Milan host Torino at San Siro on Monday night as we look to get back to winning ways and avoid being left further adrift for fourth place after this weekend’s results.
From the disappointment of coming up empty-handed against Inter after an impressive first-half performance to being held by Juventus in our Coppa Italia meeting last week, it’s been a frustrating period in back-to-back games.
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In turn, it’s crucial that we put that behind us and put three more points on the board on Monday, but it won’t be easy against a Torino side who are just five points above the relegation zone and who are in desperate need of a boost themselves having won just one of their last five league outings.
No changes from Pioli
As per MilanNews.it, it’s expected that Stefano Pioli will pick the same XI that faced Juventus last time out and will likely go with the 4-2-3-1 system in this one too.
With Andrea Conti still suspended, that will see Davide Calabria keep his place at right-back, while Simon Kjaer could continue to keep Mateo Musacchio out in defence.
Ismael Bennacer will look to continue to impress in midfield, while in-form Ante Rebic should rightfully keep his spot in the line up and continue to provide us with a real threat in the final third behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Theo; Bennacer, Kessie, Castillejo; Calhanoglu; Rebic; Ibrahimovic.
Sky Sport Italia have gone with the same personnel, but they believe that Milan will adopt a 4-4-1-1 system instead, and so it remains to be seen what Pioli goes with.
What is clear from recent outings is that Rebic playing down the left flank but with the freedom to drift inside is his best role, while Hakan Calhanoglu has shown improvement finding space between the lines and driving at defences in support of Ibrahimovic.
Samu Castillejo will continue to offer a superb work ethic down the right with a touch of quality, while Bennacer’s partnership with Franck Kessie in a two-man midfield showed positive signs against Juventus.
In turn, it could be argued that this is the ideal XI for Milan, although the likes of Rafael Leao, Lucas Paqueta and Giacomo Bonaventura could ultimately have a say off the bench as we need others to make an impact if we’re struggling to break Moreno Longo’s side down.