Cristian Brocchi makes his debut on the Milan bench and transforms their tactics for the trip to Sampdoria.

It kicks off at Marassi at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action on our LIVEBLOG.

The Rossoneri caused quite a stir on Tuesday when sacking Sinisa Mihajlovic, despite a strong performance in the 2-1 home defeat to Juventus.

Cristian Brocchi makes his debut on the Milan bench and transforms their tactics for the trip to Sampdoria.

It kicks off at Marassi at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action on our LIVEBLOG.

The Rossoneri caused quite a stir on Tuesday when sacking Sinisa Mihajlovic, despite a strong performance in the 2-1 home defeat to Juventus.

Brocchi has been promoted from the Primavera youth team and makes his debut in senior management this evening.

Another former Milan player, it’s widely reported he was chosen because he shares President Silvio Berlusconi’s love for the 4-3-1-2 system.

Giacomo Bonaventura is re-routed into the new trequartista role behind Mario Balotelli and Carlos Bacca, sending Keisuke Honda to the bench.

M’Baye Niang and Rodrigo Ely are the only injury absentees.

Sampdoria have quite a few issues to contend with, as Antonio Cassano picked up a muscular problem in training yesterday.

FantAntonio won’t face his former club and joins Jacopo Sala, David Ivan and Carlos Carbonero in the stands.

Also missing out is suspended ex-Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia.

Fabio Quagliarella leads the attack with Ricky Alvarez and Dodo – more ex-Inter men – and Milan transfer target Roberto Soriano.

Sampdoria have not beaten Milan since a 1-0 result at San Siro in August 2012, managing three draws from seven meetings in all competition.

The Rossoneri’s last defeat at Marassi was 2-1 in April 2010, followed by three wins and three draws between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

Sampdoria: Viviano; Diakité, Silvestre, Cassani; De Silvestri, Fernando, Krsticic, Dodò; Soriano, Alvarez; Quagliarella

Sampdoria bench: Brignoli, Puggioni, Pereira, Correa, Palombo, Rodriguez, Moisander, Muriel, Skriniar, Christodoulopoulos, Barreto

Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Montolivo, Bertolacci; Bonaventura; Bacca, Balotelli

Milan bench: Abbiati, Diego Lopez, Calabria, De Sciglio, Zapata, Mexes, Josè Mauri, Poli, Locatelli, Boateng, Menez, Honda

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