AC Milan switch back to league action on Saturday evening as they make the trip to the Stadio Carlo Castellani to take on Empoli.
Milan are on somewhat of a high compared at least relative to what has been a difficult season domestically, with a busy end to the winter window followed up by a comfortable 3-1 win over Roma in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.
Sergio Conceicao did not do a press conference before the game, but after the midweek cup win he spoke of there still being many things to work on for his side, with consistency still likely to be the number one thing he is searching for.
As mentioned, Milan looked perhaps their most convincing so far under Conceicao during the 3-1 Coppa Italia triumph over Roma even if they were shaky at the back at times once again.
Tammy Abraham scoring a brace against his parent club is something that will hopefully give him some confidence, while Santiago Gimenez set up Joao Felix for the third goal off the bench so the new signings have started well too.
Fiorentina’s 3-0 win over Inter on Thursday night is a reminder though that Milan simply cannot afford to drop many more points in the league when it comes to the race for the Champions League places, especially against – with respect to Empoli – the lower-ranking sides.
In terms of injury news, the four absentees who remain from the last game are Alessandro Florenzi, Emerson Royal, Warren Bondo and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Some positive news came regarding the latter two though, who should soon resume group training and are targeting the Verona game.
Looking at the lineup itself, it seems Conceicao will again continue with the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 shape that worked so well against Roma in midweek, and there are few changes expected. After all, with such a performance, why should you revert?
Mike Maignan, to no shock, will start in goal, whilst Kyle Walker, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez should make up the back four. However, the central pair could be exchanged for one or both of Malick Thiaw or Matteo Gabbia.
In midfield though, there are seemingly no chances of any swaps – Yunus Musah, Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders are expected to continue together. Though, Conceicao could opt to give Reijnders a break…
The most amount of doubt concerns the front three. Christian Pulisic and a returning Rafael Leao could feature on the wings, but after the Portuguese’s midweek absence, Pulisic may be rested. Up front, Tammy Abraham and Santiago Gimenez are battling for the spot, though Gimenez is winning currently.
Predicted Milan XI (4-4-2): Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Sottil, Musah, Fofana, Pulisic; Abraham, Joao Felix.
