Keisuke Honda and Adil Rami start Milan’s Coppa Italia tie against Spezia, the first under caretaker manager Mauro Tassotti.
Keisuke Honda and Adil Rami start Milan’s Coppa Italia tie against Spezia, the first under caretaker manager Mauro Tassotti.
This Round of 16 game kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 GMT and comes just days after the club sacked Massimiliano Allegri.
New Coach Clarence Seedorf is due to take over from tomorrow and could potentially be in the stands tonight.
It is also a big game for Japanese fans and journalists, as Honda gets his first start in a Rossoneri jersey, having made his debut as a substitute in Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo.
Fellow January buy Rami also starts in defence, while Giampaolo Pazzini makes his comeback from a lengthy injury.
Spezia are a Serie B side who are currently 12th in the table, but have surprisingly reached the last 16 of the Coppa Italia.
They beat Pro Patria, then earned a shock qualification on penalties against Genoa before thumping Pescara 3-0.
A familiar name is Nicola Leali, the Italy Under-21 goalkeeper owned by Juventus, while ex-Livorno midfielder Pasquale Schiattarella is thrown straight into the starting XI.
Milan: Abbiati; Zaccardo, Mexes, Rami, De Sciglio; Poli, Montolivo, Cristante; Honda, Robinho; Pazzini
Milan bench: Amelia, Gabriel, Bonera, Silvestre, Zapata, Emanuelson, Nocerino, Birsa, Kakà, Petagna
Spezia: Leali; Baldanzeddu, Bianchetti, Lisuzzo, Migliore; Seymur, Bovo; Schiattarella, Catellani, Rivas; Ferrari
Spezia bench: Valentini, Madonna, Ceccarelli, Ashong, Moretti, Magnusson, Ciurria, Culina, Carrozza, Sammarco, Orsic, Borghese