Probable Milan XI to face Fiorentina – Bennacer from start; right-wing battle

AC Milan will take on Fiorentina tomorrow evening and updates on the starting eleven have now arrived. Seeing as some of the Rossoneri players were called up for international duty during the break, there are a few things to consider for Stefano Pioli. 

The Rossoneri will be looking to clinch all three points and cement their position in the standings, also preserving the current distance to Inter (and not increasing it). It will not be an easy clash at Artemio Franchi, though, as Pioli himself admitted during the press conference.

According to today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), at least three changes are expected to the starting XI compared to the game against Verona. Theo Hernandez is suspended, meaning Alessandro Florenzi will start, and Pierre Kalulu has picked up another injury.

In the heart of the defence, Fikayo Tomori is the certainty while it will be a battle between Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw for the last spot, though the German is ahead. Ismael Bennacer has recovered from his minor discomfort and should start alongside Tijjani Reijnders.

Olivier Giroud is expected to replace Noah Okafor up front, while the attacking trio could remain the same. Christian Pulisic played a lot during the break, as Pioli also highlighted, so there is currently a battle between him and Samuel Chukwueze. But as things stand, the American is ahead still.

Probable Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Florenzi; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.