GdS: Why Thiaw is expected to start over Gabbia against Udinese | OneFootball

Rafael Leao’s exclusion from AC Milan’s starting line-up for tonight’s game against Udinese is not the only change expected from Paulo Fonseca, according to a report.

According to what is being reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews), there are some alterations in defence expected compared to the last few games, with the first one being obvious. Theo Hernandez is suspended for the next two league games, so Filippo Terracciano will take his spot.

The more unexpected news is that Matteo Gabbia – fresh from his call-up to the Italian national team – is not 100% and therefore should not start from the first minute. Malick Thiaw is favoured over Strahinja Pavlovic to pair up with Fikayo Tomori.

On the right side of the defence it will once again be Emerson Royal that gets the nod given that Davide Calabria still out due to injury. As we wrote about in a feature earlier this week, the constant chopping and changing of the rearguard – forced or not – cannot be helping build cohension.

Thiaw has only started one game this season and that was against Torino in the opening round of the season, a 2-2 draw. He has had a physical problem since, but after recovering it was made clear that he was bottom of the hierarchies, yet tonight would give him a new chance.