Serie A | Gameweek 38

May 24, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

AC Milan vs Monza

Match preview

For the first time since the 2015–16 season, Milan will finish outside the European places in Serie A after conceding defeat late in the campaign.

Following a 1-0 defeat to Bologna in the Coppa Italia final last week, another loss at Roma guaranteed a finish outside the top six and no European qualification.

Although Sergio Conceição only arrived midway through this season, Milan have regressed and are now ninth. There is a good chance they will remain there regardless of their result here.

Fiorentina and Bologna are both two points ahead of Milan, so a win for their Coppa Italia conquerors will put Milan out of reach, while La Viola's superior head-to-head record means they only need a point.

With 16 defeats across all competitions this season, Milan are in danger of equalling their record for the most defeats in a single season, which stands at 17 and was set in 1973–74, 1996–97 and 2013–14.

Their form at San Siro has also been hugely disappointing because they must win here to avoid equalling their lowest number of home victories in a 21st century season (eight, in 2007–08 and 2020–21).

Facing a team near the bottom of the table should help avoid that, because Milan have been ruthless against weaker teams this season, winning 10 out of 11 matches against the current bottom six.

They have also won four of their five Serie A matches against Monza since their promotion three years ago, including both at San Siro, scoring seven goals in the process.

Monza will be relegated from the top flight at the league's most iconic venue, but there has been nothing memorable about their dismal 2024-25 campaign.

With just three wins from 37 matches, Monza are set to record one of the worst points totals in Serie A history for a 20-team season. Only Chievo Verona in 2018–19 and Salernitana in 2023–24 ended with fewer points than Monza's current tally of 18 (both 17).

After mid-table finishes in their first two Serie A seasons, Monza's decline this time around is somewhat surprising, with 25 defeats confirming their inability to compete at this level.

Manager Alessandro Nesta returns to the venue where he spent much of his legendary playing career and will hope to take solace from the fact that their last away match ended in victory against Udinese, ending a run of 11 consecutive away defeats.

However, that may have been a one-off, as Monza were convincingly beaten 3-1 at home by struggling Empoli last weekend.

Recent Performance

AC Milan Serie A form:WLWWWL

AC Milan form (all competitions):WWWWLL

Monza Serie A form:LLLLWL

Team News

Santiago Giménez will be suspended for the hosts after receiving a red card in the first half of last weekend's defeat at Roma, so Luka Jović is set to start in his place.

Rafael Leão was also left on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico, and his future appears to lie away from Milan. However, Conceição may give his compatriot one final run-out at San Siro in the red and black jersey.

In defence, both Theo Hernandez and Kyle Walker are absent, while further forward, Samuel Chukwueze and Warren Bondo are also set to miss this season finale.

Monza have had numerous absentees for much of the season and this remains the case, with former Inter players Roberto Gagliardini and Danilo D'Ambrosio set to miss out on a return to San Siro, as will Silvere Ganvoula, Matteo Pessina, Armando Izzo and Omari Forson.

However, Pedro Pereira will return from suspension, and Keita Balde only made a full comeback from injury last weekend after scoring the winning goal off the bench at Udinese.

Gianluca Caprari has scored in both of Monza's last two games, but he has a dismal career record against Milan, having lost all 12 of his previous 14 clashes.

Possible starting lineup

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Jimenez; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao

Monza possible starting lineup:

Pizzignacco; Pedro Pereira, Brorsson, Caldirola; Birindelli, Castrovilli, Bianco, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Keita Balde, Caprari