AC Milan host Juventus in a key Serie A showdown on Saturday, and here’s how Paulo Fonseca’s starting line-up could look for the encounter.
Four points split the two sides ahead of this weekend as the Rossoneri look to close the gap on the top six, and so it’s a pivotal game from our perspective as we look to put a strong run of form together heading into the festive period.
READ MORE: Boost for Milan as ace resumes group training after injury setback
With Matteo Gabbia resuming group training this week, Milan are almost at full strength now squad wise, albeit we’re still without long-term absentees Alessandro Florenzi and Ismael Bennacer.
Nevertheless, that’s an important boost for Fonseca moving forward while he looks to mastermind a crucial win in the more immediate future, and the Milan boss does have a couple of key decisions to make when it comes to his starting line-up vs Juventus.
Loftus-Cheek or Musah to start on right side of midfield/attack?
Mike Maignan will continue between the posts, while a back-four consisting of Emerson Royal, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez is expected to start ahead of him.
As noted above, Gabbia is now back training with the group, but it’s unlikely at this stage that he will come straight back into the starting XI.
Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders could form the midfield pivot, with MilanNews suggesting that Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao could get the nod to support Alvaro Morata as the attacking trident in the final third.
Alternatively, La Gazzetta dello Sport believe that Ruben Loftus-Cheek could start instead of the USA international and form a midfield three with Pulisic and Leao on the flanks to provide service for Morata, and so it will be fascinating to see what the Milan boss goes with.
Ultimately, he has to formulate a gameplan that is best suited to beating a strong Juventus side that has yet to lose in the league this season and has conceded just seven goals in 11 outings, giving them the best defensive record in the Italian top flight.
Milan have the quality across the pitch to match their energy and intensity while also possessing the quality to win individual duels and create openings, but it will require a disciplined and creative performance to get the better of our rivals, and the XI below could be the best chance we have of securing all three points.
Would you make any changes to this touted Milan line-up?