AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli will welcome Rafael Leao back into the starting line-up for tonight’s do-or-die Champions League game against Newcastle, a report claims.
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According to the latest update from La Gazzetta dello Sport this morning (seen below), Pioli is expected to field Mike Maignan in goal with a back four of Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez and Theo Hernandez in front of the Frenchman.
Theo will play centrally alongside Tomori again by virtue of necessity, because Simon Kjaer has not recovered in time from his muscle problem and Davide Bartesaghi should be the only defender available on the bench.
The midfield three should then consist of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah which has become the first choice trio for big games it seems.
They will be operating behind a front three of Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud and the returning Rafael Leao, with Pulisic diverting back to his favoured right wing given that Leao is fully fit and can start.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Musah; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
Probable Newcastle XI (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Miley; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
