Milan stick with Urby Emanuelson in the trequartista role during an injury crisis against Novara.
Milan stick with Urby Emanuelson in the trequartista role during an injury crisis against Novara.
By a quirk of the fixture list, these two teams already faced off on Wednesday night, as the Rossoneri were forced to extra time in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.
Massimiliano Allegri has a huge injury crisis to contend with, as on top of the suspended Alessandro Nesta he had to do without Gianluca Zambrotta, Christian Abbiati, Alexandre Pato, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alberto Aquilani, Gennaro Gattuso, Mario Yepes, Mathieu Flamini and Antonio Cassano.
Clarence Seedorf has recovered from flu, but is still benched in favour of Emanuelson behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.
New signings Alexander Merkel and Djamel Mesbah are not thrown into the fray just yet.
Novara also have issues, as Massimo Paci and Paolo Hernan Dellafiore sit out bans, joining the injured Carlalberto Ludi, Alex Pinardi and Andrea Lisuzzo.
January buys Giuseppe Mascara and Andrea Caracciolo get the nod in attack. Ivan Radovanovic was originally in the starting line-up, but pulled out during the warm-up to make way for Santiago Garcia.
Novara: Ujkani; Morganella, Rinaudo, Centurioni; Gemiti, Garcia, Porcari, Pesce, Rigoni; Mascara, Caracciolo
Milan: Amelia; Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Ambrosini, Van Bommel, Nocerino; Emanuelson; Ibrahimovic, Robinho