Milan have no new names in their starting XI and a new role for Hakan Calhanoglu in the season opener against Udinese.
It kicks off at the Dacia Arena at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s SEVEN Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
Milan have no new names in their starting XI and a new role for Hakan Calhanoglu in the season opener against Udinese.
It kicks off at the Dacia Arena at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s SEVEN Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
Coach Marco Giampaolo already stated in yesterday’s Press conference that he would rely on those players he’d worked with throughout the summer, leaving out those who arrived late due to transfers, Africa Cup of Nations or Copa America duties.
That means Ismael Bennacer, Rade Krunic, Leo Duarte and Franck Kessie are all on the bench, while Lucas Biglia, Pepe Reina, Mattia Caldara and Theo Hernandez are injured.
Suso has been transformed into a trequartista behind the strikers under Giampaolo, with Samu Castillejo chosen to partner Krzysztof Piatek.
With Biglia injured, Calhanoglu is given the central midfield playmaker reins, flanked by Fabio Borini and Lucas Paqueta.
Udinese desperately need to step things up after narrowly avoiding relegation last season and confirming Coach Igor Tudor.
Rodrigo De Paul is their star player, but surprisingly only left on the bench, as Ignacio Pussetto supports Kevin Lasagna, while Rodrigo Becao gets the nod in defence ahead of Sebastien De Maio.
These sides met in the opening Serie A round on four occasions, resulting in a Milan victory and three consecutive stalemates.
Udinese: Musso; Becao, Troost-Ekong, Samir; Stryger-Larsen, Fofana, Mandragora, Jajalo, Pezzella; Pussetto; Lasagna
Udinese bench: Perisan, Nicolas, Sierralta, Opoku, De Paul, Walace, Sema, Nuytinck, Nestorovski, Barak, De Maio, Teodorczyk
Milan: G Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Borini, Calhanoglu, Paqueta; Suso; Piatek, Castillejo
Milan bench: Soncin, A Donnarumma, Bennacer, Bonaventura, Conti, Leao, Andre Silva, Krunic, Duarte, Gabbia, Kessie, Laxalt