GdS: Predicted XIs for Milan vs. Cagliari – Calabria and Leao back from start

Sergio Conceicao has decided to make a couple of changes to the starting XI for his first league game with AC Milan, as a report states, taking on Cagliari this evening. 

The manager couldn’t have asked for a better start, beating Juventus and Inter to lift the Supercoppa Italiana trophy within a week of getting hired. However, the situation in the league remains dire and a win is needed against Cagliari tonight.

As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), Conceicao will make a few changes. Emerson Royal is suspended and will sit this one out, expected to be replaced by captain Davide Calabria rather than Alex Jimenez. Rafael Leao will also be back from start, which is great to see.

Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Morata.

Predicted Cagliari XI (4-2-3-1): Caprile; Zappa, Palomino, Luperto, Obert; Adopo, Makoumbou; Zortea, Gaetano, Augello; Piccoli.

The only battles that the newspapers have listed are Calabria vs. Jimenez (70-30%) and Fikayo Tomori vs. Matteo Gabbia (70-30%). It should also be noted that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has sustained a new injury, so he will miss the game.

Overall, it’s a very strong XI and Conceicao can also rely on the likes of Jimenez, Ismael Bennacer and Tammy Abraham off the bench if the game requires some changes.