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Official: AC Milan vs. Torino starting XIs – Saelemaekers starts at left-back

AC Milan will take on Torino for their season opener at 20:45 CEST this evening and Paulo Fonseca has named his starting XI for the game. It’s the manager’s first official game in charge of the Rossoneri and he will be looking to start with a win. 

In the last few days, there had been many different reports regarding the starting, above all on the right flank as some had Alexis Saelemaekers while others had Samuel Chukwueze. As it turns out, they are both starting with the Belgian at left-back.

It’s a very surprising, not to mention bold, decision by Fonseca and it remains to be seen how Saelemaekers will do in that role. Davide Calabria is the captain of the team and Rafael Leao is the vice-captain.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Loftus-Cheek; Saelemaekers, Pulisic, Leao, Jovic.

Bench: Raveyre, Torriani, Morata, Reijnders, Okafor, Theo Hernandez, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Gabbia, Musah.

Official Torino XI (3-5-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Coco, Masina; Bellanova, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Lazaro; Sanabria, Zapata.

Bench: Paleari, Donnarumma, Karamoh, Sazonov, Adams, Dembele, Dellavalle, Horvath, Tameze, Ciammaglichella, Bianay, Njie.

Milan’s record against Torino at home is very impressive and anything other than a win tonight would be a huge disappointment. The pressure is thus on Fonseca and the boys to get it right, but they will have to unconditional support of the fans as help.

Tags AC Milan Torino

118 Comments

  4. Notice Reinjders isn’t starting either. Guessing they need some time and we will see them in the second half

    @isak the printed official In your article shows Sally at RW and Theo at LB.

  10. That really tells us just how bad Terracciano is on LB. Based on his pre season performances, it really is not surprising.

  11. Talking of Salad not good at RB ,it’s interesting to see him in a similar role but one that I haven’t seen him at before. Hope it goes well and bam Theos deputy and a bunch of other roles we can count on him for quantity. Love Fonsecas boldness.

  12. Good line up.

    We need to understand many have missed preseason because of the Euros and came into a team with a new coach and a new system.

    Let’s grab them first 3 points today lads!

    Forza Milan!

  16. I want to believe this is a mistake.. from the report and list Chukwueze is not in the starting 11 and not on the bench

    Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Loftus-Cheek; Saelemaekers, Pulisic, Leao, Jovic.

    Bench: Raveyre, Torriani, Morata, Reijnders, Okafor, Theo Hernandez, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Gabbia, Musah.

  20. Messias still saving Milan! Conceded 2 goals in their first match after that impeccable defense performance last season, well, this season should be interesting.

  21. Theo is obviously not match fit and there’s no reason to risk any of our players but if Terraciano is not good enough then we need to replace him instead of having him take up space in the team.

    1. I think we actually can’t get rid of Terraciano. Might be a restriction with Italian players. Maybe we can make an offer for Cambiaso at Juventus…

      1. Not that I think we should sell him but terraciano is still 21 so he doesn’t count towards the quota to my knowledge..

  22. Inter drew against Genoa. More questions than answers there. We need to seize the opportunity to start on the front foot …

  23. Very very disappointing lineup (even if we win 7-0).

    0 new signings, same lineup as last season, just a bit weaker, plus nightmare Salad is back, and obviously no left back back up.

    2. Even if we win 7-0 ? how about you get your priorities straight. Goku is right those players will be subbed on later on and the same probably goes for theo.

  25. Daniel Mizrachi, what are you saying? You should be happy that for the first time, you have a coach with balls and nobody on this team is indispensable. You must get a run for your money. He an choose to start Camarda in a match and we will still win it. A coach that can give you unpredictable line ups, every team member now knows that the fittest and best performers will play. Milan for the treble this season!! I’m this optimistic

  30. thiaw really channeling his inner senderous.
    can’t wait til pavlovic and gabbia take the spot from him.
    if only newcastle took him
    sigh

    1. To be fair Savic is the tallest player in the entire league at 2.02 m tall, he is not an easy goal keeper to score on. I wouldn’t mind having him as a substitute.
      Still think we will win though but a far from impressive match up until now.

        1. It would be fine with me but Is it official or just your prediction because I was away from the screen while smoking a cigarette ?

  35. Thiaw blowing coverage on Zapata. I’m beginning to think his IQ is not great. Can’t wait for Pavlo to get up to speed and join Tomori of Gabbia in the middle of the defense.

    1. What did we expect really. Same players. Same formation. Surprisingly same game play. Hope for a better 2nd half also with new faces coming in.

  41. The midfield/defence do not know how to defend together. They’re always out of position looking frantic and its been a problem for the last three seasons.

    When Torino quickly attack tomori and thiaw are so out of position they don’t know what to do

  42. I agree with this midfield and attack. But if you know that the defense is your weak spot at this point at coach, why the hell would you play with Saelemaekers as LB?

  45. Dreadful half by Milan – Thiaw same old terrible defending. Many wasted opportunities and Mike had to be our best player or this game would have been over.

  47. Guys come on, Milan is making more plays and movements than last season. Yes we are losing, and Torino’s movement is causing us a lot of trouble but we are enjoyable to watch and with the new signings definitely, we will be better defensively/

    Just count how many chances we have created.

  49. Comical defending by salad smh, he lost his man for the first goal, also lost his man again and couldve been a second go if it wasnt for maignan’s save smh..chucky? Sigh, he got the ball out of play three times smh

    1. Tried on the RB and he did horrible on pre season. Don’t know what was on the Fonseca’s head playing him on LB.

      And as for Chuk, sorry I’m still unconvinced after that short of decent matches on pre-season. Something is just not right. Maybe he’s not built for this league. Sure he can be helpful with certain matches that are more open. Hopefully I’m wrong tho:

    2. Salad man runs like chicken with no head – he is useless. Fonseca is a fault for playing him on defense first and then keeping him on. Taking our pulisic and putting on Musah is another braindead move. What a waste of 2 hours on a Saturday.

  50. Anyone can say what he wants but our main concern is midfield bennacer and rlc failed to defend or defensive duty Torino midfielders and wing backs are controlling us its disgusting to see bennacer and rlc in ac milan shirt again

  51. I fear if this experiment fons is trying doesn’t bore fruit soon, couple matches, we’re gonna end up doing the same stuff we did last season

  55. saaelemakers this or that..he is trying his best being played out of position. it would have been worse news if we read that he refused to play where the coach wanted – because he knew he would suck at it. the man who puts the square oeg in a round hole should be queried. simple. Why not move leao tho LB while he is at it? or he could not promote the primavera LB if Theo was unfit.
    i hope we get the 3 points no matter how bad we play, cos every slip by inter should be punished with a win on our part.

  63. Pioli and Fonseca are the same – that’s what happens when you are cheap and don’t bring Conte in. We are in for a long season!

    1. We don’t need anymore players and despite this ,I’m still confident of a bright season with Fonseca. Don’t panic !

  65. Day 7 – Pioli came back to life with black hair. Thank you for the amazing transfer window and Pioli 2.0 at our helm. Same old Milan depending on personal sparks to do something. And thanks for the amazing striker – mr I need half an hour to stop the ball and try to score. Maybe in 2027 we will be finally blessed to have a striker if he doesn’t decide to leave till then. Disgrace of a team – 70k at san Siro sleeping . Maybe for the next game Ibra can provide some pillows for the guests – for the to sleep better

  67. Fonseca has had 5 weeks with this team so to take pioli of 5 years out of them is impossible. But I fully expect him to drop saelemaekers and thiaw the next game. But I will say that is one of the worst performances I’ve seen from milan. Opening day and they showed absolutely nothing

  68. Una sure say we no bring pioli back like this atlist he will win Torino we know who pioli can’t beat and can win comfortably

  73. I have never left a game early and I hate those leaving, but today I won’t say anything. All those still there are heroes. One of the worst if not the worst game in many many years.

  78. Was thinking Milan gonna get a reality check now I’m thinking torino getting a reality check.
    To squander a 2 goal lead…

  80. Feels like a victory. Let’s put this one down to growing pains, sheesh… With Thiaw off and Pavlovic in – and Fofana starting I’m sure we’ll be fine. And whatever they do management better not sell OKAFOR.

  81. Without reijnders our midfield is nothing when he comes in Torino midfielders were unavailable so many people used to make him down I’m sure he prove them wrong

      1. He needs DM next to him then he is the boss before he enter the pitch Torino midfielders were controlling the game and he comes in and suddenly changed the game

  82. I knew first game of the season is always hard. But I think we need to get Chiesa and another defensive midfielder. We can’t rely on Leao in my own opinion …

  85. Milan I deceived by preseason, chucks can’t bring any difference, thiaw is dull, salad is like poli he can only do runnings in the middle not in defense, terraciano will do better, pulisic should be rw starter, samardzic has gone to Atlanta he would be the best CAM. Maignan/torriani, Emerson/Calabria, pavlovic/thiaw, tomori/gabbia, Hernandez/terraciano, fofana/Ruben, reinjders/musah, leao/okafor, samardzic/Aldi, pulisic/chucks, morata/jovic and salad as utility man. Zeroli can be backup in midfield, jimenes in SB,

    1. La Dea have reached an agreement over a €20m price tag, with up to €5m in bonuses. End of Samardzic saga. Should have trade salad, benny with him.

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