Preview: Salernitana vs. AC Milan – team news, lineups, prediction, live stream

Salernitana have won four, drawn five and lost six of their 15 Serie A matches this season to collect 17 points, which has left them in 12th position in the table heading into the first set of fixtures at the start of 2023.

As a result, it has been a successful campaign to date, with the team sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone, but they have lost their last two in the league to Fiorentina and Monza.

Salernitana suffered a 2-0 loss to Milan at San Siro last season, but they secured a point in a 2-2 draw when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match.

The Red and Blacks are currently second in the table, boasting 33 points from their 15 league matches courtesy of a record of 10 wins, three draws and two defeats.

Stefano Pioli’s side won the title last season, finishing two points ahead of second-placed Inter Milan, but they have a serious fight on their hands to retain the championship this term.

Milan only have the fifth-best away record in Serie A this season, dropping points in four of their seven matches, while they will be taking on a Salernitana outfit that have lost just two of their seven games in front of their own supporters.

Salernitana will again be without the services of Pasquale Mazzocchi due to a knee injury, while Norbert Gyomber remains a doubt for the home side due to a hamstring issue.

Boulaye Dia is the team’s leading goalscorer in Serie A this season with six, and the 26-year-old will again operate in the final third of the field for the hosts.

There are unlikely to be any major surprises in the Salernitana XI, but Nicola’s side will have to do without Antonio Candreva following his red card against Monza last time out.

As for Milan, Fode Ballo-Toure, Ante Rebic, Divock Origi, Alessandro Florenzi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain on the sidelines through injury.

Meanwhile, Junior Messias and Mike Maignan are unlikely to be available for selection.

Milan had two players involved in the final of the 2022 World Cup in the shape of Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud, and the duo are expected to be in the starting XI here.

Meanwhile, there should be another start for Rafael Leao, who has scored six goals and registered five assists in 14 Serie A appearances during the 2022-23 campaign.