AC Milan lose 5 players for Roma match
AC Milan will host Roma tonight at San Siro but Pioli will not have a big number of players at his disposal for various reasons.
It looks like the new year has started on the wrong foot at Casa Milan. The many player absences because of injuries and Covid don’t seems to slow down and could have a harmful impact on tonight’s important encounter against Roma.
Coach Stefano Pioli has to prepare the match against Roma without 10 players. Kessie, Bennacer and Ballo-Toure are busy on international duty. Pellegri and Kjaer are injured while five other players will stay out because of Covid.
With an official statement AC Milan confirmed that Ciprian Tatarusanu has tested positive while the other players haven’t been named yet. However, they are likely to be Alessio Romagnoli, Fikayo Tomori, Samuel Castillejo and Davide Calabria. This situation has forced Pioli to change his initial plans for the starting eleven against the Giallorossi.
Total overhaul in defence with Pierre Kalulu and Matteo Gabbia replacing Tomori and Romagnoli. The two youngster will have a tough job against Roma forwards. Florenzi and Theo Hernandez complete the defence with Mike Maignan between the posts.
The Bakayoko-Krunic duel looks to have been won by the Bosnian. Krunic will form the central duo in midfield alongside Sandro Tonali. Junior Messias will play on the left wing with Alexis Saelemaekers on the opposite side. Brahim Diaz completes the trio in support of Olivier Giroud who is in advantage over Ibrahimovic.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Kalulu, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Messias, Diaz, Saelemaekers; Giroud.
ROMA (3-5-2): Rui Patricio, Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez, Karsdrop, Cristante, Veretout, Pellegrini, Vina, Zaniolo, Abraham.
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