Pioli to deploy 4 youngsters for Milan vs Cagliari

AC Milan will face Cagliari in Coppa Italia in the first match of 2024. Pioli will deploy several youngsters from the first minute.

The new year starts with the Rossoneri playing in the Coppa Italia. AC Milan will face Cagliari at San Siro, tomorrow, at 21:00 CET. It is a single match encounter and the winner will proceed to the quarter final facing one between Sassuolo and Atalanta. Coppa Italia and Europa League are one of the few remaining objectives of Stefano Pioli’s squad following the Champions exit and the underwhelming season so far in Serie A.

Stefano Pioli will make a number of changes to his starting formation for Milan vs Cagliari relying on a big number of youngsters starting from the defence. Jan-Carlo Simic will start from the first minute at the heart of the defence alongside Theo Hernandez. Captain Davide Calabria will start on the right with Alex Jimenez making his first team debut against Cagliari. The 18-year-old left back arrived on loan from Real Madrid and plays for Milan Primavera.

The formation set-up up front will change from the regular 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1. Bennacer has left AC Milan to join the Algerian national team in AFCON so Pioli will be without his services for a while. Tijjani Reijnders and Yacine Adli will compose the central duo against Cagliari with more offensive players up front.

Unlike Bennacer, Chukwueze has received a special permit from the Nigerian national team to stay for two more days and play in Milan vs Cagliari. Luka Romero starts in the attacking midfielder position with Chaka Traore, another Primavera player, making his first minute debut. Luka Jovic is in advantage over Giroud to lead the attack in Milan vs Cagliari.

AC MILAN Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan, Calabria, Simic, Theo Hernandez, Jimenez, Adli, Reijnders, Chukwueze, Romero, Traore, Jovic.

CAGLIARI Probable XI (3-4-1-2): Scuffet; Goldaniga, Hatzidiakos, Obert; Zappa, Makoumbou, Sulemana, Azzi; Viola; Oristanio, Lapadula.

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