AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has named his side for the Coppa Italia last-16 clash against Lazio, and he has opted for multiple changes.
Milan played in this competition at the Stadio Olimpico a few months ago but lost to Bologna in the final capping a bitter campaign. A lot has changed since, and tonight they face a Lazio side eager avenge Saturday night’s defeat in the league meeting at San Siro.
Lazio vs. AC Milan: Official starting XIs
In terms of injury news, Christian Pulisic returned to training during the week and makes the bench, but Zachary Athekame and Santiago Gimenez remain out. The negative note from the week is that Youssouf Fofana has sustained a muscle problem so he will be out.
Allegri will name Mike Maignan in goal with Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic in the three-man defence, but there is a change: Koni De Winter comes in, to give Matteo Gabbia a rest. Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan will be the wing-backs, as Davide Bartesaghi gets a breather.
Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari will get a chance in the midfield three, taking the spots of Fofana and Luka Modric, but Adrien Rabiot keeps his place. Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes in for Christopher Nkunu and will operate up front with Rafael Leao.
Official Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Ricci, Jashari, Rabiot, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek; Leao.
Bench: Terracciano, Torriani, Gabbia, Odogu, Bartesaghi, Sala, Modric, Pulisic, Nkunku.
Official Lazio XI (4-3-3): Mandas; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino, Basic; Isaksen, Castellanos, Zaccagni.
Bench: Provedel, Furlanetto, Lazzari, Patric, Tavares, Provstgaard, Belahyane, Dele-Bashiru, Dia, Noslin, Pedro, Cancellieri.
Happy to see Ricci and Jashari from the start. Lazio basically using their preferred starting 11. It’s going to be interesting…
Except for the 2nd goalkeeper.
Agreed. Also de Winter. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I know he has the talent but Gabbia has done such a great job and not having Modric in front means Ricci, Jashari and to an extend Estupinian need to step up.
Agree.
Want to see Odogu and Sala as well if the game allows.
Lazio coming to play with there top 11 tho makes that a bit unlikely.
Not bad, I was really hoping he’ll rotate as much as possible.
Where exactly is ricci’s best position? I thought he was to play the deep lying playmaker position.
Wishing us the ver best
Very good line up and rotation. I hope the fresh legs don’t screw this up.
It will be interesting to see where Ricci/Jashari lineup, I’d be delighted to see Ricci in his natural position as regista, though Allegri had said he thought Jashari would play in front of defence.
Nkunku has be just horrible BUT I think he should be starting this game.
Yes, I thought Nkunku will get another game in a row, to see if he will get up to speed or what.
I’m not quiet with this lineup.
The midfield looks good
So many people were doubting jashari i hope they are convinced now
532 with a midfielder up front. I wish we’d use the cup games to at least try a less prehistoric system.
15 mins left and 1 shot on target is pretty poor.
We pose no threat in attack.
Since Theo and Tiji left there is a huge lack of attacking prowess
Nothing to do with 3-5-2 eh? But we’re also conceding 50% less goals.
Yes agreed. Not sure what your point is.
Point is with Theo and Tiji we’d be conceding more.
I disagree. Theo and Tiji would be playing optimal roles as wingback and Box to box midfielder. Both with goals and assists in them.
This attack is toothless
If we had Theo and Tiji in this team/system we would be smashing it
Tiji would have either been benched by Fofana or moved up front
Perish the thought
Allegri ball to the maximum.
Lmao. Yall still enjoying Allegri ball ? My man had only one competition plus the league and he couldn’t even deliver. Smh. I said it last week that this park the bus nonsense will destroy this team’s winning mentality but yall still think Allegri is such a masterclass.
Mourinho is my all time favorite coach but even I know his time has gone. Same as Allegri. His time has gone. Every recent successful coach has to play expansive football and not this nonsense Allegri cooks. We’re so ugly to watch for a team trying to win something and playing once every week. SMH