AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has made a number of changes from the team that beat Cagliari in the Coppa Italia in midweek for today’s early kick-off against Empoli.
After naming a team with the likes of Antonio Mirante, Jan-Carlo Simic, Alex Jimenez, Luka Romero and Chaka Traore for the cup victory over the Sardinians, Pioli has reverted to type amid a continued injury crisis.
Mike Maignan will be in goal with Davide Calabria at right-back and Alessandro Florenzi at left-back, then Theo Hernandez will be used as a centre-back again alongside Simon Kjaer who comes back into the side.
Tijjani Reijnders and Yacine Adli are expected to be the two deeper-lying midfield players, given that Ismael Bennacer is now away at the African Cup of Nations, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek a bit further forward in the No.10 role.
In attack Pioli has gone with what is clearly now his preferred front three, meaning Christian Pulisic will be on the right wing, Rafael Leao on the opposite flank and Olivier Giroud down the middle.
Luka Jovic will be able to lend a hand off the bench hoping to continue his red hot form, while Yunus Musah is available to come on too, as is Traore after his goal in the Coppa Italia in midweek.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Theo, Florenzi; Reijnders, Adli; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Bench: Nava, Mirante, Jovic, Romero, Gabbia, Chaka Traorè, Jimenez, Musah, Simic, Zeroli, Bartesaghi.
Official Empoli XI (4-3-3): Caprile; Ebuehi, Walukiewicz, Ismajli, Luperto; Baldanzi, Grassi, Maleh; Gyasi, Cancellieri, Caputo.
Bench: Perisan, Berisha, Shpendi, Marin, Cancellieri, Ranocchia, Destro, Maldini, Indragoli, Sodero.
