The shuffle for Serie A supremacy rumbles on in Week 16 when league leaders AC Milan host defending champions Juventus in what will be the biggest test of their title credentials to date.
The Rossoneri remain the only team in Europe’s five major divisions yet to suffer domestic defeat this season, the only loss of their campaign coming against Lille in the UEFA Europa League.
What TV Channel is Milan-Juventus on?
Juventus will attempt to move Milan off the summit for the first time since October, and ESPN2 will provide coverage from 2:45 p.m. ET. You can live stream Serie A matches on fuboTV.
How to Watch Barcelona vs. Eibar
When: Wednesday, January 6
Where: San Siro, Milan, Italy
Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
Juventus recently lost their own unbeaten domestic streak but returned to their winning ways with a 4-1 triumph match over Udinese on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Week 15 to move up to 758 career goals and surpass Pele (757)—although the Brazil legend later revised the actual number of goals he scored during his playing days, via ESPN FC:
Pelé has upgraded his Instagram bio.
Looks like Ronaldo and Messi still have a long way to go 👀⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ibZ4FEq30X
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 4, 2021
Stefano Pioli has masterminded Milan’s route to Italy’s perch despite fielding one of the youngest teams on the continent. Andrea Pirlo has plenty of experience at his disposal, but it hasn’t gifted the advantages he hoped for as Juve head into this clash sat fifth, 10 points behind the leaders.
An away team win at the San Siro on Wednesday could see Inter Milan move into the lead provided they beat Sampdoria, but the Rossoneri would rather see anyone but their arch-rivals overtake.
Luckily for Pioli, Milan have recent form when facing Juventus and went unbeaten in their three meetings over the course of 2020. The teams drew in each leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final (held four months apart from one another) before Milan came from behind to dominate 4-2 after league action resumed in July:
A Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty got the comeback rolling on that occasion, but the Swedish superstar will be missing through injury for this clash, as he has Milan’s last seven league fixtures. Ismael Bennacer, Alexis Saelemaekers and suspended Sandro Tonali are also among the absentees for the hosts, who lost nine straight against Juventus prior to their renewed run of form in 2020.
The Bianconeri recently released a statement (via Reuters) confirming left-back Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado have tested positive for the coronavirus. They’ll join injured striker Alvaro Morata on the sidelines, though Adrien Rabiot—who scored the opener when these teams last met—will be back from suspension.
There’s no greater fixture that better surmises the passing of the torch seemingly taking place in Serie A. Milan are at a crossroads in whether they’re ready to win a 19th title—10 years after they were last crowned league champions, while Juventus hold onto hope of a 10th successive Scudetto.
