Spezia vs AC Milan 14/02/21

Stadio Alberto Picco is the venue, as Spezia and AC Milan go head-to-head in only their second Serie A meeting.

Spezia came from behind to win 2-1 at Sassuolo last time out and put an end to their three-game winless run in Serie A (D1, L2). The ‘clean-sheet’ theme is seemingly off the table for the home side, though, as they’ve failed to register a shutout in 12 of their last 13 top-flight outings, conceding over 1.5 goals on seven of those occasions. Vincenzo Italiano’s team can’t find much comfort in their home form either. They have returned the division’s joint-lowest six points at home this Serie A season, winning only one of their ten fixtures at the Alberto Picco in the process (D3, L6). Much of the blame has to be pinned on a fragile defense that has conceded a league third-high 19 goals at home this term, shipping the opener (if any) in six of their ten Serie A home matches.

Meanwhile, a 4-0 dismantling of Crotone last time out helped Milan maintain a two-point cushion at the summit, meaning they have now scored 2+ goals in 19 of their 21 Serie A matches this season. What’s more, ‘I Rossoneri’ have won 28 out of the possible 30 away points this Serie A campaign (W9, D1), more than any other team in the Italian top-flight. In fact, Milan’s last league defeat away from San Siro came over 400 days ago when they succumbed to a humiliating 5-0 loss to Atalanta in December 2019. This season alone, Stefano Pioli’s men have opened the scoring in all but one of their ten Serie A trips, scoring 2+ match goals on each occasion in that period. In turn, Milan have won both of their competitive meetings with Spezia, netting precisely three goals in each.