AC Milan host Verona at San Siro on Saturday night but Stefano Pioli has problems to deal with as he considers his starting XI.
The Rossoneri will be without Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez this weekend, with the former undergoing surgery on his wrist this week while his compatriot is out due to a positive COVID test.
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Add to the mix doubts over the likes of Davide Calabria as well as a string of other absentees due to injuries, there is likely to be a familiar look to the Milan line-up along with limited options off the bench.
As we continue to try and keep up the pace set up leaders Napoli at the top of the Serie A table and maintain our unbeaten start to the campaign, it will certainly be a test this weekend as we look to avoid any slip-ups and show the same relentlessness that we’ve displayed through the opening seven games.
Milan team news vs Verona
Milan have no suspensions to deal with, but as noted above, both Maignan and Theo Hernandez are out and join a number of teammates on the sidelines.
It’s unclear at this stage if Calabria, Rade Krunic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available, but there was good news on Thursday as MilanNews reported that the trio all returned to group training to suggest that they are on the right path.
Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alessandro Florenzi and Messias Junior could all be ruled out, and so it really does leave Pioli will a lack of numbers.
Time will tell if the starting XI can get the job done, but they’ll certainly have to give us a strong start if we hope to claim all three points in this encounter.
Probable Milan XI vs Verona
As seen in the graphic below, Ciprian Tatarusanu is expected to come in for Maignan, while Fode Ballo-Toure will deputise at left-back for Hernandez.
Alessio Romagnoli will be eyeing a start alongside Fikayo Tomori with Simon Kjaer possibly rested for the trip to Porto on Tuesday night in the Champions League, while Pierre Kalulu could step in for Calabria if he isn’t given the green light to feature.
Ismael Bennacer and Sandro Tonali are our two in-form midfield options but it remains to be seen if Franck Kessie displaces the former, while the trio behind the frontman is likely to change with Pioli noting that Brahim Diaz isn’t in top condition currently in his press conference on Friday.
That in turn could see Daniel Maldini come in to replace him through the middle, and with Olivier Giroud back at the Milan boss’s disposal, that could see Ante Rebic shifted over to the left flank with the Frenchman leading the line as our focal point up top.
Milan will hope to have Ibrahimovic as an option to come on and impact the game if needed in the latter stages, but he won’t be ready to start given his lengthy stint out.
There is undoubtedly enough quality in this side to secure a win on Saturday, and it’s hoped that we do so and come through unscathed in terms of no further injury blows to an already weakened squad.
