AC Milan face Atalanta in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday night, and here’s how Stefano Pioli’s starting line-up could look for the encounter.
The Rossoneri are starting to put together a positive run of form after three consecutive wins across all competitions, including a 4-1 victory over Cagliari in the last round of the Coppa Italia.
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Our injury crisis largely forced Pioli to field a much-changed side last week, with many of our youngsters getting an opportunity to impress, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
While it could be argued that many of them, as well as our squad players, deserve another chance to help us advance into the last four of a competition that we should be targeting as a genuine chance of winning silverware this season, there could be a stronger look to the Milan line-up this time round.
Such is the level of the opposition, coupled with the high-profile exits in the last round which has opened up the draw, Pioli may feel as though he needs to go with a strong Milan XI, regardless of how it impacts our preparation for facing Roma in Serie A on Sunday night.
With that in mind, Mike Maignan could start between the posts, with a back-four consisting of Davide Calabria, Matteo Gabbia, Theo Hernandez and Alex Jimenez in front of him.
The likes of Antonio Mirante and Jan-Carlo Simic could come into the argument here and so it remains to be seen which way Pioli goes, but getting Gabbia minutes could be crucial in this one as he reintegrates back into the side after his loan spell at Villarreal.
In midfield, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah could be the trio we go with, as similarly to Gabbia, Musah needs playing time too, but in order to build his match fitness and sharpness after his injury setback.
Again, Yacine Adli in particular might be an option that is preferred instead, but that midfield three could offer a better balance.
Luka Jovic is expected to lead the line as Olivier Giroud will get a rest, but time will tell if it’s Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao who provide him with support out wide.
They would of course be our more experienced and proven options, but Chaka Traore will be itching for another chance to make an impact along with Luka Romero, and so time will tell what Pioli decides on.
New signing Filippo Terracciano is expected to be named on the bench and so it will be interesting to see if we get our first look at him and in which position given his versatility, but it’s hoped that regardless of who gets the nod in the Milan starting line-up, we’re able to get the win and advance.