Missing midfielders mean Milan and Juve destined for a draw

AC Milan have beaten Juventus just once and kept one clean sheet against them since the Rossoneri last won the title in 2011. That was at the San Siro where Clarence Seedorf’s side host the 9/4 favourites for the Europa League in Serie A action.

Reigning Italian champions Juve are 21/20 with Coral to take three points from their trip to Milan and extend their lead to 11 over Roma at the top.

Antonio Conte’s Old Lady have only won once in their last four away games in all competitions, but have lost one in the league all season.

Fiery Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who has been the penalty taker for Turin giants Juventus this term, misses this match through suspension. Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic are also out.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini is rated doubtful for Juve, but Conte should restore wingback Kwadwo Asamoah and 24-goal Serie A parternship Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente to attack.

That may be a little harsh on Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, a loan signing from Southampton, after scoring in both legs of the Europa League win over Turkish team Trabzonspor.

Tevez may be ignored by Argentina, but he is now joint leading scorer in Italy’s top-flight. Back the former Manchester City and United striker to net the opener at 9/2. Big Basque centre forward Llorente, meanwhile, is 11/8 to get a goal anytime.

Milan, 11/4 to win here, have recovered to just four points off the top-six under Seedorf, but are still 16 away from the Champions League places. The Rossoneri’s home record is one win in four in all competitions, which mirrors the recent away performance of the Old Lady.

Leading Milan marksman Mario Balotelli misses out with a shoulder problem, so Giampaolo Pazzini should lead the line despite a nose problem. His record against Juventus is average, with four goals in 16 appearances and half of those in losing efforts.

Pazzini is 15/8 to score anytime and Adel Taarabt, who has two in three Serie A games, is 5/2 to net here. The likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Matias Silvestre, Cristian Zapata, and Bryan Cristante are all out injured.

Sulley Muntari, who bagged a brace in the reverse fixture, is banned. Key personnel are thus missing from the midfield melee on both sides. As both teams are in similar form and Juve not long back from that trip to Turkey, odds of 9/4 on a draw look most tempting.