SPEZIA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

After three home games in a row to begin a crucial month, the Rossoneri depart for Lombardy for a crucial away match in the league season. The gap in terms of points between Spezia and AC Milan is large, but both teams need a result in the clash at the Stadio Picco in order to reach their respective objectives in the table. The game in La Spezia will be played at 18:00 CEST and, in the meantime, we prepare for the meeting with our Match Preview. 

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
The clash at Stadio Picco is sandwiched between the Champions League double-header, and there is not too much room for rotation. In addition to the unavailability of Bennacer, Florenzi, Ibrahimović and Leão, Krunić and Messias will also be absent. The coach will also have to deal with Thiaw's suspension, so the biggest changes from the last match will be seen among the forwards, with De Ketelaere, Origi and Rebić likely to feature in the starting line-up. There are also questions in the midfield, where Pobega and Vranckx will compete for a starting spot in a game that should see them both involved for the 90 minutes.

"It's a match with some important points at stake, for the league season but also in preparation for the Champions League second leg," said Stefano Pioli in his interview with Milan TV. "We will need to adapt and have determination. The league is coming to an end, it is a match we will need to pay lots of attention to. Spezia have deserved better results: we expect a solid and determined opponent". 

LATEST FROM SPEZIA
For the Ligurians, they are experiencing their most difficult spell of the season: after the win against Inter on 10 March, only 3 points arrived in the following eight games, which led Spezia to drop to third-last place, 3 points from safety. Some good news came during the week with the important contract renewal of M'Bala Nzola. After coming on against Cremonese, the Angolan, who has scored 13 goals in the season, is ready to lead the line again, supported by Gyasi and one of Verde and Shomurodov, with the former the favourite. Agudelo has also been added to the long list of those unavailable through injury, as he will serve a one-match suspension. The rest of Spezia's 4-3-3 is yet to be decided, starting with some questions over players such as Drągowski in goal, the Ampadu-Wisiniewski duo in the centre of defence and the experience of Ekdal in midfield.

"We need to do something different, words don't count for anything. We will try to do our best against a very strong team," were the words of Leonardo Semplici on the eve of the match. "We will need to be better while defending - not only in defence - to be more solid up front. Against AC Milan we will have to start strong, limit their main qualities and try to stay in the game for as long as we can. We all want to stay up, we have always given everything and nobody is giving up."

WHERE TO WATCH SPEZIA v AC MILAN
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by DAZN. To watch Spezia v AC Milan 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 16:45 CEST until close to kick-off. After full time, we will have interviews and Coach Pioli's press conference. From 17:55 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
Daniele Doveri, an experienced referee from Rome, will take charge of Spezia v AC Milan.It will be his 209th game in Serie A after 27 previous matches with the Rossoneri (15 wins, 7 draws, 5 defeats): the most recent was Udinese 3-1 AC Milan on 18 March. Assisting Doveri will be linesmen Bindoni and Bresmes, fourth official Pairetto and VAR Marini (Mariani AVAR).

Serie A matchday 35 began yesterday, Friday 12 May, with Lazio 2-2 Lecce. Three matches are scheduled for Saturday 13: in addition to Spezia v AC Milan, Salernitana v Atalanta at 15:00 CEST and Inter v Sassuolo at 20:45 CEST. The round will continue on Sunday 14 with Hellas Verona v Torino at 12.30 CEST; Monza v Napoli and Fiorentina v Udinese at 15:00 CEST; Bologna v Roma at 18:00 CEST and Juventus v Cremonese at 20:45 CEST. To finish the week of fixtures, Sampdoria face Empoli at 20:45 CEST on Monday 15.

Here is the table: Napoli 83; Juventus 66; Lazio* 65; Inter 63; AC Milan 61; Atalanta, Roma 58; Fiorentina, Udinese, Bologna, Monza and Torino 46; Sassuolo 44; Empoli 38; Salernitana 35; Lecce* 32; Hellas Verona 30; Spezia 27; Cremonese 24; Sampdoria 17. (* = one more game played)

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