AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has had the last few days to study which team will be the right one to overturn the first leg deficit against Roma, and he seems to have made his decisions.
According to what is being reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, Mike Maignan should return between the posts after missing the draw against Sassuolo due to fatigue.
The back four in front of him should consist of Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez as the right and left-backs respectively, then Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori as the central defensive pairing.
The big news is regarding the midfield, where Yunus Musah is now expected to get the nod over Ismael Bennacer to partner Tijjani Reijnders. Ruben Loftus-Cheek keeps his position as the attacking midfielder.
That means Christian Pulisic will start on the right, with Rafael Leao on the opposite flank and Olivier Giroud leading the line. The likes of Bennacer, Yacine Adli, Noah Okafor, Samuel Chukwueze and Luka Jovic can all come off the bench.
Roma meanwhile are down as having a 4-4-2 system compared to the 4-3-3 they have been using. Svilar should be in goal; Celik, Smalling, Mancini and Spinazzola form the back four; El Shaarawy, Bova, Paredes and Pellegrini are down as the midfield four; Dybala and Lukaku lead the line.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Predicted Roma XI (4-4-2): Svilar; Celik, Smalling, Mancini, Spinazzola; El Shaarawy, Bove, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku.
We need Adli for this one I think. Someone is going to need to pick the lock…:
I think I understand the idea behind this, and I don’t say that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but starting with Musah is a big gamble. Musah holds the ball for too long, dribbles too much and it’s not positionally sound. I hope that his strength, pace and stamina will be the deciding factors tonight.
We need dictating brains on the field, not Forrest Gump.
I’m personally in favor of moving Pulisic over to the attacking midfield and putting Chukwu on the right flank. But I could see the logic in starting with RLC in the no. 10 position and Pulisic on the right and see what happens. At the half if we’re tied or down, bring on Chukwu with fresh legs, move Pulisic to the trequartista, and either sub RLC off or another midfielder if underperforming.
Seriously ???
….And that’s how Pioli lost the match again without starting it as it happened last week….
Bring a DT PLEASEEEEEE, clowns are better fit on circus not on soccer fields
Worth a try. Isma seems to lost his touch after the injury (stilll not in his best shape for a more positive view). And Adli will leave more hole in our mid that it already is.
agree. it’s a gamble. But, as you said, Bennie isnt the Bennie we know. Recovering from an injury is one thing, getting back to your 100% is another. Adli would be a known quantity in that role but given that we are already behind, playing away, what the heck, let’s go for it.
Chuk must start on the right.
Regardless of what Pioli does with the RLC/Pulisic.
Yet another chance for Giroud too. 😞
It won’t be bad if we play a 442 formation
I see Musah ain’t getting much love here