AC Milan will face Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Saturday, February 22, for Matchday 26 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season. With both teams eager for points, the match promises to be intense.
For Milan, recent results have been troubling, especially after their exit from the Champions League at the hands of Feyenoord, following a 1-1 aggregate draw. The Rossoneri's poor performance led to significant scrutiny, placing intense pressure on head coach Sergio Conceicao to deliver positive results.
Before facing Torino, Milan has won their last two league matches, showcasing resilience, particularly after sacking former coach Paulo Fonseca. Since then, Conceicao has led the team to four wins out of seven Serie A matches, but the team's quest for the Champions League spots remains tenuous, sitting five points behind fourth-placed Juventus.
Torino, on the other hand, has had its struggles as well. After losing 3-2 to Bologna last weekend, the Granata finds themselves almost mid-table, with pressure mounting to avoid slipping closer to the relegation zone. Coach Paolo Vanoli’s squad has struggled to accumulate points consistently, with their last three league games yielding two draws and one loss.
The kick-off for the Torino vs AC Milan match is set for 2:45 PM ET, and fans can watch the clash live on multiple streaming services, including Fubo, CBS Sports Golazo Network, and Paramount+. The game is located within the larger framework of Serie A, where every point counts significantly as the season approaches its climax.
Historically, Torino tends to present difficult challenges for Milan. Despite Torino's relatively underwhelming form, they have won their last two home encounters against the Rossoneri. This is the first time Torino has the chance to win three consecutive home matches against Milan since the late 1970s.
Torino's recent home form offers some encouragement; they have not lost any of their last four Serie A games at home, achieving one win and three draws. Notably, the team has managed to contain their opponents to just one goal or fewer on three occasions during this run, indicating defensiveness and strategic gameplay.
Milan's last away win against Torino came with a hefty 7-0 result back in May 2021, but assessing recent meetings, the Rossoneri have only one victory out of their recent eleven away matches at Torino. History seems to hint at another tightly contested encounter.
Both coaches have injury concerns heading to this clash. Torino's list includes Duvan Zapata, Perr Schuurs, Adrien Tameze, and Alieu Njie, alongside Adam Masina, who is serving suspension. Conversely, Milan will be without long-term injured players Alessandro Florenzi, Emerson Royal, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. New signing Kyle Walker has also been ruled out due to injury, with Alejandro Jimenez expected to step up as his replacement.
For the match, Torino is expected to field their established 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Vanja Milinković-Savić as their goalkeeper. Their backline includes some key names along with returning midfielder Samuele Ricci following his suspension.
Milan will likely stick to their own 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to deploy their dynamic attacking quartet, which includes the likes of Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, and Christian Pulisic.
The stakes are high for both teams. For Milan, anything short of three points could significantly undermine their top-four aspirations, creating even more tension around the club. On the other hand, Torino will need points to stave off the risk of finishing the season among the lower ranks, which could damage the club’s standing and morale significantly.
Fans eagerly anticipate how the players will respond under pressure, and Saturday’s match is set to be nothing short of thrilling as two Serie A sides fight for momentum.