AC Milan vs Chievo Predictions

AC Milan are long-odds on favourites to bank their third Serie A success of the season this Sunday when they square off against bottom side Chievo at San Siro. I Rossoneri are unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions after juggling domestic and European duties fairly well so far this term, but they need to start turning draws into wins soon to hunt down the top four in Italy.

With two wins, three draws and one defeat on the board from six league outings, it’s been steady stuff from Milan thus far in the new Serie A campaign. I Rossoneri have responded well on the face of things after a 3-2 loss to Napoli at Stadio San Paulo on the opening night of the season, but they’ll be frustrated with some of their results which could’ve been more fruitful.

Milan threw away leads against Atlanta and Empoli at the end of last month and had to settle for 2-2 and 1-1 draws respectively, and although they stepped things up markedly to record a cosy 1-4 success at Sassuolo last weekend, the 18-time Scudetto champions currently find themselves in 11^th – four points behind the top four and a whopping 12 points adrift of leaders Juve, who are already running away with things.

I Rossoneri do have a game in hand against Genoa to come, but they’ll be desperate to win this weekend to kick-on into the top half.

Victory on match day eight over Chievo should be a formality for Milan, who extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven in midweek with a 3-1 triumph over Olympiakos in the Europa League at San Siro.

Sunday’s opponents Chievo have had a disastrous start to the season, and already look like having it all to do to preserve their 11 year stay in the top flight.

Hit with a three point deduction before a ball was kicked for false accounting, Gialloblu have earned just two draws from seven starts and are firmly entrenched at the foot of the table on -1 points, seven points behind safety and 17^th placed side Cagliari.

That gap could easily widen this weekend if Chievo leave Milan empty handed, and along with current form, recent meetings between the clubs suggest that will be the case.

Milan have won the last four encounters between the sides, including a 3-2 success in last season’s corresponding fixture and a 1-4 romp in Verona 12 months ago.

Chievo haven’t beaten Milan in their last 17 visits to San Siro, and with I Rossoneri supporters sensing that their team are beginning to gain some momentum; Sunday’s fixture will be a daunting assignment for Lorenzo D’Anna’s team.

Despite Milan seeming absolute certainties here, the bare match odds make little appeal, so we’re backing the hosts to win with both teams to score thrown into the equation as well.

That’s been the outcome in those last four meetings won by Milan, and Gattuso’s side have conceded in all six of their Serie A matches this term. Chievo have drawn a blank in their last three outings, however they found the net twice against Juventus and Roma earlier in the season.

It gives hope that Gialloblu can register here against Milan’s suspect back line to land part of this wager, with the hosts expected to comfortably take care of the rest – and  4-1 is the score line for us at San Siro.