AC MILAN v CREMONESE: MATCH PREVIEW

Winning would mean going one step closer to qualifying for next season's Champions League. Winning would get us off to the best possible start in May, which will be vital to the outcome of the season. AC Milan want to take their destiny into their own hands and to do so, they will need to beat Cremonese. The margin for error is minimal and every slip-up from now until the end of the season could be costly. We will need the team, San Siro and the fans all on top form. Let's take a closer look today's game in Serie A.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
The draw with Roma saw the Rossoneri stay in fourth place, level on 57 points with both the Giallorossi and Inter. Second place remains within reach (-4) but before we let ourselves get carried away with calculations, we need to think about ourselves. The news from Milanello is that Florenzi is back, but Pobega won't be ready. Tomori is suspended for the game and Stefano Pioli could make a number of changes all over the pitch in order to keep legs fresh ahead of the Lazio game on Saturday. Though Maignan, Hernández, Bennacer and Díaz are all likely to retain their starting berths. Cautioned: Kalulu, Kjær, Thiaw, Pobega and Rebić.

LATEST FROM CREMONESE
Cremonese are in the final stages of their bid for survival, which is further away now following their 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona. Okereke, the Grigiorossi's top scorer alongside Dessers and Ciofani and their only cautioned player, scored the goal that was eventually cancelled out by Verdi. Spezia, who are currently in 17th (one stop above the drop zone), are seven points clear. Cremonese, however, aren't in bad form, having just played in a Coppa Italia semi-final. Ballardini will need to make do without Quagliata, who was red-carded, and former Rossonero Tsadjout. Sernicola is back and Benassi is in the squad. Carnesecchi, Valeri, Meïté, Galdames and Okereke look certain to start.

"They need the points too," said Ballardini in his pre-match press conference. "On our side, we know we're a proper team with the right attitude. We'll just stick to our gameplan. We know we're up against a top side in AC Milan."

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v CREMONESE
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by DAZN. To watch AC Milan v Cremonese in a different country, however, you can consult the section "Where to watch Milan on TV" under "Abroad". On the Rossoneri channels, the appointment is with Milan TV's Matchday where live coverage will start at 19:45 CEST until close to kick-off. After full time, we will have interviews and Coach Pioli's press conference. From 20:55 CEST, there will also be Live Reaction on AC Milan's Twitch channel. Also, not to be missed is the coverage on acmilan.com, AC Milan Official App and our official social media profiles.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Luca Pairetto will take charge of the game, with Capaldo and Di Gioia assisting him as linesmen and Maggioni as fourth official. Banti is on VAR duty (assisted by Piccinini). This is the Piemontese referee's 106th game in Serie A. He has officiated seven AC Milan games, the most recent being the 4-0 win at home to Crotone in February 2021, and one match involving the Grigiorossi (0-0 at home to Sassuolo in September 2022).

Matchday 33 begins at 18:00 CEST today with Atalanta-Spezia, Juventus v Lecce, Salernitana v Fiorentina and Sampdoria v Torino. At 21:00 CEST, the same time as AC Milan v Cremonese, we have Lazio v Sassuolo, Monza v Roma and Hellas Verona v Inter. Thursday's games: Empoli v Bologna and Udinese v Napoli.

Here is the table as it stands: Napoli 79, Lazio 61, Juventus 60, Inter, AC Milan and Roma 57, Atalanta 55, Bologna and Fiorentina 45, Monza 44, Sassuolo 43, Torino and Udinese 42, Salernitana 34, Empoli 32, Lecce 31, Spezia and Hellas Verona 27, Cremonese 20, Sampdoria 17.

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