Ahead of AC Milan’s clash against Empoli on Sunday, reports have revealed that Pioli is set to change formations and recall several key players to the starting eleven.
MilanNews write that Pioli is set to revert to his favoured 4-3-3 formation – instead of the 4-2-3-1 used against Cagliari – with it, he will bring several of the senior members of the squad back into the starting side.
The defence will stay largely the same, with Mike Maignan in goal, Davide Calabria at right-back and Theo Hernandez in central defence. However, Alessandro Florenzi will replace Alex Jimenez as left-back, whereas in central defence, Simon Kjaer will play alongside Theo Hernandez, with Jan-Carlo Simic being named as a substitute.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will come back into the starting eleven from the start after being rested against Cagliari – he will make up the midfield alongside Yacine Adli and Tijjani Reijnders. With a flat midfield, it offers both Reijnders and the Englishman chances to attack, but Loftus-Cheek could take a permanently more advanced role in the game if the opportunity to do so is there.
After the trio were rested against Cagliari, Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, and Rafael Leao will all be welcomed back into the starting eleven.
On the bench, Pioli will have two more players available to him. Firstly, Matteo Gabbia, after returning from Villarreal, and Yunus Musah, who has recently recovered from injury.
Milan predicted XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Hernandez, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
Substitutes: Nava, Mirante, Gabbia, Simic, Bartesaghi, Jimenez, Musah, Zeroli, Chaka, Jovic.
Unavailable: Sportiello, Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori, Pellegrino, Caldara, Pobega, Okafor, Krunic, Bennacer, Chukwueze.
One game from suspension: Musah, Reijnders.
Our full match preview is available here.
