AC Milan face Torino in Serie A on Saturday night, and here’s how Stefano Pioli’s starting line-up could look for the encounter.
With second place already secured, the stakes aren’t as high as we’d hoped at this stage of the campaign as the Rossoneri simply look to finish the year on a positive note.
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Amid ongoing speculation over Pioli’s future, he’ll also be keen to sign off on a high, while building some momentum and belief heading into the summer and next season will also be important for this group of players after what has been an underwhelming campaign.
Our 5-1 win over Cagliari last weekend was a more enjoyable boost and although it promises to be a difficult trip to Torino this time round, it’s hoped that we can showcase that same level of quality, particularly in the final third.
Pioli could make up to four changes to the side that defeated Cagliari though, with Samuel Chukwueze missing out due to injury, while Theo Hernandez has emerged as a doubt with flu. Injured duo Simon Kjaer and Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain out, while Matteo Gabbia is suspended.
As per MilanNews, that could give Filippo Terracciano an opportunity to deputise at left-back, with Fikayo Tomori also coming in to partner Malick Thiaw as Pierre Kalulu continues at right-back.
Mike Maignan returned to group training this week, but the French international may not be risked for this one as Marco Sportiello is likely to continue to deputise for another week at least.
In midfield, we could see Yunus Musah, Ismael Bennacer and Tijjani Reijnders continue, but there will be changes up top as Luka Jovic is being tipped to replace Olivier Giroud, Noah Okafor will come in for Chukwueze, while Christian Pulisic completes the attacking trident as he looks to continue what has been an impressive debut season with us.
Pioli is seemingly unfazed by the risk or reaction of making key changes at this late stage of the year, with Maignan, Davide Calabria, Theo, Rafael Leao and Giroud all expected to be on the bench.
While some have good reason to be there, with Giroud looking to avoid injury ahead of his final game at San Siro next week before his summer departure to join LAFC, it remains to be seen if the Milan boss has found the right balance and personnel for this game to come away with all three points.