Next Tuesday, Paulo Fonseca's AC Milan will be hosting Antonio Conte's Napoli. It will be a very strong challenge with the Rossoneri looking to secure three important points, despite the absence of two key players such as Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders.
As the Serie A fixture with Bologna at the Dall'Ara stadium is postponed to a later date, the Rossoneri team is looking to take advantage of this small break to prepare to face Napoli. Full points are needed to stay with in high positions in the league table.
As per what has been reported by the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport on their website today, the Portuguese head coach, Paulo Fonseca, is thinking of introducing a few surprising changes in the centre of the defence.
The 29-year-old French goalkeeper, Mike Maignan will be the starter between the posts as usual. As for the right-back position, it is reported that the Brazilian, Emerson Royal, is likely to get the nod as he is ahead of team captain Davide Calabria in the race. On the opposite flank, however, it seems that Filippo Terracciano will be starting as he will replace Theo Hernandez who received a red card for dissent after the end of the match against Fiorentina.
In central defence, Malick Thiaw and Strahinja Pavlovic are expected to start. In midfield, Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will take charge (as Tijjani Reijnders is suspended), while on the wings Samuel Chukwueze and Noah Okafor might get a chance, with Christian Pulisic in the middle. Alvaro Morata will lead the attack.
The Portuguese left-winger, Rafael Leao, will sit on the bench, unfortunately for him.
AC Milan and Napoli's possible lineups:
Fonseca's team: (4-4-2): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Terracciano; Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Okafor; Morata.
Conte's team (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Gilmour, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia.
