The first semifinal match of the Italian Cup will be played next week which causes for both giants from Milan to be cautious this Friday as part of Serie A matchday 27. After they underperformed last weekend, a sigh of relief for both teams came after the draw between Napoli and Cagliari.AC Milan have the opportunity to put additional pressure on their city rival, since they play a match against Udinese a few hours earlier. Stefano Pioli has all the players at his disposal except the suspended Benacer and the injured Ibrahimovic.According to the announcements from the club, Benacer will be replaced by Franck Kessie in the midfield. After coming in from the bench in the last two games, Ivory Coast footballer will be on the pitch from the first minute against Udinese.Who of the top three in Serie A will rue the weekend behind us?The attack will be led by Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman scored all of his ten goals this season (seven in the championship and three in the cups) at home. Pioli’s only dilemma about the lineup should be Messias and Saelemaekers, while Ante Rebic will be the joker from the bench for Rossoneri.After the defeat by Spezia and the draw against Juventus, AC Milan recorded two victories in a row at San Siro – against Inter and Sampdoria – while Udinese did not manage to score a goal in the last three away games. The Rossoneri have lost only once in the last 14 years to Udinese at San Siro, while Pioli has never left the pitch with his head down against the Friulians since he took the helm at AC Milan.Just like Milan, Udinese manager Gabriele Cioffi has almost all the players at his disposal – only Bram Nuytinck should be absent. The Deulofeu-Beto duo should operate in the attack, while the only serious dilemma is related to Arslan and Pereira in the midfield.Another suspension ahead for Mourinho: “Juventus sent you!”Inter could not have had a better opponent to get out of the crisis than Genoa. The Nerazzurri have won all their last seven matches against Il Grifone with a goal difference 25-0. However, apart from winning only five points in the last five matches in Serie A, Inter have not won in the last two away games (Atalanta and Napoli). On the other hand, Genoa have not yet won under their new coach Alexander Blessin, but they have not lost either (four draws).Judging by the number of goals scored and conceded between Inter and Genoa, we should expect a lot of goals tonight, but it has often happened (at least lately) that Inter strikers go crazy against Genoa.Simone Inzaghi reminded at the press conference that the club’s management, at the beginning of the season, asked him to reach the top four in Serie A, that is, to secure a place in the Champions League. With that statement, Inzaghi wanted to say that the criticism of him and the Inter players were excessive and that the Scudetto would be a great success but not something that is completely normal or expected.Arsenal hoping they can get the new ‘Thierry Henry’Inter should present themselves with their strongest line-up this evening, which means that we will see the usual three in the backline and the Lautaro-Dzeko duo in attack. Correa and Gosens, who should be ready for the clash against AC Milan in the Italian Cup, did not arrive in Genoa.Tonight’s duel is the beginning of a period in which half of the players from the first squad of Inter will have to convince the club’s management that they are worthy of extending their contracts. The list of players under scrutiny includes Handanovic, De Vrij, Calhanoglu, Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez, and Sanchez if he gets the chance to play.Nikola Maksimović is returning to the starting lineup of Genoa, since the home team lacks a series of defenders such as Bani, Vanheusden and captain Criscito. Genoa are aware that they missed great opportunities to return to the race for survival in the last two matches against Salernitana and Venezia, but they do not give up and promise a battle tonight at their ground.SERIE A – ROUND 27Friday20:45: (1.50) Milan (4.00) Udinese (7.50)23:00: (8.50) Genoa (4.70) Inter (1.43)Saturday17:00: (3.35) Salernitana (3.35) Bologna (2.20)20:00: (5.30) Empoli (3.80) Juventus (1.67)22:45: (2.85) Sassuolo (3.50) Fiorentina (2.55)Sunday14:30: (1.65) Torino (3.70) Cagliari (5.70)17:00: (1.58) Verona (4.20) Venezia (6.50)20:00: (4.40) Spezia (3.60) Roma (1.83)22:45: (3.00) Lazio (3.30) Napoli (2.55)Monday22:45: (1.45) Atalanta (4.40) Sampdoria (7.25)
