AC Milan will take on Cagliari on Saturday night in Sardinia looking to win a third straight league game and continue their push for the title.
According to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, head coach Stefano Pioli will line Milan up with Mike Maignan in goal, plus a back four from right to left consisting of Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli and Theo Hernandez.
A double pivot of Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie means that Sandro Tonali – who missed training yesterday due to a fever – should get some rest, and that gives Brahim Diaz the chance to start as the playmaker.
Alexis Saelemaekers is tipped to start over Junior Messias on the right with Rafael Leao on the left and Olivier Giroud expected to get the nod over Zlatan Ibrahimovic despite also battling a fever earlier in the week.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie; Saelemakers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud.
Probable Cagliari XI (3-4-2-1): Cragno; Goldaniga, Lovato, Altar; Bellanova, Marin, Grassi, Dalbert; Baselli, Joao Pedro; Pavoletti.
Rebic should start. He needs more minutes. Let him run himself ragged, at least Theo is back. Leão needs some rest and he’ll be more decisive if Milan is struggling to score. Rebic can’t and won’t at the moment.
Leão coming in at about 70mins has a greater chance of influencing the game than Rebic making the same entrance, presently. Simple psychology. Bringing on Rebic to change the game is too much pressure for him. Let him start.
Besides, Leão is a better dribbler and with the opponent’s defence already tired, it’s a no-brainer why Leão should start from the bench. No-slip ups please.
I disagree with u. Milan usually score early….with Leao….its almost a guarantee. We nid 2 b in d lead n sìt back..rather than pushing 4 gols desperately
But Cragno is one of the best serie a GK right now. Hopefully, we could find the net
Know what? I would try Rebic as CAM. He’s more of a second striker, and definitely not the best passer – he has good vision, just seems to try to much sometimes. But he can be dangerous from that position too, without a doubt. Also, he’s an attacking player who actually likes to come back and help in defense, which would make him useful in both phases – or at least in defense, if he struggles in offense. If he’s not doing well, bring Brahim at the half, otherwise let Rebic for longer and Diaz can come in for him at around the 70 minute mark or so.