Massimiliano Allegri has named his starting eleven for the important game between AC Milan and Napoli, making six changes compared to the mid-week action.
Milan are in pursuit of first place in the standings, knowing that a win against Napoli tonight would get them there. However, as has been highlighted in the papers as well, the feeling is that the game could go either way.
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AC Milan vs. Napoli: Official starting XIs
Compared to the mid-week clash against Lecce in the Coppa Italia, Allegri has made five changes to the eleven. Matteo Gabbia is back in the heart of the defence, while Youssouf Fofana and Luka Modric partner with Adrien Rabiot in midfield.
Up front, Christopher Nkunku has been sent to the bench as Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic are starting. The American has been in red-hot form at the start of this season and he will surely play a key role in tonight’s game.
Rafael Leao is back in the squad and could perhaps get some minutes off the bench, though Allegri will probably be pretty cautious. As for Napoli, they have some notable absences in the defence – mainly Alessandro Buongiorno – but there are no surprises.
Official Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez.
Bench: Pittarella, Terracciano; Athekame, Bartesaghi, De Winter, Odogu; Loftus-Cheek, Ricci; Leão, Nkunku.
Official Napoli XI (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Marianucci, Juan Jesus, Gutiérrez; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Højlund.
Bench: Ferrante, Milinković-Savić; Beukema, Mazzocchi; Elmas, Gilmour, Neres, Vergara; Ambrosino, Lang, Lucca.
❗ OFFICIAL: #ACMilan‘s starting XI for #MilanNapoli.
🤔 Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/MgUdJc2BIQ
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) September 28, 2025
I think we can win this. Especially with Napoli having a bunch of starters injured. Anyway this it the real test for how good we really are.
if we win its great momentum , if we draw , its a point and if we lose , we lost to the best and we can still make top 4 by beating every low team and probably the scudetto that way. we should win this however i predict 2-0 win for us , pulisic and pavlovich goals (just a guess )
No doubt we will beat Napoli 3-1
It will be a midfield spectacle, but our overall starting 11 can contain Napoli. My hopes are high on a win. Another good display on our flanks will do us much good. Gimenez, pls score for me
Review after 1st half
francesco camarda just got a goal before santi giminez in serie a…. not to downplay our 40 m striker , he is still far better than camarda . but we need to see more from him (id like to keep him fyi)
Mctominay is a danger to our run of clean sheets, but overall we have a strong team and have been playing well. We stay unbeaten.
Forza Milan
Unbeaten? How bout cremonese?
(correction) ..since cremonese.
Looking forward to this one, should be good!
I have a pretty good feeling about this match but clearly it can also tip in either direction so I guess any guess will be as good as the other but hopefully we can bag a win.
Forza Milan. Let’s go. Given Napoli’s issues in defence, I would actually be disappointed if we didn’t win. A loss would be a very bad sign. All that said, I think a draw is still likely.
OMG. Pulisic is a f-cking star.
Great start and what a build up.
Let’s go boys!!!!
Nice action for the goal!
Dealing with high balls, Maignan’s Achilles Heel.
Fofana with the field goal
KC Chiefs replacement for Butker lol
Fofana,. Don’t ever sboot. Please just pass, don’t shoot, even if you’ve passed the keeper and it’s you alone in the 6 yard box, wide open goal with no one else near you lol
Like I said…. Just pass lol 😅
Christian Beast-lisic!!!
I wanna see if Leao replaces Giminez in the longer term, how we would look. It’ll add a whole set of other worries for opposing defenders 🤔
I honestly don’t know. Will leao do the dirty work that Gimenez does?
Yea not sure about that either but at least he’ll keep a few defenders on their toes
Gimenez going too deep too many times. Don’t know if it’s instructions from Allegri
Any complains about Allegri???
Some of u guys are eating your humble pie
No one can talk about alegri alegri is great coach his history are speaking
62% possession to Napoli
You were saying? Giving up 62% at home was always going to be trouble. Always under pressure. Napoli have squandered at least three chances. And now, after constant pressure, we give up a pen and are down to 10. I guess catenaccio for 30+ minutes now.
I said before alegri is winner he knows how to win pall possession isn’t his stuff 3 points are important for him
Oh just give it some time. Mark that comment and come back in a year, maybe even Ina few months
Ebbs and flows bro
Alegri doesn’t play beautiful ball but he is winner
I understand, but be measured in your optimism. I’m happy with how things are going so far, but I always remind myself that this is Allegri
Lol best comment
I’m happy but I also know…. Many know lol 😂
FFS. Tomori Tomoriing. That’s one of the next starting 11 upgrades to look at next summer.
Have a pretty much unwatchable stream. So annoying, been looking forward to this and we are winning 2-0.
Still delighted just can’t comment on the action
2nd half begins. Hoping for more Milan goals as Napoli will attack to score.
Gimenez, make me proud
No fcking way!
Always us. Why?!?!?
How is that dogso? Gabbia is available for the challenge wtf
I’d take off Gimi tbh. Puli has crazy work rate
Pervis fans? Where are you?
Why don’t you like Pervis? He’s been solid in every single game so far and was good up until the red? You don’t like his looks or something?
Oh yes, he is the first Milan defender to ever get a red card, got it… my bad.
De Winter should come in for gabbia. He will do better with the crosses into the box
Not the right situation for Leao IMHO. Should have been RLC. We’re going to essentially be 9 v 11 now when out of possession.
True
Atekhame isn’t ready for Milan. Boy is apprehensive in possession.
Should have kept Jimenez. Especially playing this system
Uff! Leao looks rusty. Would have done him a world of good to play alongside someone up top, but the red card
Bartesaghi putting in a really good shift. He should make Estupinian work really hard for that spot
Hells yeah Milan!!!!!!! Way to tough it out!
Yessssss fck yeaaaa!!!!!
10 men for almost a half
We deserved that dub!
This is sooo satisfying
Did you see in the last minute Modric running back right past Leao??? What a player.
Bartesaghi has earned his spot. Kid is good. Nothing to complain abt after a win.
We have some serious matches to think about in the coming fixtures.
FORZA MILAN