With the Derby della Madonnina just three days away, Tuttosport (via MilanLive.it) have attempted to predict the two starting line-ups that Antonio Conte and Stefano Pioli will field.
The Milan XI
Pioli will stick with the 4-4-2, the paper claims, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the goal and a full-back pairing of Andrea Conti and Theo Hernandez – despite the former having tonsillitis over the weekend. Simon Kjaer is set to start over Mateo Musacchio and partner Alessio Romagnoli at present.
In midfield Ismael Bennacer will return from suspension, with Frank Kessie partnering him and Samuel Castillejo and Hakan Calhanoglu on the wings. Up front, there are no doubts: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will pair up with Rafael Leao again.
AC Milan’s probable XI (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Castillejo, Kessie, Bennacer, Calhanoglu; Ibrahimovic, Leao.
The Inter XI
It will be a 3-5-2 for Antonio Conte, and although having sustained a finger injury Samir Handanovic is currently set to start between the posts with a defensive trio composed of Diego Godín, Stefan de Vrij and Milan Skriniar.
In the midfield, Marcelo Brozovic will be the regista with Matias Vecino and Niccolo Barella to his right and left respectively. Christian Eriksen will be on the bench.
Antonio Candreva and Ashley Young will act as wing-backs and support a front to of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, given the suspension of Lautaro Martinez.
Inter probable XI (3-5-2): Handanovic; Godín, de Vrij, Skriniar; Candreva, Vecino, Brozovic, Barella, Young; Lukaku, Sanchez.
