GdS: Predicted XIs for Feyenoord vs. Milan – Conceicao expected to use 4-2-3-1 | OneFootball

AC Milan face off against Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League play-off round tie tonight, and Sergio Conceicao will opt for an attacking side.

A lot of the build-up to the game has been dominated by the question marks regarding whether Conceicao will use ‘The Fantastic Four’ from minute one, namely Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez. Well, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, we have our answer.

Predicted starting XIs

There are eight absences for Milan: Alessandro Florenzi, Emerson Royal and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are injured, Yunus Musah is suspended while Alex Jimenez, Warren Bondo, Riccardo Sottil and Luka Jovic are not in the UCL squad list.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport believes Conceicao will go for an attacking trident of Pulisic-Felix-Leao behind Gimenez, who makes his return to face Feyenoord after only leaving them nine days ago.

Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana will be the double pivot given the lack of alternatives, with a defensive line of Kyle Walker, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez ahead of Mike Maignan in goal.

The only doubts concern the centre-back department where Tomori has a 70-30 chance of starting over Matteo Gabbia, and in midfield where Filippo Terracciano has a 40% chance of playing over Joao Felix in a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Joao Felix, Leao; Gimenez.

Predicted Feyenoord XI (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Moder, IB Hwang, Timber; Hadj Moussa, Carranza, Paixão.