Perugia - MILAN : Match Preview ( Soccerage.com ) ( EN )

After joining Juventus and Inter on top of the Serie A table last Sunday, AC Milan hope to cap off their brilliant month of September on Sunday afternoon with a win at Perugia. The Rossoneri coached by Fatih Terim have won their last five matches, scoring a total of fifteen goals and suffering only three, a statistic that proves the Serie A giant's impresive moment of form. Furthermore, with the return of Manuel Rui Costa within the starting eleven last week, AC Milan added that touch of creativity to their game that puts them in line to be one of the top Scudetto contenders.

On their part Serse Cosmi's Perugia have been struggling to produce the performances that made them last year's Serie A revelation team. The departure of defensive pillar Materazzi to Inter over the summer greatly decreased the strength of the backfield that has already taken in seven goals after only four matches, and things are looking even worse for the Grifoni now as on Thursday they sold playmaker Fabio Liverani to Lazio, a departure that is destined to weaken the Umbrians offensive power. Given the current con***ions, a point from this encounter would be a great result for the home side.

LATEST TEAM NEWS AND FORM GUIDE

PERUGIA

Last 5 Matches: LDDDL

Perugia have yet to win a match this season, but it looks difficult they will be able to do so on Sunday as they will have to without Lazio-bound Liverani, who will be replaced by young prospect Gatti. Cosmi is expected to field Ahn next to Greek hitman Vryzas, but the Perugia coach could play Iranian forward Samereh, who scored six goals in a friendly match on Thursday, instead of the South Korean sensation.

Probable Lineup-(3-5-2)-Mazzantini, Sogliano, Dellas, Di Loreto, Ze Maria, Tedesco, Gatti, Baiocco, Milanese, Ahn (Samereh), Vryzas.

AC MILAN

Last 6 Matches: DWWWWW

Following Thursday's BATE Borisov match in which Terim fielded many second string players thereby allowing Maldini, Shevchenko, Albertini, and Serginho to rest, the Turkish coach is expected to start the same eleven men that defeated Lazio 2-0 last Sunday.

Probable Lineup-(4-3-1-2)-Abbiati, Contra, Laursen, Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Albertini, Serginho, Rui Costa, Shevchenko, Inzaghi.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gatti (Perugia)-The nineteen year-old midfielder has a huge responsibility on his shoulders now that Liverani has left to join the blue and white side of the Tiber. However when Liverani was suspended for the first two Serie A matches of this season, Gatti proved that despite his young age, he was capable of setting the Grifoni's pace. Tomorrow he will need to the same, against one of the most athletic midfields of the Serie A.

Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)- The on-form Ukraine international was rested by his coach on Thursday in order for him to be in the best shape possible for Sunday's match. Of late everything Shevchenko has touched has turned into gold, and if it the same happens in Perugia, Milan will bring home the three points.

SOCCERAGE PREDICTION

Milan couldn't be facing a better away match than the one they are set to play on Sunday against the Liverani-less Grifoni.

Perugia 1 Milan 3


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