Milan vs AS Roma Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Battle of Top-Six Teams Headlining Return to Action in Serie A
In a blockbuster Serie A match, second place AC Milan plays host to Jose Mourinho AS Roma on Thursday. AC Milan is looking to stay in the title race with rivals Inter Milan while Roma is attempting to keep its Champions League hopes alive.
AC Milan, which has been injury-plagued for the majority of the season, is even-money soccer betting favorites at home.
Game: A.C. Milan vs A.S. Roma
Location: Stadio San Siro, Milan, Italy
Date/Time: Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET
| Team | Goal Line | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| AC Milan | -½ (-110) | Ev | 2½ (-135o) | 1½ -115o/-115u |
| Roma | +½ (-110) | +270 | 2½ (+115u) | 1½ +175o/-220u |
| Draw | +270 |
AC Milan vs AS Roma Betting Preview
Head to Head
AC Milan beat Roma 2-1 on Halloween behind goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Franck Kessie.
The Rossoneri are undefeated in their last four matches vs Roma, although they played to a 3-3 draw at the San Siro last season.
AC Milan Lacking Continuity
It is a minor miracle that AC Milan is only four points behind rivals Inter Milan in the Serie A table. AC Milan has dealt with one of the worst injury crises in Europe’s top five leagues and has managed to remain in second place in the league.
Manager Stefano Pioli will lose key center midfielder Franck Kessie for at least the next few weeks as he heads to the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. Midfielder Ismael Bennacer and backup left back Fode Ballo-Toure are also traveling to Cameroon to take part in the tournament.
Just as a trio of players departs, Pioli gets a much needed boost. Right back Davide Calabria, wingers Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all set to return from injury. Milan had a dearth of attacking options the last few months but all of its goal-scoring threats are healthy now.
AC Milan managed a 4-2 win over Empoli in its last match before the Christmas break as Kessie scored twice. However, that doesn’t mean that Milan has been one of the better recent soccer picks. They’ve won just three of their last eight Serie A matches and will hope to stay healthy in the second half.
AS Roma: COVID Concerns
Mourinho’s AS Roma came into the holiday break in sixth place. Prior to a disappointing 1-1 draw vs Sampdoria, Roma picked up their biggest win of the season. The Giallorossi ended Atalanta’s Serie A-leading six-game winning streak with a 4-1 road win.
The last two matches have highlighted the frustrating inconsistency displayed by Roma this season. Roma have had good stretches this season but hasn’t been a recommended pick for sports betting online.
Roma will lose three players to the African Cup of Nations this month. Amadou Diawara, Ebrima Darboe and Felix Afena-Gyan have played under 400 combined minutes in Serie A so it shouldn’t present too much of an issue.
Roma is linked with a loan deal for Arsenal’s versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who would most likely contend for a starting role. In center back Chris Smalling and striker Tammy Abraham, Roma already has an established English pipeline.
Abraham, Roma’s leading scorer, picked up a knock last time out but should be fit to face Milan. Meanwhile, four unnamed Roma players have tested positive for COVID-19 and will sit out on Thursday.
Prediction
Roma is a respectable 1-2-1 vs Italy’s top four this season and is capable of getting a result here, but the COVID issues are key.
AC Milan is getting some important players back, which should bode well for its chances, but losing Kessie is a blow. Roma, with four players out, should have its work cut out for them. This is a great opportunity for Milan to stay in the title race and grab all three points.
Take Milan at -110 in the sportsbook.
Pick: AC Milan (Ev)
