The Stadio Artemio Franchi takes center stage today, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as AC Milan travels to face a struggling but resilient Fiorentina. Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT (15:00 local time) for this critical Serie A Matchday 20 fixture.
While the table reflects a stark contrast—with Milan chasing the Scudetto and Fiorentina fighting to exit the relegation zone—the atmosphere in Florence is electric as "La Viola" look to build on a recent upturn in form.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Serie A (Matchday 20)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT / 15:00 local / 09:00 ET
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Referee: Davide Massa
Broadcast: Paramount+ (US), TNT Sports (UK), DAZN (Italy)
The Storyline: Title Aspirations vs. Survival Instincts
AC Milan: Chasing the Nerazzurri
Massimiliano Allegri’s side arrives in Tuscany following a frustrating 1–1 midweek draw with Genoa. It took a 92nd-minute equalizer from Rafael Leão to preserve Milan’s incredible 17-game unbeaten streak. Sitting just three points behind league-leaders Inter Milan, the Rossoneri cannot afford another slip-up if they wish to keep the pressure on their cross-city rivals, who face a tough test against Napoli later tonight.
Fiorentina: Finding a Rhythm
Despite sitting 19th in the standings, Fiorentina is finally showing signs of life under Paolo Vanoli. The Viola have picked up significant home wins against Udinese (5–1) and Cremonese (1–0) recently. Their midweek performance saw them leading Lazio until a 95th-minute penalty forced a 2–2 draw, a result that both buoyed spirits and left a lingering sense of "what if." They start today just three points away from safety.
Team News & Probable Lineups
AC Milan Team News
Suspended: Fikayo Tomori is out, meaning Koni De Winter is expected to step into the back three alongside Pavlovic and Gabbia.
Injury Ward: Santiago Giménez and Christopher Nkunku (ankle) remain unavailable.
Rotation: 40-year-old Luka Modrić is expected to start on the bench to manage his minutes, with Ardon Jashari potentially earning a start in midfield.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Maignan; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Jashari, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leão.
Fiorentina Team News
Absentees: Edin Džeko is doubtful with a foot injury, while Amir Richardson remains inactive.
January Spark: New signing Marco Brescianini could make his first start against his former club, while Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon is expected to feature from the bench.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Gosens; Mandragora, Fagioli; Parisi, Brescianini, Gudmundsson; Kean.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Road Warriors: Milan is the only team in Serie A yet to lose an away match this season (W5, D3).
Florence Hoodoo: Fiorentina has won three of their last four home games against Milan in the league.
Goal Streak: Six of the last seven meetings between these two sides have seen both teams score.
Leão's Favorite Victim: Rafael Leão has scored six goals in eight career appearances against Fiorentina, though only one has come at the Franchi.
Tactical Analysis: Pragmatism vs. Desperation
Allegri is likely to deploy a disciplined 3-5-2 to neutralize Fiorentina’s wide threats, particularly Robin Gosens and Albert Gudmundsson, who has been clinical since arriving in Italy. For Fiorentina, the challenge is defensive concentration; they have dropped a league-high 18 points from winning positions this season. If the Viola can maintain the intensity they showed at the Olimpico, this could be a long afternoon for the title challengers.
Match Prediction
Milan’s quality in transition and their relentless consistency on the road make them favorites, but the Franchi has historically been a "trap" for the Rossoneri. Expect a hard-fought encounter with chances at both ends.
Final Score Prediction: Fiorentina 1–2 AC Milan
