AC Milan vs Roma Prediction and Betting Tips: Best bets for San Siro quarter-final tie

AC Milan and Roma clash in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at the San Siro on Thursday at 8pm, with the action available to watch on TNT Sports 4.

Milan are on a terrific run of form heading into the contest and they will fancy their chances of gaining a first-leg advantage over Roma, who have improved since Daniele De Rossi replaced manager Jose Mourinho in January.

The Rossoneri's Serie A title hopes have almost been extinguished, as they sit 14 points behind leaders and fierce rivals Inter, but a top-four finish looks assured and they can put all their eggs into the Europa basket.

It's a different story for Roma, who are three points off fourth-placed Bologna and still battling for a Champions League place, but they have a strong Europa League record and came close to lifting the trophy last season when losing to Sevilla on penalties in the final.

Milan are without Fikayo Tomori for Thursday's fixture due to suspension, while Tommaso Pobega and Pierre Kalulu are both sidelined through injury.

Evan Ndicka is serving a ban for Roma and is unavailable, as is the injured Sardar Azmoun, while Dean Huijsen and Rasmus Kristensen were not included in their Europa squad list.

Milan are on a seven-game winning run heading into this contest, scoring 17 times, while they have suffered just one defeat from their last 13 home assignments in all competitions.

The Rossoneri have been involved in two entertaining Europa League ties since dropping down from the Champions League, beating Rennes 5-3 on aggregate in the play-off round before thumping Slavia Prague 7-3 across two legs in the last 16.

Scoring goals hasn't been an issue for Milan, who have netted in 29 successive matches, but they have been susceptible at the back and have conceded in four of their last six fixtures.

Roma have looked better since De Rossi took over, losing just two of his 15 games at the helm, but they are without a win in their last three away fixtures and they haven't beaten the Rossoneri since October 2019.

The Giallorossi should have enough to get on the scoresheet, though, as they have failed to find the back of the net in just two outings under De Rossi's guidance.

Milan are set to welcome back Ruben Loftus-Cheek after his domestic suspension and he could play a starring role in the first leg.

The English midfielder has scored six Serie A goals this term, leaving him joint-third in his club's charts, while he has netted four times from as many Europa League outings.

Fresh and raring to go, Loftus-Cheek will be eager to maintain his impressive recent form which has seen him score three goals in his last five appearances and he looks a lively contender to grab the opener on home turf.