Robinho returns to Milan’s trident attack, while Martin Caceres steps in for Giorgio Chiellini as Juventus visit San Siro this evening. Christian Abbiati pulls out in the warm-up.
Robinho returns to Milan’s trident attack, while Martin Caceres steps in for Giorgio Chiellini as Juventus visit San Siro this evening. Christian Abbiati pulls out in the warm-up.
The historic Serie A showdown kicks off at 19.45 GMT, though what was a Scudetto battle with Sulley Muntari’s controversial ‘phantom goal’ nine months ago is now a very different beast.
The Rossoneri are in 13th place and 17 points adrift of leaders Juventus, missing Massimo Ambrosini, Daniele Bonera, Alexandre Pato, Luca Antonini, Muntari and Djamel Mesbah.
Robinho returns to the starting XI after his injury problems, joining on-form Stephan El Shaarawy and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Abbiati was meant to start in goal, but he pulled out during the warm-up with back pain to make way for Marco Amelia, giving the captain's armband to Riccardo Montolivo.
President Silvio Berlusconi visited the training ground this weekend and confirmed Milan are trying to sign Pep Guardiola for next season.
Juve are forced to make a change at the back, as Chiellini has not recovered from a calf strain he picked up against Chelsea.
Caceres is picked to take his place, leaving Lucio on the bench, while Leonardo Bonucci has recovered from a stomach bug.
Mirko Vucinic starts in attack with Fabio Quagliarella and Mauricio Isla is preferred to Stephan Lichtsteiner, while Andrea Pirlo faces his former club.
Milan: Amelia; De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant; Montolivo, De Jong, Nocerino; Robinho, Boateng, El Shaarawy
Milan bench: Gabriel, Acerbi, Zapata, Emanuelson, Flamini, Strasser, Bojan, Pazzini, Niang
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Quagliarella
Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Lucio, De Ceglie, Marrone, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pepe, Giovinco, Matri, Bendtner