Massimiliano Allegri has named his starting XI for today’s clash between AC Milan and Leeds United, giving Ardon Jashari his first minutes with the red and black shirt.
The penultimate friendly of the pre-season is upon us. Leeds United are the opponents and after two consecutive wins, Milan will be looking to make it three today. Since they are taking on Chelsea tomorrow as well, though, the XI isn’t as strong as it could be.
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Furthermore, the likes of Warren Bondo, Alex Jimenez and Christian Pulisic have been left out of the squad for the games. The midfielder is on the verge of completing a loan move to Cremonese, while the others are recovering from injury.
Leeds United vs. AC Milan: Official XIs
Allegri has decided to give Jashari his first start, and minutes, for the Rossoneri after a good week of training at Milanello. The youngster Emanuele Sala is also starting in midfield, while Santiago Gimenez is back up front after vacation.
Official AC Milan XI (4-3-3): Terracciano; Magni, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Musah, Sala, Jashari; Chukwueze, Gimenez, Okafor.
Bench: Maignan, Pittarella, Torriani; Bartesaghi, Coubis, Duțu, F. Terracciano, Thiaw, Tomori; Eletu, Modrić, Ricci, Saelemaekers; Sia.
Official Leeds United XI (4-3-3): Perri; Schmidt, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka; James, Piroe, Gnonto.
Bench: Cairns, Darlow; Bijol, Byram; Gruev, Longstaff; Aaronson, Chadwick, Gray, Harrison, Nmecha, Ramazani.
❗ OFFICIAL: #ACMilan‘s starting XI for #LeedsMilan
🤔 Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/MAN6iRqiix
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) August 9, 2025
Are we playiing 352 next season or 433? I’m so confused..
gonna be both…
our team is quite flexible with Alexis and Jimenez being more natural LM/RM players
Barte can play LCB, while Estupinan is comfortable on LM
Pulisic played well as box-crasher in midfield
Okafor can play as SS/ST
433 to dominate weaker teams and 352 to play it safe and compact on counter against stronger teams.
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Where is Leao?
We are playing chelsea tomorrow, I’m sure we are saving some players for that
So much to evaluate.
What’s happening with Jimenez? He hasn’t featured at all and now isn’t on the bench even.
Injured
What’s happening with Jimenez? He hasn’t featured at all and now isn’t on the bench even.
There is something right and good in the world to see Gabbia wearing the armband.
Forza Milan
Our outside backs look slow and Estupinan looks like he lacks quality on the ball.
So far what I’ve learned is we will play with a 3 man back. (14th min)
Oka4 is moving well and Gimenez looks like he is in the right spots.
Jashari is everywhere. Not sure if that is a good thing.
Estupinan will need time to really settled.. Milan jersey can be too Heavy on some players most especially those who never dream or believe they could wear it…
He has been playing fairly so far and Jashari feels more comfortable playing for the very first time.
I maintain Ampadu is a player who could have been excellent for us, absolute bargain for Leeds
Gimenez! Good for him, finishes his chance.
That was a very nice team goal.
Okafor looks sharp in getting it started and this kid Sala seems to have that right-place-right-time skill.
Gimenez roofing it was a statement
So no one sees the pass from Chuckwueze..he started the pass and still follow.
It’s just crazy how he’s not getting enough playing time
Exactly
Chucky always performs well in preseason, not new.
I’m adding GK Terra to my list of don’t need to see again. He seems almost timid attacking the ball and leaving his line.
Let’s get Torriani more involved.
Torriani was lights out against Arsenal and then gets benched the rest of the preseason…
So far we are not looking bad. Definitely we are playing way better than last season. Even the young boys are pulling their weight
We are a bit all over the place this game, but a lot of changes from our other preseason games. Was worried for Estupinan, he did some mistakes early and have not impressed in previews games but he got more involved as the game progressed, potential there for sure.
First half Good
This Sala kid is not playing like a kid. He is breaking up play and getting forward with purpose. Hope he is not related to the f-ing Mayor.
Oka4 looks excellent on the wing. I want to see him at the 9 is the second half. We should be keeping him.
Gimenez looks more like the guy we wanted/needed last season. He is staying in the middle and providing a good reference.
Gabbia + Pavlovic looks solid with Jashari and Sala screening. We look vulnerable on the wings. But that is our weak FB.
The bad …
Magni is slow and his running mechanics are not great. I doubt we see much more of him at the first team level.
Chuk looks like mediocre Chuk. He will never be more than a back up except in emergency.
Estupinan improved a bit, but the ball still stops when it gets to him. Usually it goes back, sometimes it goes to leeds. He also looks slow. I expected more at this point.
Musah looks like Musah without th defensive blunders but with the over carry of the ball and late passes. If this is the new level then there is progress but not enough.
GK Terra bobbled at the end continuing to look shaky.
Maybe this got caught in a moderation queue? Does this site have one?
With this Milan management he will follow the same route like others youth player who have been involved in the pre season match with the first team.
Sala looks very calm and mature, reading the play very well
The announcers seem to be impressed that 26 yr old Stach left one in on the 17 yr old Magni on a friendly.
Couple of changes at the 60. Sia and Eletu for Jashari and Gimenez.
Excited to see Eletu in action
I don’t know much. Any tips on what to look for?
Terraciano is a bum
GK Terra let’s on in at the far post. Sorta like Mike at the near. Should not have happened.
Torriani coming on immediately. Quite a statement?
Terraciano. Lmao.
And Torriani comes on immediately makes a decisive and clever play on the ball.
Pav has given the ball away 5 times at least.
This kid Coubis is both a physical specimen and plays like an Italian trained defender.
He is in the right spot with his feet and hips in the right place.
I like what I see enough to be a bit less grumpy about selling Thiaw.
Interesting that we have Thiaw, salad, Terra and Ricci coming on at 82.
That’s 2 starters a super sub and a utility guy. Max must want the points 🙂
If he did, I think he would have brought them in Immediately after the equaliser.
I’m happy with the way Allegri has handled the preseason so far. You can see that the guy is in charge.
Yeah I was joking.
And I agree. We are seeing the identity persist as he plugs various players into roles.
So much better than the Portuguese Pair from last year.
Second half ….
The good …
Torriani comes on and we just look better in defense. I don’t need to see GK Terra again.
With the added quality of players at 82, Sia suddenly looked very dangerous and very clever.
Oka4 goes the whole 90. Fitness was a problem but today not so much. Same with Estupinan.
Coubis looks like a big scary dude who knows where to be. Want to see more of hi lm tomorrow
Our central defense as a unit and even with rotation was organized. Credit Allegri and the players.
Salad provided two key passes that were missed.
Ricci is the bad cop directing traffic from Leeds where they don’t want to go. We’ve needed that.
The Bad …
Chuk was moved central and became a ghost.
Our FB/Wings are simply not good enough.
GK Terra was timid and not at all in sync with the defense.
Overall Allegri showed the 433 and a shift to 352 and 343 while maintaining defensive organization (can’t quite say compactness). Some youngsters really shown particularly Torriani, Coubis, Sala and Sia. It’s clear the last three need quality next to them but we can bring them up when the inevitable injuries and fatigue set in.
I won’t say Chuk needs to go, but anyone calling for him to get more time isn’t watching the games. He’s a sub – and not a super one.
If he did, I think he would have brought them in Immediately after the equaliser.
I’m happy with the way Allegri has handled the preseason so far. You can see that the guy is in charge.
I’m also worried about who plays LB tomorrow against Chelsea. Bertesaghi? The lad is definitely not ready. But anyways, it’s just a friendly and maybe Allegri is trying to mould him. He has faced Saka, Salah, Frimpong, and will face Palmer tomorrow. Lmao.