Pioli makes 5 changes for Milan vs Napoli
AC Milan will host Napoli at the San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Pioli set to make five changes.
On Wednesday the Rossoneri will face Napoli again. This time, AC Milan vs Napoli will be the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Stefano Pioli’s side needs to forget the disastrous league draw against Empoli and focus on the 4-0 match that they won at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
The Italian coach will make five formation changes for AC Milan vs Napoli deploying the same team the faced the Partenopei last time. Simon Kjaer will return from the first minute alongside Fikayo Tomori. Davide Calabria will be on the right with Theo Hernandez on the opposite flank. Mike Maignan will be between the posts.
One of the winning moves against Napoli was the decision to have a traditional three-man midfielder without a trequartista. Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer will be accompanied by Rade Krunic. The absence of an attacking midfielder will impact mostly the position of Brahim Diaz.
The Spaniard will be moved to the right wing rather than play on his usual position. Rafael Leao will be on his classic left winger position. Both will be in support of Olivier Giroud. The absence of the French striker was frightening of the match with Empoli but Giroud needed a rest to catch his breath.
AC MILAN Probable XI (4-3-3): Maignan, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Tonali, Krunic, Bennacer, Diaz, Leao, Giroud.
NAPOLI Probable XI (4-3-3): Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Mario Rui, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Politano, Kvaratskhelia, Simeone.
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