MN: Predicted Milan XI to face Atalanta – continuity in the search of consistency

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has decided on the team that he will start against Atalanta, opting for a familiar line-up.

Milan have won three games in a row across three competitions, beating Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Empoli in the league and Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia all in the space of eight days.

With an eye on the Atalanta game, Fonseca made eight changes to the starting line-up for the Sassuolo game from the team that beat Empoli and it proved to be more than enough to overcome the Neroverdi in a 6-1 win.

Nonetheless, facing La Dea will be a much bigger test. The Rossoneri are still currently six points below Fiorentina in fourth, plus four points off Juve in sixth and 10 behind Napoli at the top (with a game in hand on both), so positive results are needed to keep in touch with the top spots.

Milan’s predicted XI

As MilanNews report, the expectation is that Fonseca will revert back to the team that he was relying on most before the midweek rotation.

That means a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez in front of Mike Maignan. The French duo missed the midweek game but are back after respective dental and foot problems.

In the midfield – where the game could well be won or lost – there is no surprise to see the names of Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana present again. The Dutchman is in brilliant form, while his partner offers balance that will be crucial.

The trident behind the striker Alvaro Morata will consist of Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao. That means Musah will once again play in the hybrid position which he has taken up recently, acting as a stabiliser along the right side.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Leao; Morata.