After the important derby win in Coppa Italia, AC Milan close 2017, today at 12:30 CET, in a difficult transfer against Fiorentina. A win would definitely bring the Rossoneri out of a long crisis.
The victory in the Italian Cup derby gave Milan an important morale boost. Now the team must show that the attitude of Wednesday was not an isolated case: today against Fiorentina a similar performance is needed to bring home the three points. Milan must win to give continuity and move up in the rankings. It will not be easy because the Viola are a tough and talented team.
Wednesday’s challenge gave important signals to the technician who aims to change something regarding the usual choices. We start from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been included in the list of players and therefore may return from the first minute in Firenze. However doubts remain regarding his fitness and his brother is ready to substitute him again. Nikola Kalinic absent instead: in his place Patrick Cutrone, ahead of Andre Silva.
Hakan Calhanoglu who offered a good performance when he entered the pitch against Inter was expected to start but instead coach Gattuso opted to deploy Fabio Borini wide on the left as part of the attacking trio. Thus Giacomo Bonaventura can return to the mezzala position in midfielder. On the other side of the trio, obviously Suso.
In midfield together with Bonaventura the usual Franck Kessie and Riccardo Montolivo. The former captain should still be preferred to Lucas Biglia, author of a good performance in the derby. But that was not enough to convince Gattuso to start him from the first minute today. In defense out Ignazio Abate (injured): in his place Davide Calabria together with Leonardo Bonucci, Alessio Romagnoli and Ricardo Rodriguez.
Fiorentina (4-3-3): Sportiello; Laurini, Pezzella, Astori, Biraghi; Benassi, Badelj, Veretout; Chiesa, Simeone, Thereau.
AC Milan (4-3-3): A.Donnarumma (G. Donnarumma); Calabria, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Montolivo, Bonaventura, Borini; Suso, Cutrone.
