Milan boss Paulo Fonseca will reportedly be making some tweaks to his starting lineup for Tuesday’s big Champions League showdown against Bayer Leverkusen.
The Rossoneri are riding a three-match winning streak in Serie A, but they’re still searching for their first points on the European stage.
However, the Italian giants will have a daunting task at hand as they’ll take be taking on the reigning Bundesliga champions at the BayArena.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Fonseca will be making slight adjustments to the starting lineup that beat Inter and Lecce over the past ten days.
Mike Maignan will start in goal as usual, while the source expects Emerson Royal to prevail in the duel against Davide Calabria for the right-back slot. Therefore, Theo Hernandez will be donning the captain’s armband once again.
The report also expects Strahinja Pavlovic to make his return to the starting XI by replacing Fikayo Tomori, while Mattia Gabbia remains in place.
Fonseca will continue to entrust Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana with the double-pivot roles, while Ruben Loftus Cheek will start as an attacking midfielder, giving Alvaro Morata a breather amidst his fitness issues.
Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will start on the wings as usual, supporting Tammy Abraham in the lone striker role.
Milan Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham.
Bayer Leverkusen Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Hincapié, Tah, Tapsoba; Grimaldo, Andrich, Xhaka, Frimpong; Wirtz, Terrier; Boniface