News The Match

Official: Napoli vs. AC Milan starting XIs – Pioli makes just one change

By Isak Möller -

Stefano Pioli has announced his AC Milan starting eleven for the game against Napoli this evening, making just one change compared to the defeat against PSG. Given the absences, this was expected. 

In addition to Marco Sportiello, Mattia Caldara, Ismael Bennacer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Kjaer was also ruled out for tonight’s clash due to an injury. Malick Thiaw will also miss out, albeit due to a suspension.

Pioli, therefore, has decided to make just one change to the starting XI we saw against PSG earlier in the week. The captain Davide Calabria is back on the right-hand side, with Pierre Kalulu replacing Thiaw in the centre of the defence.

As for Napoli, Victor Osimhen and Zambo Anguissa are both missing from the XI. The midfielder is on the bench, at least, after recently recovering from his injury.

Official Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Musah, Krunic, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.

Bench: Mirante, Nava; Bartesaghi, Florenzi, Pellegrino; Adli, Pobega, Romero; Jovic, Okafor.

Official Napoli XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrhamani, Natan, Mario Rui; Elmas, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia.

Bench: Gollini, Contini; D’Avino, Olivera, Østigård, Zanoli; Anguissa, Cajuste, Demme, Gaetano; Lindstrøm, Simeone, Zerbin.

More Stories about AC Milan
CM: Spurs join race for Torino star but Milan have player-plus-cash deal in mind
GdS: Why Milan could have the edge over Inter in pursuit of Bologna star
Non-threatening attack, Bastoni finds weak spot: Tactical analysis of AC Milan 1-2 Inter
Tags AC Milan Napoli Stefano Pioli

56 Comments

  2. Milan has talented players but a lack of leadership and spirit, you don’t see any player really bleeding for winning and really fighting for the symbol.

    Zlatan is missing, I hope they will gain this spirit soon, and show some in the game tonight.

    2-1 Milan

  4. I am a fan of Olivier Giroud. I believe he has a lot left to give. However this makes no sense unless fitness is an issue for Okafur and Jovic. I’d almost say put Puli up there and bring on Romero or he’ll stick Musah there. He’s covers every blade of grass on the field anyway.

    I think Pioli is saying one thing (won’t change tactics) but will do another. If that is th case and we play more total football and less dump and chase with Leao:

    Milan 2-1.

    Puli with another right place right time.
    Okafur with good movement gets the second. TR with an assist. Musah off the bench at 60 for Krunic changes the game in our favor.

    I wish I was saying Musah for Adli. I’m a Krunic fan and like what he brings when fit. I don’t think he starts second half. He was not fit AT ALL the last two games. With the evolution of Adli and the work rate of Musah I am left wondering what is happening behind the scenes in training. It’s been nice to see pics of Bennacer back training at Milanello.

    I’m happy to see Kalulu back at CB. With Tomori playing lights out, I expect the pair to find that lights out form from 2 years ago and take some pressure from Thiaw. What a luxury a fit Kalulu is.

    I hope we see 10+ minutes for Bartesaghi today. Romero as well as the game allows.

    I will say that the future is bright. Every minute Adli and Musah get shows great potential for great midfield for many years to come. Hoping to see same for Barts and Romero.

    1. If you are krunic fans.. I mean you are a divination of a failure.. how can you be a fan of someone that can’t make good pass or long ball.. someone that always give the keeper the ball or defender

      1. Because pass and long ball are part of the list of position, Marshall, Defend, available, etc.

        I’m not saying the guy is great or anything. I’m saying he plays a role we need in _some_ games. This whole Adli and Musah evolve.

  5. Of course his baby boy Krunic is starting. Two absolutely horrendous games in a row and he’s rewarded with a start. Pioli needs to be sacked now. This is a joke.

  8. Why everything in Milan is deffrent, many fan here are not milanista they are Milan hetar, wether you like it or not Forza Milan❤️🖤

  11. Well there’s Pioli’s true feelings on Adli for those wondering. He just doesn’t see him as a starter plain and simple. The early hook in the Juve game, bringing him on late in the PSG are all signs when you think about it. That Adli cameos are probably the only ones we’ll get to see this season or as long as he’s coach. Granted they are two different players I don’t see why the offensive route isn’t the preferred option

    2. No positive results here. Milan to loose terrible and pioli be sacked and give him space to take his wife to maternity and never ever come back again near Milan.

  13. Listen, with this roster, no matter how limited, even Pioli can muster a Top 3 finish. Scudetto this season will be a stretch if Pioli doesn’t beat top teams.

  15. We may be 0-2 up but we have been lucky Napoli missed chances.
    Pellegrino has looked completely out of his depth since coming on, no surprise really, what a place to make a debut

    Surely Simic or even Bartesaghi would be better options, given they have some experience, albeit very little.

    Bravo Giroud (though poor goalkeeping and defending)

    There will be more goals

      1. I posted after our 2nd goal. Politano should have equalised when it was 0-1, missed an open goal.

        Yes we had more good chances after that, shame we could not finish them off. Its 1-2 now and Napoli look dangerous

    2. If we’re lucky, i don’t know what Napoli is. We should’ve scored at least 4 goals. We eat ’em alive. And let’s keep attacking thru our right side because they seemed to be unprepared there.

  17. Waiting for the ‘sack pioli’ merchants to crawl back into their hole… 😅
    This season started off very well and will continue that way.
    Forza milan 🖤♥️

  19. Even though the game isn’t won yet i really hope all the people cincerely hoping us to lose 4 or 5 -0 because you dont like pioli sits with a sour taste in their mouths by now.
    Forza Milan.

  22. I don’t blame Pellegrino one bit cos this is why you play your players against smaller teams because of events like this. You can’t throw the kid into a game like this and expect him to work wonders.

    2. You do realize that before this match pioli had played 24 players of 29 players and amongst them a 17 year old bartesaghi has been featured 3 times even if only as a substitute, we have fielded an 18 year old romero . Add to that of the remaining 5 players who hadnt played before today there theres a primavera goalkeeper( nava), (caldara), Pellegrino – just joined, (bennacer- long term injured and chaka traore a promoted primavera player.

      That all in 13 matches where we have fielded a total of 25 players of a squad 29 and even some of them are basically still primavera player

  23. Why did Pulisic come off?

    What a waste bye Leao, should have passed to Romero not try a dumb chip.
    He and Theo are really annoying me these days

  24. We are playing with one center back lol
    Cheers to the people who want to see Simic and Pellegrino play….this is why the don’t play

      2. Yes and no. Smaller teams will still target him. But what I’m seeing isn’t related to opponents taking him on. It’s based on his positioning and just looking shaky on the ball. It’s either you’re of the level or not. Xavi brought on Yamal in the el Classico. Js

  26. At this point, I’ll prefer Pobega, slow as whatever, can still shoot accurately; instead of Tijani. Game should have been buried in the first half.

    1. Bro as much as I hate on Slowbega, I’ll always give him props for getting into attacking positions like his last name was Inzaghi

Comments are closed

Serie A Standings

Live football scores . Current table, fixtures & results.