Official: Sassuolo vs. AC Milan starting XIs – seven changes from Roma loss | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has made a number of changes to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s game against Sassuolo compared to the side that lost to Roma on Thursday.

In terms of absences, Mike Maignan is struggling with fatigue and will thus miss the game, while Tommaso Pobega and Pierre Kalulu are both continuing their recoveries.

Pioli has named Marco Sportiello in goal as Maignan’s replacement, with Alessandro Florenzi and Simon Kjaer coming into the back four. Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez keep their spots from the Roma game.

There is a double change in the midfield with Yunus Musah partnering Yacine Adli in the double pivot, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is playing further ahead in the attacking midfielder role.

Samuel Chukwueze has been given the nod on the right wing over Christian Pulisic with Rafael Leao remaining on the left. Luka Jovic starts up front, allowing Olivier Giroud to have some rest.

That means Milan will be able to call upon the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, Ismael Bennacer, Pulisic, Giroud and Noah Okafor off the bench.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Sportiello; Florenzi, Kjaer, Thiaw, Theo; Musah, Adli; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Jovic.

Bench: Nava, Raveyre, Calabria, Bennacer, Giroud, Pulisic, Reijnders, Okafor, Tomori, Terracciano, Gabbia, Zeroli.

Official Sassuolo XI (4-2-3-1): Consigli, Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Viti; Boloca, Obiang; Thorstvedt, Volpato, Laurientè; Pinamonti.

Bench: Pegolo, Cragno, Missori, Racic, Matheus Henrique, Mulattieri, Bajrami, Ceide, Kumbulla, Lipani, Doig, Ruan Tressoldi, Defrel.