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AS Roma will intention to increase their 19-match unbeaten streak after they host AC Milan within the penultimate sport of the Serie A season on the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
After asserting his retirement final season, Claudio Ranieri regarded set to bid farewell to soccer. Nonetheless, an pressing name from Roma within the winter break prompted an surprising return to the touchline — a problem too tempting for the veteran coach to cross up.
When Roma sat within the backside half of the desk after 14 rounds, few would have imagined they’d mount a critical push for a Champions League spot. However Ranieri’s comeback has dramatically altered their fortunes, echoing the miraculous contact he dropped at Leicester Metropolis’s unbelievable Premier League title win.
His second stint within the capital started with a tough run—goalless defeats to Napoli and Atalanta had been adopted by a 3rd loss in 4 video games in opposition to Como. Since then, nevertheless, Roma have regarded like real title contenders.
They’re now unbeaten in 18 straight matches, dropping factors in simply 5 outings — even these in opposition to sides they’ve traditionally struggled in opposition to, together with commendable residence attracts with Juventus and Napoli.
Roma moved degree on factors with fourth-placed Juventus within the race for Champions League qualification following their 1-0 victory over Fiorentina final weekend, extending their unbeaten Serie A run to 19 matches.
It marked their third straight 1-0 league win, with Artem Dovbyk netting the decisive objective on the Stadio Olimpico. The Ukrainian’s twelfth league strike of the marketing campaign — and his first after a four-game drought — proved pivotal in what was in any other case a low-key efficiency.
That win ensured Roma continued to boast the longest ongoing unbeaten streak amongst all groups in Europe’s high 5 leagues. With 14 wins throughout this spectacular spell, the Giallorossi are having fun with their greatest unbeaten run because the 2010 marketing campaign, when Ranieri’s earlier tenure oversaw a 24-match streak with out defeat.
Now in his third and remaining spell in cost, Ranieri has calmly steered his boyhood membership from the desk’s decrease reaches right into a critical top-four struggle.
Roma have collected essentially the most Serie A factors in 2025 up to now — 43 from 17 video games — whereas additionally conceding the fewest targets (8) and conserving ten clear sheets, so followers with Roma tickets are assured forward of the Milan sport.
Conserving a clear sheet in opposition to Inter, who later hit three previous Barcelona, and ending Fiorentina’s six-match unbeaten stretch, underlines the crew’s defensive metal — a high quality that Milan will completely take a look at within the coming weekend.
Switching to a brand new tactical setup has reinvigorated Milan’s season. They’ve produced 5 wins from their final six outings as they push for a robust end to an in any other case turbulent marketing campaign.
After Paulo Fonseca’s mid-season dismissal, Sergio Conceição immediately impacted by successful the Supercoppa Italiana. Nonetheless, Milan quickly stumbled out of European competitors and continued to wrestle in Serie A.
That modified after they edged Inter to achieve the Coppa Italia remaining — a win that triggered back-to-back away victories within the league.
Rafael Leão, now enjoying with fewer defensive obligations in a 3-4-2-1 form, scored in a 2-1 comeback win over Genoa on Monday — their newest turnaround since Conceição’s arrival. The Rossoneri stay ninth on 57 factors — six adrift of the highest 4 with three video games left. With a league and cup double-header in opposition to Bologna looming, Milan’s lethargy was on present once more at San Siro till a late push salvaged the factors.
Mike Maignan starred in objective, conserving Genoa at bay earlier than Leão levelled within the 76th minute through a deflected strike from Santiago Giménez’s cross. Two minutes later, Frendrup became his internet whereas attempting to clear, sealing the win for Milan.
Victory over Bologna on Friday would mark Milan’s first run of three straight league wins since September.
Whereas a top-four end stays unlikely, a Coppa Italia triumph subsequent week — their first since 2003 — would assure European soccer subsequent season.
AS Roma Vs AC Milan match particulars
- Date: Sunday, 18th Could, 2025
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico
- Kick-off time: 02:00 PM GMT, 01:00 PM UTC
- Tickets: AS Roma vs AC Milan tickets might be purchased from the golf equipment or through on-line reseller Seatsnet.com
Match stats and head-to-head
• With 14 victories of their present run, Roma are experiencing their most spectacular unbeaten streak since 2010—when Claudio Ranieri’s preliminary tenure noticed them go 24 matches with out defeat.
• Following the 2-1 win in opposition to Genoa, Milan now sits in ninth place with 57 factors, six factors behind Juventus in fourth with three matches to go.
• The Giallorossi’s 1-0 win in opposition to Fiorentina on the Stadio Olimpico was their third consecutive 1-0 victory in Serie A.
• Forward of dealing with Roma, Milan will likely be focusing on a 3rd straight league win for less than the second time this season—and the primary since September—after they start a double-header in opposition to Bologna on Friday.
• Claudio Ranieri’s facet have picked up essentially the most factors in Serie A this calendar yr (43 from 17 video games).
• Roma have additionally conceded the fewest targets (eight) in 2025 and saved ten clear sheets.
Crew information
Eldor Shomurodov and Artem Dovbyk, having impressed in opposition to Inter, saved their beginning roles in Roma’s win over Fiorentina. With 5 Serie A targets, Matias Soulé has emerged as an important presence on Ranieri’s proper flank and is anticipated to retain his place in opposition to Milan.
Saud Abdulhamid and Victor Nelsson returned to the matchday squad however went unused, and each at the moment are in line for minutes within the coming video games as they rebuild match sharpness.
Paulo Dybala stays out for the remainder of the season, persevering with because the membership’s longest-term absentee.
Whereas Rafael Leão will miss out by way of suspension, Tammy Abraham is again in full coaching after a thigh concern and will compete with Luka Jovic and Santiago Giménez for a spot within the beginning lineup.
Emerson Royal, newly again from a prolonged damage, could also be concerned, however Youssouf Fofana remains to be troubled by a foot challenge and stays uncertain. In the meantime, Warren Bondo (ankle) and Riccardo Sottil (thigh) are dominated out.
João Félix and Kyle Walker, who got here off the bench in Genoa, are pushing to interrupt into Milan’s beginning lineup.
Predicted beginning lineup
AS Roma predicted beginning lineup:
Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Cristante, Kone, Angelino; Soule, Pellegrini; Dovbyk.
AC Milan predicted beginning lineup:
Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Felix; Jovic.
Prediction
Claudio Ranieri has lifted Roma from flirting with relegation to changing into real contenders for a Champions League place.
The Giallorossi are unbeaten in Serie A all through 2025 and head into this conflict contemporary from a press release 1-0 win away at Inter—turning this tie right into a direct showdown for a top-four spot.
AC Milan began the yr on a excessive, clinching the Supercoppa Italiana with dramatic comebacks in opposition to Juventus and Inter in Sergio Conceição’s first two video games. Nonetheless, the previous Porto supervisor has confronted mounting stress as a result of poor home and European outcomes.
Regardless of that, the Rossoneri booked their place within the Coppa Italia remaining with one other victory over Inter at San Siro and have adopted up with unconvincing wins over Venezia and Genoa.
Ending Roma’s formidable unbeaten run received’t be straightforward, however Milan will draw perception from their latest Derby della Madonnina triumph.
We’re predicting a 1-1 draw.
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