AC Milan will face a familiar foe in Antonio Conte when they welcome Napoli on Sunday night.

San Siro prepares for a heavyweight clash on Sunday evening as AC Milan welcome reigning champions SSC Napoli in a matchup that could have significant implications for the Serie A title race. With both clubs carrying momentum into this encounter, it promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the season’s early weeks.

After a frustrating opening-day defeat to Cremonese, AC Milan have steadied themselves impressively. Massimiliano Allegri’s return to the dugout has seen his side establish defensive solidity and tactical discipline, trademarks of the veteran coach’s style. The Rossoneri have responded with three consecutive league victories without conceding, their best such streak in five years. Last weekend, Christian Pulisic stole the headlines with a clinical brace in a 3-0 win over Udinese, a result that lifted Milan firmly into the top three.

Their form carried into midweek Coppa Italia action, where they dispatched Lecce 3-0 at San Siro to progress to the round of 16. That contest also saw Santiago Gimenez break his goal drought, while Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku continued to impress in attack. Across all competitions, Milan have now kept five clean sheets in six games, reflecting Allegri’s immediate impact in tightening up a previously leaky back line.

Allegri himself watched the Coppa Italia tie from the stands while serving a touchline ban stemming from his antics in last season’s Coppa final. On Sunday, however, he will return to the technical area for a tactical duel with Antonio Conte, their first meeting in nearly 12 years. History suggests a battle of attrition: Allegri has won just two of his nine managerial encounters with Conte, underlining the challenge ahead.

Napoli, meanwhile, arrive in Milan with the confidence of defending champions and a perfect start to their title defence. Antonio Conte’s men have taken maximum points from their first four Serie A matches, reinforcing their reputation as one of the toughest sides in Italy. Their only setback came in Europe, where they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card left them chasing shadows at the Etihad.

Conte’s men responded in typically combative fashion just days later, edging out newly promoted Pisa 3-2 at the Stadio Maradona. Billy Gilmour opened his account for the Partenopei before Lorenzo Lucca struck late to seal the win, sparking trademark celebrations from Conte on the touchline. That result extended Napoli’s unbeaten domestic run and kept them two points clear at the top of the Serie A standings.

Napoli’s away record under Conte also inspires confidence: just two defeats in 21 league fixtures on the road since his appointment. Crucially, they also have an excellent recent history at San Siro, winning seven of their last 12 Serie A meetings with Milan there, including a 2-0 victory last October.

Both sides enter this clash with clear ambitions. Milan are intent on re-establishing themselves as title contenders after missing out on European football last season, while Napoli want to underline their Scudetto defence with another statement win against a direct rival. Allegri’s defensive stability will be tested by Napoli’s relentless attacking edge, and with two fiery tacticians on the sidelines in Allegri and Conte, the San Siro is primed for a fiercely contested battle. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

AC Milan

AC Milan approach this top-of-the-table clash with encouraging news on the injury front, though a few concerns still remain. Captain Mike Maignan has returned from his recent setback and is ready to reclaim his position in goal, giving the Rossoneri a huge boost at the back. Rafael Leão, who has been sidelined with a calf strain, is expected to make the bench and provide additional attacking depth should Allegri need him in the second half. Summer signing Ardon Jashari, however, continues to recover from a muscle injury and remains unavailable for selection.

In attack, Santiago Giménez finally broke his goal drought during the midweek Coppa Italia victory, but he faces stiff competition from Christopher Nkunku, who has returned to full fitness and could be preferred to start alongside Christian Pulisic. With Pulisic already the team’s top scorer this season, Allegri now has multiple attacking options to balance his system.

The Rossoneri are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Mike Maignan will take his place between the posts, protected by a three-man defence consisting of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Strahinja Pavlović. On the flanks, Alexis Saelemaekers will operate as the right wing-back, while Pervis Estupiñán will slot in on the left, both expected to contribute in defence and attack.

The midfield will be anchored by Youssouf Fofana, with Luka Modrić pulling the strings in the playmaker role and Adrien Rabiot providing balance and energy. Up front, Christian Pulisic will partner Santiago Giménez, although Nkunku could force his way into the starting XI given his return to full fitness.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez

SSC Napoli

Napoli will make the trip to Milan with a slight defensive concern after Alessandro Buongiorno was forced off with an injury in the 3-2 victory against Pisa earlier this week. The Italian international centre-back is ruled out of this clash, joining Romelu Lukaku, who continues to recover from a long-term thigh injury, on the sidelines. Aside from these two absentees, Antonio Conte has a largely full-strength squad available, offering him plenty of flexibility in key areas.

In midfield, Napoli are expected to be reinforced by the return of André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka, both of whom were rested for the Pisa encounter. Their inclusion will restore balance and control in the centre of the park. Up front, Lorenzo Lucca will push for a start after scoring in midweek, but Rasmus Højlund remains the likelier option to lead the line in such a high-stakes contest.

Conte is expected to stick with his preferred 4-1-4-1 setup. Alex Meret will start in goal, protected by a back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, Sam Beukema and Juan Jesus in central defence, and Leonardo Spinazzola on the left. Stanislav Lobotka will sit deepest in midfield as the pivot, shielding the back line.

Further ahead, Matteo Politano is set to take the right-sided role, with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne anchoring the central positions, while Scott McTominay operates from the left. Rasmus Hojlund will spearhead the attack as the lone striker, tasked with stretching Milan’s back line and finishing off Napoli’s chances.

Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Jesus, Spinazzola; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund

Key Stats

• Since the 2011/12 season, AC Milan have lost 50% of their Serie A matches against Napoli (14 out of 28), which is the same proportion as against Inter (14 out of 28). Only against Juventus (17) have Milan recorded more defeats in the same period.
• At San Siro, Milan’s record has been poor in recent years, they have won just two of their last 12 Serie A home games against Napoli (D3 L7). This comes after previously enjoying a 19-match unbeaten home run versus the Partenopei (W10 D9).
• Milan are in strong defensive form, having won their last three league games without conceding a goal. If they manage another clean sheet on Sunday, it would be their first run of four consecutive wins and clean sheets in Serie A since August–October 2020.
• The Rossoneri have kept four clean sheets in their last five league games, equalling the tally from their previous 20 Serie A matches combined. Another clean sheet here would make it four in a row for the first time since April 2022, when they achieved six consecutively.
• Napoli have made a perfect start, winning all four of their opening Serie A matches this season. The only three times they previously managed this (1987/88, 2017/18, and 2021/22), they did not go on to win the Scudetto.

Player to Watch

Rasmus Hojlund

Embed from Getty Images

All eyes will be on Rasmus Hojlund, who has quickly become a focal point in Antonio Conte’s Napoli attack. The Danish striker has the physical presence, pace, and aerial ability to unsettle Milan’s back three, especially with Alessandro Buongiorno sidelined and defensive rotations being tested.

Højlund’s movement off the ball is one of his biggest assets, as he thrives on making runs behind the defence and stretching the back line. Against a disciplined Milan unit that has been keeping clean sheets, his ability to create space for teammates such as Matteo Politano and Kevin De Bruyne could prove decisive.

Moreover, his recent Champions League and Serie A performances suggest growing confidence in front of goal, and Napoli will rely heavily on him to provide the cutting edge at San Siro. If he can impose himself physically against Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia, Hojlund could be the difference-maker in a clash where fine margins will decide the outcome.

Prediction

AC Milan 1-1 SSC Napoli

This clash at San Siro has all the makings of a heavyweight battle. AC Milan come in with confidence after three consecutive league wins without conceding and a 3-0 midweek cup triumph. Massimiliano Allegri has tightened their defensive structure, and with Christian Pulisic in sparkling form alongside the return of Mike Maignan, the Rossoneri look difficult to break down.

Napoli, though, remain perfect in Serie A under Antonio Conte, taking maximum points from their opening four matches. The Partenopei’s midfield dynamism, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Stanislav Lobotka, combined with Rasmus Højlund’s threat in attack, means they carry enough quality to trouble Milan’s backline, even away from home.

The key battle will be between Milan’s compact defensive unit and Napoli’s direct attacking transitions. Milan’s home struggles against Napoli in recent years, just two wins in their last 12 Serie A meetings at San Siro, cannot be ignored. Still, Milan’s current defensive resilience and Napoli’s patchy away record against the biggest sides suggest this could be a tight affair.