AC Milan will take on Napoli this Sunday and Stefano Pioli is expected to make one change to the starting XI. It’s a forced one, it should be noted, as Tijjani Reijnders will miss the game due to suspension.
Reijnders has played every single league game from start this season but that impressive run will come to an end against Napoli on Sunday. The Dutchman received his fifth yellow card against Frosinone last time out and will thus be suspended for the game.
As a result, per Sky Italia (see photos below), Pioli is expected to start Yacine Adli and Ismael Bennacer in the midfield tandem. The duo has never started a game together and it will be very interesting to see them in action, with Yunus Musah failing to break into the XI yet again.
That will be the only change for Milan, while Napoli and Walter Mazzzari are set to switch from a four-man to a three-man backline. Both sides will have new looks in their own ways on Sunday, therefore, and it should be an interesting game underneath the floodlights at San Siro.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Adli, Bennacer; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Probable Napoli XI (3-5-1-1): Gollini; Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Rrahmani; Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste, Mazzocchi; Kvara; Simeone.
Adli Bennacer looks like an interesting duo. Rejinders certainly needs the rest.
They compliment each other better.
It’ll be interesting to see. A big test for Adli. Otherwise I can see him dropping behind Reijnders.
Judging from his last couple of games Reijnders definitely needs a night off. Since last season Napoli have become one of my most hated teams so here’s hoping we can overturn that iffy record against them at San Siro. Jovic off the bench to win it 2:1 🥂.
We’ve had our way with Napoli for the most part We seem to come out on top against them. Much like Inter has a way with us.
If we can control the ball and midfield, and defend well in transition, we should be good against them. Mazzari hasn’t done anything spectacular with them this far. And in the first tie before our collective collapse (and Maignan error on Raspadori’s free kick) we controlled the game.
I think we win this.
I agree we dominate them every time but at San Siro get sloppy and let ‘em back in. I think we’ll raise our game for this one tho.
“Forced”? Dumb pioli wanted to play btb Reijnders as CDM again?
The number of key passes to come from the pivot should be something to see.
I am worried that Benny is small and Adli not terribly physical so our D will not have much of a curtain.
But oh the offensive potential!
Milan 4 Napoli 2
Not once has our double pivot been defensive enough this season, we need to sign a proper DM
Nor has Bennacer ever been bullied by any midfielder irrespective of their sizes
I think this game is a great test for Gabbia and Adli.
if Gabbia will do well, it should be considered for keeping him start.
As for Adli, against this team it’s a test if he manages to control the mid with Benny
Why not play RCL as central mid and Adili as AM?
Doesnt work under Pioli