AC Milan and Inter will face off in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie at San Siro, and Sergio Conceicao has submitted his starting line-up.
Milan are hoping that the old adage of ‘form goes out of the window in a derby’ continues, given they have won two and drawn one against Inter this season, despite being eight places lower in the table.
Conceicao knows that he can still leave the club at the end of the season (as he is expected to) with two trophies in just six months of work, one of which came in the Supercoppa final against the Nerazzurri in his second game in charge.
The starting XIs
As highlighted in our pre-match preview, the only absentees are Emerson Royal (who should miss another 20 days), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (out for a month after appendix surgery) and Yunus Musah returns who has a fever. Malick Thiaw has recovered from a sickness bug.
Conceicao has decided to go for a four-man back line made up of Kyle Walker, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez in front of goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders the midfield double pivot.
Then, Christian Pulisic is in the attacking midfielder role, with Alex Jimenez flanking him to the right, Rafael Leao returning on the left and Tammy Abraham remaining up front.
Milan will have some options off the bench such as Santiago Gimenez, Sunday’s scorer Luka Jovic, Joao Felix, Samuel Chukwueze and Warren Bondo.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Jimenez, Pulisic, Leao; Abraham.
Bench: Sportiello, Torriani, Terracciano, Florenzi, Pavlovic, Tomori, Bondo, Sottil, Joao Felix, Chukwueze, Gimenez, Jovic.
Official Inter XI (3-5-2): Martinez, Bisseck, De Virj, Bastoni; Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Carlos Augusto; Thuram, Correa.
Bench: Sommer, Di Gennaro, Acerbi, Pavard, Dimarco, Lavelli, Berenbruch, Re Cecconi, Zalewski, Aidoo, Mkhitaryan, Arnautovic.
Lol, Inter almost playing a B team. We need to seize this opportunity, because the Coppa Italia is basically our last hope for European qualification. This game needs to be won by at least two goals, three would be best, but I’d take any kind of win.
You will some clown here talking about all is forgiven if i mean if we beat Inter because Inter make us motivated. All we care about this year is to beat them. We forget if we are behind them for 20 points. Typically Milan fan
We need to play straight to attack, we can’t pass in the center, it will be useless and will be turnovers.
Jimenez??? As a midfielder????
Nah, dude is playing as our RW. Trust the coach, he knows what he is doing. Lol
It does seem like 433 with Jimenez covering on RCM.
Let’s do it again! Forza Milan!
It’s not worth commenting anymore. Each new match day, the team is tweaked. If we win u enjoy, if we loose, it’s usual. However, make us proud
Started off like we are defending a lead – we need to be quicker out from the back – Maignan’s distribution is woeful…
I don’t get this team, how are we winning? Lol whatever Forza Milan.
Of course.
This is utterly embarrassing! We’re playing inter without 3 of their most important players plus Piotr and Arnautovic and we can’t win? This is just sad
Why in god’s name did he sub off Leao?