to spearhead a new 3-4-3 formation, the Serbian striker is struggling with a back injury - and Tammy Abraham has been ruled out by a thigh problem - so Santiago Gimenez remains on standby to start.
January signings Riccardo Sottil and Warren Bondo are also sidelined, the latter with an ankle injury.
Having hit double figures for Serie A goals this season, Christian Pulisic should join Rafael Leao in the final third again. The USA international scored the only goal on his last trip to Stadio Luigi Ferraris, back in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Genoa's main man Andrea Pinamonti has not found the net for nine league games. That run represents his longest drought in a single season since the 2019-20 campaign, but he will still start up front - possibly supported by ex-Milan man Junior Messias.
The hosts' absence list features Maxwel Cornet, Caleb Ekuban, Hugo Cuenca, Jean Onana, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Fabio Miretti, the latter of whom recently had his season ended by a shoulder injury.
After being sent off on his full debut against Lazio last month, Danish defender Sebastian Otoa can now be recalled after serving a suspension.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Norton-Cuffy, De Winter, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Masini, Thorsby; Messias, Pinamonti, Vitinha
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Gimenez, Leao
We say: Genoa 1-2 AC Milan
While Genoa have only lost once at home this calendar year, they have been below their best in recent weeks and have little left to motivate them.
Since switching formation, Milan have a new lease of life. So, amid competition for places in the cup final XI, they should produce a match-winning performance at Marassi.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
