AC Milan opens Serie A season with home clash against Torino under new coach Fonseca
AC Milan kicks off the Serie A season on Saturday 17 August at 19:45 (GMT+1) with a home fixture at San Siro against Torino. Under new manager Paulo Fonseca, who succeeded Stefano Pioli, the Milanese club harbours serious title ambitions after two seasons without a Scudetto.
Fonseca takes the helm at a hungry AC Milan
While city rivals and defending champions Inter Milan get their new season underway against Genoa, AC Milan open Serie A with a home encounter against Torino. It is an immediate baptism of fire for Paulo Fonseca, who took charge on 1 July, succeeding Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese coach's brief is clear: after two consecutive seasons without a league title, I Rossoneri must be in the Scudetto conversation again this year.
Targeted signings set to propel Milan back to the top
Milan invested shrewdly this summer to close the gap on the frontrunners. Defender Strahinja Pavlović joined from RB Leipzig for eighteen million euros, striker Álvaro Morata made the switch from Atlético Madrid for thirteen million euros, and right-back Emerson Royal bolstered the defence for fifteen million euros from Tottenham Hotspur. Morata is not expected to start on Saturday and will likely begin from the bench. Goalkeeper Marco Sportiello is sidelined through injury.
Promising pre-season raises expectations
AC Milan's pre-season left supporters and analysts in optimistic mood. The squad defeated the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona in their warm-up fixtures, significantly heightening expectations for the campaign ahead. The match against Torino represents the first serious test for Fonseca's side. A 4-2-3-1 system is expected, with Luka Jović leading the line as centre-forward.
Impressive Serie A record against Torino provides extra confidence
The statistics offer Milan further encouragement. In their last twenty-eight Serie A meetings with Torino, the Milanese club have remained unbeaten: twenty wins and eight draws. Moreover, Milan have won their last four Serie A opening-day fixtures. A new victory would mean the club claim five consecutive opening-day wins for the first time since 1996 — a run that back then stretched to no fewer than ten successive season-opener victories.
Vanoli looking to spring a surprise with a combative Torino
Torino travel to Milan with a new face in the dugout: Paolo Vanoli made an impressive unofficial debut as head coach with a 2-0 Coppa Italia first-round victory over Cosenza. The 52-year-old manager was also given the resources to make his mark. Forward Che Adams arrived on a free transfer from Southampton, while defender Saúl Coco was signed from UD Las Palmas for 7.5 million euros. Vanoli is expected to make few changes from the cup tie. In his 3-5-2 system, Antonio Sanabria and Duván Zapata form the attacking partnership. Perr Schuurs is the only absentee on the visitors' side. It is worth noting that this will be just the third time the two clubs have met on a Serie A opening day: Torino won 2-1 in September 1939, while Milan triumphed 3-2 in August 2016.
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Source: Sportmonks
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