AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named his starting line-up for the game against Venezia tonight, and there are several changes compared to the Lazio match before the break.
Milan will be without defenders Malick Thiaw and Davide Calabria who are out due to an ankle sprain and a knock respectively. Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Sportiello are long-term absentees.
It was reported by the media during the week that Fonseca would field the ‘fourth version’ of his Milan, and he has named a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez in front of Mike Maignan.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to be alongside Youssouf Fofana in the midfield double pivot with Tijjani Reijnders playing a more advanced role like he did for the Netherlands over the international break. However, it is possible the Dutchman could be deeper again.
Christian Pulisic is on the right wing and Rafael Leao on the left, with the latter returning after starting the Lazio game from the bench. Tammy Abraham will lead the line, with Alvaro Morata recovering from injury to get a spot on the bench.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham.
Bench: Torriani, Raveyre, Terracciano; Bartesaghi , Tomori; Zeroli, Musah; Chukwueze, Okafor, Morata, Jovic.
Official Venezia XI (3-4-2-1): Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Schingtienne; Candela, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Zampano; Oristanio, Busio; Pohjanpalo.
