SALERNITANA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

52 days later, Serie A returns. From Fiorentina at San Siro to Salernitana at the Arechi, from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023. The trip to Salerno is an important crossroads for the Rossoneri's restart, eager to win and start again strongly. Anticipation, emotions, the stadium, the pitch. In the Match Preview we analyse in detail our first official engagement of the year after the break.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan resume their journey, halted since the 2-1 win at San Siro over Fiorentina, which put them alone in second place. The long World Cup break and the work done between Dubai and Milanello saw the return of some important players, just as the Rossoneri needed the friendlies played against Arsenal, Liverpool and PSV to regain their condition. Ahead of the fixture in Salerno, Ballo-Touré, who came off injured in the friendly in Eindhoven, Rebić and Kjær have been added to the list of unavailable players in recent days. In goal, Tătărușanu is confirmed in the XI, the defensive line should benefit from the return of Hernández on the left and captain Calabria on the opposite flank. On the wings there will be space for Leão and Saelemaekers. Still in doubt: Origi out and Giroud still not at his best after his efforts at the World Cup, but there could be room for a surprise forward, with Díaz likely to return to the Rossoneri's classic 4-2-3-1 formation.

"In Salerno we will begin the second half of a special season, and it will be important to start well," said Stefano Pioli in his press conference. "We will give our all against Salernitana, we want to take the field with determination. They have caused problems for many teams and have many more points than last year."

LATEST FROM SALERNITANA
Salernitana host AC Milan and will look to put their home advantage to good use. At home, the Granata have picked up 11 of their 17 points in the league. The break has come at a difficult time for the Campania side, who went winless in their three matches in November. Against the Rossoneri, Nicola will have to do without Candreva - suspended - and Mazzocchi, who will be replaced by Bradarić and Sambia on the flanks. The Granata coach should also rely on the tried-and-tested 3-5-2 with the pair formed by ex-Milanista Piątek and Senegalese forward Dia. Captain Fazio will lead the defence, with the potential debut of Mexican Ochoa between the posts.

"During this long break we have worked intensively, now there is a curiosity and desire to get back to work," Davide Nicola said on the eve of the match. "Tomorrow we will face the reigning Italian champions, we have prepared ourselves with patience and perseverance. AC Milan will turn up with the ability to hold their own from an athletic, organisational and dribbling point of view. We must try to play our game by limiting their strengths".

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Francesco Fourneau will referee the challenge at the Arechi. The 38-year-old Rome-born official will referee his 31st Serie A match, his third for AC Milan. The Rossoneri and Granata are still winless under his direction - two draws for AC Milan - and their last previous meeting was in Udine on 11 December 2021, which ended 1-1. Completing the refereeing team are assistants Del Giovane and De Meo, Pezzuto the fourth official. Mariani on VAR, assisted by Manganiello.

Matchday 16 of Serie A will be played in its entirety on Wednesday 4 January: at 12.30 CET Salernitana v AC Milan and Sassuolo v Sampdoria, at 14.30 CET Spezia v Atalanta and Torino v Hellas Verona, at 16.30 CET Lecce v Lazio and Roma v Bologna, at 18.30 CET Cremonese v Juventus and Fiorentina v Monza, and at 20.45 CET Inter v Napoli and Udinese v Empoli.

The Serie A table as it stands: Napoli 41 pts; AC Milan 33; Juventus 31; Lazio, Inter 30; Atalanta, Roma 27; Udinese 24; Torino 21; Fiorentina, Bologna 19; Salernitana, Empoli 17; Monza, Sassuolo 16; Lecce 15; Spezia 13; Cremonese 7; Sampdoria 6; Hellas Verona 5.

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