AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is expected to make 10 changes to the starting line-up for the game against Bologna compared to the team that beat Napoli.
According to what is being reported by Sky (as seen below), the only player who should keep his spot in the line-up is Mike Maignan. In front of him should be a defence of Alessandro Florenzi, Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu and Fode Ballo-Toure.
In midfield the double pivot is expected to be Aster Vranckx and Tommaso Pobega, with Charles De Ketelaere ahead of them as the central attacking midfielder.
Alexis Saelemaekers is down as the right winger, with Ante Rebic on the opposite flank and an opportunity for Divock Origi to lead the line. It is a heavy rotation in view of Tuesday’s return leg against Napoli, with Pioli clearly hoping to keep his key men fresh.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Kalulu, Thiaw, Ballo-Toure; Vranckx, Pobega; Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Rebic; Origi.
Put CDK as striker, so Adli can start as attacking mid. I’d gladly sacrifice Origi to give Adli some game time. And CDK as CF would have more chance to score the goal he desperately needs for his confidence.
I would wish for the same too.
exactly this.
Exactly!
I would probably put Rebic as a false 9 and place CDK to the right, and Adli as an AM. Origi is just useless, while Rebic wasn’t that bad playing CF. Also, he is not bad at cleaning space and shooting from a distance when needed.
I would wish for the same too.
I understand this is a big risk but I can also see Pioli’s reasoning and I support it. It’s fundamental to have key players like Theo, Leao, Giroud, Diaz and Tonali fresh for the return leg, and some of them were running on fumes at the end of the first leg.
For the rest of the players, I think the alternatives can do a good job. In defense for example, we should be fine with Thiaw and Kalulu as we were with Kjaer and Tomori. It’s the attack where we need a miracle to score with those guys.
Of course Milan could go on and lose both matches, but I think it’s a risk worth taking.
I prefer Messias as a starter, with Alex come as a subtitute. Alex is always a better form when it comes from the bench
Expect a loss vs Bologna. That attack is gonna have total of 1 goal attempt, 0 on goal. Bologna will win 1-0 due to penalty.
I get it, we want fresh and strong players for the away game at Napoli. But CL qualification is not a sure thing and Bologna is im really good form while our bench has been unable to produce anything.
C dis 1….prophet of doom
Imagine this squad shining bright and Pioli having a headache landing them on the return leg with Napoli. Lol. Yeah, I wish we will have this kind of problem one day when you literally have 2 fantastic starting elevens.
So basically, it’s Magic Mike vs Bologna
Two Italians!! Our national team is finished!! When we fail to qualify for tournaments or go out in the first round thank Milan and Maldini!!