07 October 2022
Juventus make the short journey from Turin to Milan to face the defending Serie A championson Saturday.
The Rossoneri sit in equal fifth place in the standings on 17 points, three points behind Atalanta and Napoli. In fact, five of the seven points dropped so far this season have come against the joint leaders following a 1-1 draw in Bergamo on Matchday 2 and a 2-1 defeat at home to the Partenopei on Matchday 7.
CURRENT FORM
Milan suffered a second defeat in their last three outings in midweek at Chelsea in the Champions League. That said, the Rossoneri collected a 3-1 win at Empoli last weekend cancelling out a stoppage time equaliser by the Tuscans with a further two goals of their own after the 90th minute.
One of four teams yet to lose a point once having taken the lead, having won all five matches in which they have scored first, they are second only to Udinese in terms of points recouped from a losing position, claiming seven points in matches in which they have been trailing.
The side's attacked-minded approach is reflected in their being the team that boasts the highest number of attacking recoveries over the last two Serie A seasons and one of two teams, together with Lazio, to have scored at least 10 goals from this type of action.
Overall Milan have scored 11 goals from counter-attacks since the start of last season in Serie A, including Rafael Leão's against Empoli - in fact, on the break the Rossoneri have scored more goals than any other side in Europe's top-five leagues.
I believe that there are two or three games that weigh more than the three points on offer and tomorrow is one of them. Stefano Pioli, Milan Coach
THE COACH | STEFANO PIOLI
A squad member of the all-conquering Juventus side of 1984-85 - the first of his three years as a Bianconero - Stefano Pioli won his first title as coach last season, 16 years since making his debut in the dug-out in Serie A.
His coaching journey started out at youth level at Bologna before stepping up to the top flight at his home town club, Parma, in 2006. Before taking over at Milan he had most recently coached Lazio, Inter and Fiorentina.
Considering Juve, Pioli has lost 12 games as coach against the Bianconeri in Serie A, more than against any other opponent, but has remained undefeated in four of the five most recent matches against his former club.
THE PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR | RAFAEL LEÃO
Voted Serie A's Most Valuable Player last season because of his contribution to Milan's title success, which ended a run of 11 years without the Scudetto, Rafael Leão is key to the team's fast-paced counter-attacking play.
With 11 goals and 11 assists, the Portugal international is the player that has taken part in the highest number goals in 2022 in Serie A and is the only player this season to have scored at least four goals and directly set up at least four more. Furthermore, only Inter's Lautaro Martinez has attempted more shots than Rafael Leão's 29 this campaign.
Before the 0-0 match in January this year, Rafael Leão had participated in a goal in each of his first two appearances against Juventus at San Siro in the league, scoring in July 2020 and providing as assist in January 2021.
