Keisuke Honda is on the bench ready for his Serie A debut, as Mario Balotelli and Kaka lead Milan away to Sassuolo.

Keisuke Honda is on the bench ready for his Serie A debut, as Mario Balotelli and Kaka lead Milan away to Sassuolo.

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.

The Rossoneri earned a crucial 3-0 win over Atalanta last week, but are still in the wrong half of the table.

Balotelli is back in the starting XI after recovering from flu symptoms to partner Kaka, who scored his 101st goal in a Milan jersey last week, and Robinho.

Sulley Ali Muntari is banned, while Kevin Constant, Stephan El Shaarawy, Ignazio Abate and Valter Birsa are sidelined.

There is a second consecutive start for 18-year-old Bryan Cristante, as Riccardo Montolivo is not 100 per cent fit after returning from suspension.

New buys Honda and Adil Rami are on the bench and there are expected to be over 70 Japanese journalists in the stands to watch the ex-CSKA Moscow midfielder’s Serie A debut.

There won’t be any members of the Curva Sud ultras movement tonight, as they are boycotting this and other away games due to ticket prices and restrictions on banners.

Sassuolo have had mixed fortunes this season, holding Roma and Napoli to draws while losing 7-0 at home to Inter.

Emanuele Terranova, Masucci and Alexe are unavailable for under-fire Coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

Simone Zaza, Domenico Berardi and Reto Ziegler are the trident in an audacious formation.

There will be a special get-together before the game between Milan, Sassuolo and Francesco Acerbi, the defender who is undergoing treatment for a cancer relapse.

He played for Milan last season and joined Sassuolo over the summer.

Sassuolo: Pegolo; Gazzola, Antei, Ariaudo, Longhi; Chibsah, Magnanelli, Kurtic; Berardi, Zaza, Ziegler

Sassuolo bench: Pomini, Rosati, Pucino, Marzorati, Rossini, Missiroli, Valeri, Marrone, Schelotto, Farias, Floro Flores, Gliozzi

Milan: Abbiati; De Sciglio, Zapata, Bonera, Emanuelson; Cristante, De Jong, Nocerino; Kaka, Robinho, Balotelli

Milan bench: Gabriel, Coppola, Mexes, Rami, Silvestre, Zaccardo, Poli, Montolivo, Saponara, Honda, Matri, Pazzini

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