Messias, Díaz and Krunić expected to lead the line against Liverpool with Ibra, Kalulu favorite to start in defense | OneFootball

Junior Messias and Brahim Díaz celebrating during Genoa-Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 1, 2021. (Photo by Getty Images)

Rade Krunić will replace Rafael Leao in the starting XI alongside Brahim Díaz and Junior Messias in attack.

Tomorrow is Milan’s ‘do or die’ moment in the Champions League, as by the end of the night, they can find themselves in the competition’s Round of 16, or in the Europa League, or out of Europe.

To make it to the next stage, they must beat Liverpool, and hope for a good result in the Porto-Atlético Madrid game (a draw or an Atlético win which is ‘smaller’ than their win against Liverpool).

Coach Stefano Pioli is dealing with many injuries, and will be without Alessandro Plizzari, Davide Calabria, Simon Kjær, Samu Castillejo, Ante Rebić, Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leão and Pietro Pellegri. As a result, Pioli will not be able to field his strongest XI and needs to make decisions.

As reported by Milannews.it, Pierre Kalulu is currently favorite to start over Alessandro Florenzi in the right-back role. Kalulu will play alongside Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli and Theo Hernández, should the French left-back be 100% healthy as he was dealing with a cold today and did not train with the rest of the squad. In goal, there will be Mike Maignan, making his return in the UCL.

In midfield, Sandro Tonali and Franck Kessié will play together, as they often do, leaving Ismaël Bennacer on the bench. In attack, Junior Messias is preferred over Alexis Saelemaekers and should play with Brahim Díaz and Rade Krunić, who’ll replace the injured Leão. No surprises in attack, as Milan’s only option due to injuries for the striker role, is Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Probable XI (Milannews.it): Mike Maignan; Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernández; Sandro Tonali, Franck Kessié; Junior Messias, Brahim Díaz, Rade Krunić, Zlatan Ibrahimović.