AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has named his starting line-up to face Fiorentina, and it is an almost obligatory 11 selections.
Milan have been decimated by injuries in the past few days, with six absentees expected for the game against La Viola this evening. Christian Pulisic, Adrien Rabiot, Christopher Nkunku, Pervis Estupinan and Ruben Loftus-Cheek join Ardon Jashari in the stands.
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Given the squad only had 19 outfield players to begin the season with, and Jashari suffered a leg fracture in August, it is a dire situation for such a big game, one in which a win would send the Rossoneri top.
AC Milan vs. Fiorentina: Official starting XIs
The good news for Allegri is that he can call upon the same rearguard of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic ahead of Mike Maignan. They will aim to keep a seventh clean sheet of the campaign.
The youthful wing-back duo of Zachary Athekame and Davide Bartesaghi have been called upon, with Alexis Saelemaekers moving to play behind the striker Rafael Leao. Samuele Ricci, Luka Modric and Youssouf Fofana are the midfield three, and the bench is down to the bare bones.
Official Milan XI (3-5-1-1): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Athekame, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi; Saelemaekers; Leao.
Bench: P. Terracciano, Pittarella, De Winter, Odogu, Sala, Gimenez, Balentien.
Official Fiorentina (3-5-2): De Gea; Pongraci, Pablo Marì, Ranieri; Dodò, Fagioli, Nicolussi Caviglia, Mandragora, Gosens; Fazzini, Kean.
Bench: Martinelli, Lezzerini, Comuzzo, Viti, Kouadio, Parisi, Ndour, Gudmundsson, Sohm, Sabiri, Fortini, Piccoli, Dzeko.
Here we go, 3 points
What a bench, yikes!!
Well this is what happens when you sell off half the squad in order to post a profit.
I’m very confused as to why Gimenez is not playing, his last match was his best and he’s the only fully fit forward.
Surely keeping Alexis in his wing back position and having Rafa playing off Gimi would make most sense.
Anyway we have no bench tonight, so it’s plan C and no other plans available
We literally just got released from the UEFA settlement agreement. Like literally this past July, but dense will dense. Nothing to be done about it. Then as to Gimenez, my understanding is that he’s suffering from fatigue, and also Allegri sees him and Leao as no. 9s, therefore playing the same role, with Nkunku and Pulisic being the supporting forwards.
“but dense will dense” lol the irony
Leao was sent home by Portugal for being in poor condition.
I’m sure allegri see’s Alexis as a wing back etc etc, point is we have no fit attackers so needs must.
I hope to see Gimi come on in 2nd half that way Rafa and Alexis can do what they do best, assist.
So far we have 0 shots on target.
I guess I was right given allegri has subbed in Gimi for Atakame
We have 3 starters and 2 key subs out with injury. One of our most expensive signings ever has yet to play because a busted leg. Our big money signing has a fatigue problem.
But we sold off half the team? Yeah, Musah would save us. Bennacer would be in the stands with Puli and RLC plotting how to screw us at the end of the winter window. Maybe Walker could come back and … Oh yeah. Oh oh wait Felix is they guy! He would absolutely gesticulate us into a better situation. Reinjders would play for who and pass to whom?
I hope you are happy on your real life.
Genuinely don’t understand that.
None of those players you mentioned were sold bar Tiji.
And yes he was and would be hugely important given he was our best player
Great effort by Gimi and great save.
We need to win this. Come on guys!
And here I was thinking we finally had depth. Just look at our bench…
I mean we do have 5 first team injuries..
The depth is what’s on the field right now. Can’t expect the third string to be world class. But the second line is pretty good as subs….Ricci… Athekame, Barts 🤷♂️
Let’s go boys!!!!
We got this!
maybe our worst bench in years
Can someone tell me why Fofana is running around like a headless chicken? No positioning, awareness or nothing.
Given what I’ve seen so far, our injuries, and Leao’s utter uselessness as a no. 9, I think this will be a 1-0 game for one side or the other.
I’m a big Ricci fan, but he is not really suited for being a mezzala. He should be playing Modric’s role, which is difficult since Modic is the best midfielsed on the pitch, and probably the league. But people here will say he’s trash for playing out of position.
Perhaps they could swap positions for this game given the situation
Modric is incredible. Not only does he dictate the pace and direct the attack, he runs back and slide tackles to intercept dangerous balls. And there is no one in the league that can do it as well. And he is 40.
Absolutely. Pure magic
I really like balentien that lad got skills
Leao needs to play off of a striker. He can’t hold the line. It’s not his game. Either that or put him more as a left forward and have him cut in. Otherwise I’d like to see Balentin come on the field. I think that move can create havoc with the way the game is going, his unpredictability might be a good asset here.
Agreed, think we shud bring on Gimi for Atakame and let Leao play off him, slightly to the left with Alexis going back to the right.
We have had zero penetration thus far
Alegri give chance balentien pls
Just switch to 343
Mike
Tomori Gabbia Pavlo
Saele Ricci Modrić Bart
Balen Gimenez Leao
If Hollywood want to make another Invisible Man movie , they surly can relying on Leao for that role
What? Keep quiet.
Another Comedy of Errors for a goal conceded, and against a team that had an xG of .02 until that moment. That’s football I guess.
Leao for the 1-1. Playing where he’s supposed to be. Good grief!
Nice one Rafa!!
Team instantly looks better after the substitution
Well I’m glad Leao prove me wrong 😆😆 but he just lost a future job at Hollywood 😆😆
Lovely goal Leao! Like ppl were saying here put him slightly left and cut in. He works best in that role. Team looks different in a good way already
Now let’s go for the dub!
Modric is too good… What a player.
Gimenez should always be in the starting eleven.
Please don’t let fofana take it
That sh!t almost gave me a heart attack!
I know, I’m trying to enjoy my Sunday eve. That’s just unnecessary ffs!
Good lad Rafa! That will do you good
What is it about playing Fiorentina that we don’t know who our pk takers are? Smh 🤦♂️
And why in the world is Youssef ‘Tow triple Z shots’ Fofana grabbing the ball as if to take the PK?? Good grief, get it together guys!
Anyways glad we got that PK because if it had been in us they would have definitely give it against us.
Good job Leao! That should shut up GdS etc for a week or so
Very important win for us. Hard game . A lot of important players missed from injury. A hard month ahead of us. I hope Pulisic and Rabiot will come back as soon as possible..