Sassuolo vs Milan Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
Two of Serie A's most scintillating form teams in Sassuolo and AC Milan face off on Tuesday in what will be the former's last realistic chance to challenge for Europa League football.
Roberto de Zerbi's Neroverdi had been nothing short of red hot since the resumption Italy's top flight, but recent disappointments against Juventus and Cagliari have damaged their sudden European push.
Meanwhile, Milan have been rolling back the years in recent games, with Stefano Pioli ignoring the not-so-subtle rumours suggesting Ralf Rangnick is the current gaffer-in-waiting in the red half of Milan to get his charges playing some spectacular stuff.
The Rossoneri are not quite assured of a European berth yet, and Rangnick or no Rangnick, Pioli will have to do the business on Tuesday lest Milan suffer a nail-biting conclusion to the season.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? Tuesday 21 July
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:45 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Mapei Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Premier 1
Team News
Sassuolo, as well as being without the suspended Gian Marco Ferrari, have a number of injuries to work around. Pedro Obiang is out with a groin strain and is joined on the treatment table by Grégoire Defrel, who has been out with muscle problems, while Filippo Romagna will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery in March.
It is not certain whether Jeremy Toljan will take part after the former Hoffenheim man incurred muscular problems of his own.
AC Milan have no suspensions to contend with and at present only a reasonably short list of injuries. Leo Duarte and Mateo Musacchio remain sidelined with their respective hamstring and ankle problems, while Samu Castillejo is not quite ready to return from a hamstring injury.
Predicted Lineups
Sassuolo: Consigli; Muldur, Marlon, Peluso, Kyriakopoulos; Magnanelli, Locatelli; Berardi, Đuričić, Boga; Caputo.
Milan: Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessié, Bennacer; Calhanoglu, Bonaventura, Leao; Rebic.
Recent Form
Both sides have been among the best performers in the whole of Serie A in the post-suspension period, playing with great consistency to change the outlook of their respective seasons.
Sassuolo were lying in 11th before the restart, but have since put together an eight-game unbeaten run to make European football a distinct possibility. Their biggest obstacles? Napoli, who in winning the Coppa Italia have reduced the number of Europa League spots in Serie A to just two, and themselves, having dropped points from winning positions against Juventus and Cagliari in their last two games.
AC Milan, fans of coincidences will note, have put together an eight-game unbeaten streak of their own, and although Champions League football is probably out of the question, they can at least play for the honour of overtaking fifth-placed Roma, who looked out of sight before Serie A was halted.
Prediction
Not much has separated these two teams since Serie A got back underway, with both looking near unstoppable at the moment, but perhaps something has got to give on Tuesday.
Could it be that the experience and nous of a Rossoneri side which can count on several seasoned internationals tells on the day? Sassuolo's recent matches have certainly suggested that they could be losing their nerve in a European race where every point will count.
Expect Pioli to show the Milan hierachy that he has one last ace up his sleeve with a wily away win in Emilia-Romagna against a swashbuckling Sassuolo side.
Prediction: Sassuolo 2-3 Milan