AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli is unlikely to risk Rafael Leao from the start against Atletico Madrid tonight, according to a report.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport reports the Milan team that Pioli should field tonight in the Spanish capital and it starts with Ciprian Tatarusanu in goal, protected by a back four of Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Alessio Romagnoli and Theo Hernandez.
The midfield double pivot should be Sandro Tonali and Franck Kessie again just as it was on Saturday night, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Brahim Diaz occupying the right and left wing spots. Rafael Leao is not in the best condition, so Rade Krunic is likely to be the playmaker behind Olivier Giroud.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Tonali, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao; Giroud.
Probable Atletico Madrid XI (3-5-2): Oblak; Savic, Gimenez, Hermoso; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Lemar, Carrasco; Suarez, Griezmann.
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we need Zlatan not Giroud as a starter, this is a UCL match not serie a game and above all it’s a crucial game, common Pioli
Giroud won UCL with Chelsea and he also won world cup with France and you think he doesn’t deserve as a starter? Holy F, some Milan fans are ridiculously stupid! 🤦♂️
Kinda wouldn’t agree with you. Zlatan can assist and do playmaker role which we are lacking. He can get back, lure defenders, sometimes good at destroying build ups and hold the ball or make some tricky passes through defense lines. He is even good at mental pressure on opponents pushing and provoking them to fail.
Whilst Giroud is a 100% finisher. He is great at scoring goals, but if only there are proper assistants behind him. But now we have literally no one to deliver the ball to him. No attacking midfieldier and Giroud is almost useless except good header skills on corners.
Exactly
Where are the goals going to come from with this lineup? You cannot have Saleamakers on one side and Krunic on the other with Giroud. Start Ibra. Neither Krunic or Saelemaekers can create anything, Giroud is a good finisher but he needs others to create opportunities for him. They would be better off doing a 4-3-1-2 with Giroud and Ibra up front if Leao is not able to start.
Im generally not that fond of messing too much with a formation that has been working well for us over the last year but if leao isnt ready i fully agree 4-3-1-2 would make the most sense from what i can see as well and we need to win anyways so having two players upfront instead of two wingers that doesnt contribute a lot with goals or assists propably would be the wisest.
Atletico is extremely defense focused team. They almost never play as favorites even with weak opponents. It means ACM will be leading the game. So Pioli probably just wants to let Zlatan in over tired Atletico defenders with a hot plan depending on situation.