Two of this season's title chasers, AS Roma and AC Milan, will lock horns on Monday in what could prove to be a season defining fixture for both sides. Luciano Spalletti's men cruised to a rather comfortable 2-0 win over arch-rivals Lazio last week, as second half goals from Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan handed the Giallorossi a fully deserved victory. 

 

Vincenzo Montella’s Milan on the other hand, struggled to a close out a 2-1 triumph over relegation threatened Crotone, who had given the Rossoneri plenty to think about throughout the encounter. The game required Gianluca Lapadula to score a late winner to hand Milan the win after a disappointing encounter. 

 

While the season has been a rather encouraging one for the rossoneri, Roma have gone about their business very discreetly. Despite that, they are only level on points with Montella’s men, who will look to close the gap on table topping Juventus, who beat Torino in the Turin Derby on Sunday afternoon. 

 

It seems as if Montella’s decision to drop Giacomo Bonaventura could well pay off as the Italian is on his way back to full fitness, after being absent for the Crotone game last weekend. Juraj Kucka will be missing due to a yellow card suspension after he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Davide Nicola's side. The Slovakian midfielder featured for just a single minute but still managed to receive a caution from the referee. 

 

As far as Roma are concerned, Leandro Paredes is still a big doubt for the game as he is currently nursing a distorted ankle. The big absentee for Spalletti’s men will be the injured Mo Salah. The Egyptian striker may be available for next weekend’s trip to Turin to face Juventus. Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman managed to get a two-game ban overturned last week after he had squirted water on Lazio’s Danilo Catadli during Roma’s 2-0 win over their rivals last week before faking injury when contact was made with the back of his shirt.

 

 

AS Roma: Szczesny; Rudiger, Manolas, Fazio, Peres; Strootman, De Rossi; Nainggolan, Perotti, El-Shaarawy; Dzeko

 

AC Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Bonaventura; Suso, Lapadula, Niang ​


Kaustubh Pandey @TheFootyMad