An all-Italian classic is concluded in the second leg of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League quarter-final as AS Roma are at home to AC Milan.
AC Milan travel to Rome for the deciding game of a crunch tie against Daniele De Rossi’s side. There is a lot of familiarity between both teams as Milan is enjoying a nine-game unbeaten run against the capital side and Yacine Adli, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Hernandez were the goalscorers when they last met in January.
It has been a hectic season for Roma in a season that started winless in the first three matches including a 2-1 defeat at home to Milan leaving the club near the relegation zone. A 7-0 win over Empoli proved their first of the season, while they also started the Europa League campaign with three points.
Wins against Servette and Slavia Prague followed until they were dealt a 2-0 defeat in the return leg against the latter. Four more points followed to ensure they finished runners-up behind the Czechs.
Domestic form however dwindled with one win out of five and the 3-1 defeat at Milan spelled the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure at the club. In came club legend Daniele De Rossi, and three successive victories followed.
League leaders Inter are the only team to have beaten the Giallorossi under the former midfielder who also orchestrated Europa League knockout victories over Feyenoord and Brighton. The home fixture against the English side was particularly pleasing as Roma ran riot in a 4-0 thrashing.
They are now in the quarterfinals and will be desperate for different fortunes against their domestic foes. Roma has some momentum and is playing with more confidence since the managerial switch, it is a synergy that they hope can deliver huge wins before the end of the season.
Roma must embrace the energy from their raucous home fans with a place in the last four against either Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham United beckoning. It is pertinent that I Giallorossi score some goals and bring a positive result to the deciding match in front of their home supporters.
On the other hand, Milan brings lots of pedigree into the Europa League as seven-time European champions themselves. The Italian giants dropped down from the Champions League having finished level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain in the ‘Group of Death’ in that competition.
Milan is now looking for a deep run into the second-tier tournament after reaching the semi-final of last season’s UCL. They currently sit 14 points behind runaway Serie A leaders, Inter Milan, so a continental triumph is the only route to a trophy this season.
Stefano Pioli’s side started their domestic season with three consecutive wins but a 5-1 thrashing against their city rivals was an early-season shocker. They won the next four matches in Serie A until a 1-0 loss to Juventus at home.
Meanwhile, their UCL campaign had begun with goalless draws against Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund as well as a 3-0 defeat at PSG. Milan went winless in the next two league matches but they secured their first victory on the continent at home to the Parisians.
A defeat against Dortmund took a top-two spot out of their hands but they still had a chance to enter the Europa League playoff round. This set up a Matchday 6 showdown against Newcastle which lived up to its billing as Joelinton’s first-half goal was turned around by Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze to spark incredible scenes at St. James’ Park.
Milan went into the Europa League playoff clash against Rennes with a nine-match unbeaten run in the league and they duly smashed the French side 5-3 on aggregate. Another big home win in the first leg against Slavia Prague ended 4-2 to set them on their way to this massive Last Eight encounter with Roma.
Stefano Pioli’s side is in a good run of form and they must harness all their experience to edge this domestic clash. They also knocked out Napoli in last season’s UCL quarterfinal so there is enough know-how to count on.
Milan must however be wary of Roma’s underdog status, especially as they may have to hold on to whatever result they have in this second leg.
Match tickets
This must-see UEFA Europa League Quarter-final second leg takes place on Thursday, 18 April 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 8 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on both clubs’ websites with allocation guaranteed for season ticket holders and registered members.
There will be over 70,000 people in attendance at the Stadio Olimpico so getting your hands on tickets for this sold-out game is priceless. Thousands of Milan supporters will be desperate to get into the ground and they can find AS Roma vs AC Milan tickets on a ticket resale site.
Team news
Romelu Lukaku is an injury doubt for Roma alongside Chris Smalling, Renato Sanches, Rasmus Kristensen, and Paulo Dybala. It is yet unsure how many of them would be available for the big European night.
Tommaso Pobega, Pierre Kalulu, Ismael Bennacer, and Mike Maignan are currently unavailable but some should have returned for this second leg.
Line-ups
Roma must attack Milan in this home game and it is pertinent that they create chances for a frontline that includes Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, and Stephan El Shaarawy.
AS Roma: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy
Milan’s form has been impressive and new signings like Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Noah Okafor, and Tijjani Reijnders have massively contributed to their fortunes this term.
Their attacking edge and experience should be able to see them through against familiar foes.
AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernández; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud
Prediction
Both teams have scored in each of the last eight Serie A games between these sides so we are likely to see more of the same. This game may yet be won by which defence comes out on top.
AC Milan must stay focused in the face of intense intimidation from the crowd, calm heads are necessary but the Roma squad is also littered with veterans of back-to-back European finals.
AS Roma 1-1 AC Milan
