Official: AC Milan vs. Empoli starting XIs – six changes from Slovan win | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named the starting line-up for the game against Empoli at San Siro, and previous reports have been confirmed.

There are the three injury absences: Luka Jovic had surgery on a back problem in the past few days, while Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are still recovering from their respective operations.

Fonseca has chosen a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez ahead of the goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders keeping their spots too.

It emerged in the build-up to the game that Yunus Musah would start and he is expected to play on the right of the attacking trident, though he could also tuck in more as a midfielder.

Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao are also part of the attacking department, while Alvaro Morata is back and starts up front after serving a suspension during the midweek win over Slovan Bratislava.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Leao; Morata.

Bench: Sportiello, Torriani, Calabria, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwueze, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Camarda, Abraham.

Official Empoli XI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Ismajli, Goglichidze, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Henderson, Pezzell; Anjorin; Pellegri, Colombo.

Bench: Perisan, Seghetti, Sambia, Cacace, Belardinelli, Solbakken, Ekong, Tosto, Marianucci, Bacci, Bembnista, Konate, Esposito