Official: Bayer Leverkusen vs. AC Milan starting XIs – one change from Lecce win

Paulo Fonseca has named the AC Milan starting line-up for tonight’s Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen, with one change compared to the win over Lecce.

The absentees heading into the match against the German champions were previously known: Ismael Bennacer is out after calf surgery, Alessandro Florenzi is recovering from a knee operation and Marco Sportiello had hand surgery.

Fonseca has chosen to name Mike Maignan in goal with a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez ahead of him. Strahinja Pavlovic was tipped to start, but instead takes a spot on the bench.

Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders retain their place as the starting midfield pairing, with Christian Pulisic on the right wing and Rafael Leao on the left wing as expected, and Tammy Abraham leading the line.

Alvaro Morata is not yet 100% as he continues to battle bursitis so he starts on the bench, giving an opportunity to Ruben Loftus-Cheek who will be more of an attacking midfielder.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham.

Bench: Nava, Torriani, Calabria, Pavlovic, Thiaw, Terracciano, Musah, Chukwueze, Okafor, Morata.

Official Bayer Leverkusen XI (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Boniface.

Bench: Kovar, Lomb, Hofmann, Andrich, Terrier, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Mukiele, Palacios, Belocian.