The top four train is very close to leaving without AC Milan, and that makes tonight’s game against Bologna a do-or-die.
Bologna-Milan was originally meant to be played at the end of October, but the game ended up being postponed due to risk of flooding in what actually ended up being quite a farcical situation in the end.
Fast-forward to the end of February, and the game has a lot more meaning now than it might have done then. The Rossoneri are eight points behind Juventus in fourth and this is the game in hand, so a win is needed to trim the gap.
The predicted starting XIs
Milan remain without Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is getting closer to a return but will not be available, while Kyle Walker will also sit out. Both Englishmen could be back after the Lazio fixture at the weekend.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Sergio Conceicao will break up the ‘Fantastic Four’, the ‘Fab Four’ or whatever media-dubbed name you prefer. Joao Felix will be the one to miss out, with Christian Pulisic, Tijjani Reijnders and Rafael Leao operating behind Santiago Gimenez.
Yunus Musah will therefore partner the returning Youssouf Fofana in the midfield double pivot. Alex Jimenez, Malick Thiaw, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez should be the back four ahead of Mike Maignan.
The doubts are listed as Leao-Felix at 60-40% in favour of the former, then Musah-Felix again at 60-40%. The likes of Felix, Riccardo Sottil, Tammy Abraham, Samuel Chukwueze, Luka Jovic and Warren Bondo are bench options.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Theo; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez.
Predicted Bologna XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria, Lucumi, Beukema, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Pobega, Ndoye; Castro.
It will be so weird to see Calabria marking Leão.
Bologna are slight favorites, so we might be in for more disappoinment and an official end to any hopes for top 4.
This experimenting is why we are where we are. Should’ve never moved Tijji from that role. Especially not at the expense of Felix. He should compete with Leao for that LW spot.
yup. it’s very counter intuitive. Tiji playing awesome at #10, Let’s change it. Puli having a great season, let’s bench him. LOL.
In an ideal world, i would put Bondo instead of Musah. That midfield is the right balance; especially considering the tendency of our RB/LB to push forward. Felix is good, but he should be the change of pace when Puli,Leao,Tiji need a rest or when we are chasing the game and need all in forward.
Agreed. Especially since as soon as you move Felix out of his way, Reijnders scores. I’m not even sure why Felix keeps starting, or finishing games for that matter.
As so often is the case.
You haven’t updated the Predicted line-up part to match the rest of the article. It still shows Tomori and Felix.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Felix; Gimenez
With this formation now i feel content for the first time in this new era ever since Felix arrived
What if Musah knocked one in. That would be wild.
This milan team can not win any club in seria a or Europe conviniently ,it’s not the name that matters anymore ,it’s the will and zeal ,I wud give this game to bologna as I did predict in the Torino game …milan made lot of mistakes by letting go of maldini ,pioli ,this were men that communicated with the conscience of the players and milanistas shud forget abt top four this season cos we will be disappointed ,these players do not show on the field that the want to be in the champions league they play more like a team comfortable in 15th position