AC Milan get our Champions League campaign underway at home to Newcastle Utd on Tuesday night, and Stefano Pioli has big decisions to make.
The Rossoneri suffered a disastrous 5-1 defeat to Inter in the Derby della Madonnina this weekend, and so while a reaction is expected in midweek, it’s pivotal we get our selections right to be in a position to get a positive result.
READ MORE: Milan player ratings vs Inter: Disastrous Rossoneri display in heavy defeat
Pioli has used a consistent starting XI for the most part so far this season in Serie A, and it has paid dividends as we started the domestic campaign with three consecutive wins.
However, the manner of the defeat on Saturday may well force him to think about changes in this one, but the suggestion is that there could be just two for a crunch showdown with the Premier League side.
Tomori returns, Chukwueze to get nod?
Mike Maignan will continue between the posts, and there could be just one change in front of him in his defence. Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez are expected to stay in the starting line-up, but Fikayo Tomori will return to replace Simon Kjaer, having been suspended at the weekend.
That backline should be eager to make a point after the disaster this weekend, and we’ll undoubtedly need them to step up and put in a solid shift in order to give us a strong foundation to go out and win the game.
Despite also disappointing against Inter, it’s likely that the midfield trio of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rade Krunic and Tijjani Reijnders will continue, while Olivier Giroud will lead the line and Rafael Leao will provide our main threat down the left flank.
There could be a change on the opposite side though, with suggestions that Samuel Chukwueze could get the nod ahead of Christian Pulisic in an important role to give us an attacking balance, as per MilanNews.
While Chukwueze hasn’t particularly stood out when involved off the bench so far this season, Pioli may feel that’s a better match-up that could provide us with a more effective threat given his pace and quality on the ball, but time will tell if that’s the choice he makes ahead of kick-off.
Given the difficulty of getting out of this competitive group, it’s imperative that Milan start well, and it certainly won’t be easy against Eddie Howe’s side as they look to make a big impression on their return to Europe’s top table.
In turn, if it is indeed the Milan XI below that starts, we need to be aggressive, play with the necessary intensity and desire and be clinical in key moments to ensure that we come out on top.
There is undoubtedly the quality in the side to do it, and coupled with the fact that there are several individuals who need to deliver a performance after the horror show we witnessed on Saturday, the approach and mentality need to be spot on.
That said, with question marks being raised over Pioli’s tactical decisions and set-up after yet another heavy defeat to our city rivals, he arguably has the biggest point to prove despite the positivity around our initial start to the season.
Predicted AC Milan XI vs Newcastle Utd: Maignan, Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Giroud, Leao.
