AC Milan vs Torino Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle & Prediction
Vincenzo Montella's side are currently struggling to sustain any real reign of form as they vie for that elusive 19th Serie A title.
The red half of Milan currently sit in seventh - 16 points off table-toppers Napoli - and are coming into the San Siro clash on the back of a disappointing league defeat to Maurizio Sarri's side.
However, the Rossoneri will be buoyed by their latest Europa League outing in which they trumped FK Austria Wien 5-1.
Torino come into the game in torrid form, having only managed one win in their last eight league appearances.
Siniša Mihajlović will hope that his outfit can turn their fortunes around with a win at the San Siro on Sunday, taking Milan's league position in the table in the process - currently sitting a point behind in eighth.
Classic Encounter
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These two sides aren't strangers to a topsy-turvy affair, but their five goal thriller in August of last campaign at the San Siro was an instant classic.
Carlos Bacca got the home side off to a decent start, netting in the 38th minute after a nice assist from veteran right-back Abate. Torino then found a way back in the game through talisman Belotti - equalising three minutes after the half-time interval.
Bacca then took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored two goals in under 15 minutes, completing his hat trick and giving Milan a commanding lead. Torino refused to cave in though and admirably scored a further consolation through Daniele Baselli in added time.
Key Battle
Leonardo Bonnuci vs Andrea Belotti
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Torino have struggled to score goals this campaign, having netted as few as four goals in their last five league games.
The break-out star of 2016 in Serie A was undoubtedly Andrea Belotti. Having scored 26 league goals last campaign, Mihajlović's star-man was expected to once again light Italy on fire, but the stars haven't aligned for the brawny forward as of yet.
If Torino are to come away from the San Siro with three points, the striker will have to be firing on all cylinders, as Torino are half the side when he doesn't show.
Having scored as few as three league goals in ten league games this season, it will take a serious change in fortunes for the 23-year-old to seriously impact the game.
If Milan's star stalwart Leonardo Bonnuci can diminish his fellow Italian's attacking output, its likely Milan will come away on Saturday with three points - having the personnel to hurt Torino in attacking areas.
Team News
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Milan star midfielder Suso, could be set to miss the clash after injuring his back in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Napoli.
As reported by Calcio Mercato, Suso trained on Monday separately from his fellow teammates, in order to protect his back from further injury.
Bonucci is considered somewhat doubtful, having been substituted in Thursday's Europa League match through a slight knock.
Torino's first choice left-back Antonio Barreca, is likely to miss the match, having sustained a currently-unknown injury, that has kept him from playing a part in Torino's last two outings.
Predicted Line-ups:
AC Milan: Donnarumma, Zapata, Bonnuci, Rodriguez, Borini, Kessie, Biglia, Calabria, Calhanoglu, Kalinic, Silva
Torino: Sirigu, De Silvestri, N'Koulou, Burdisso, Ansaldi, Obi, Rincon, Baselli, Falque, Belotti, Ljajic
Prediction
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Both sides are separated by a single point in the table and on paper it looks like an evenly matched contest.
However, with the match taking place at the San Siro and with Milan's recent five goal rout in Europe, it looks as though they're the side more capable of scoring goals on the day.
Belotti's lack of form is seriously hindering the side, whilst the defence has been unable to keep a clean sheet in ten matches.
AC Milan 3-1 Torino
