Conceicao to rotate Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix, and Santiago Gimenez: Milan’s likely lineup vs Bologna features key rest calls and Rafael Leao out

As Milan prepares to face Bologna twice within the house of 5 days, intrigue surrounds the primary conflict on the San Siro this Friday. Whereas the fixture is formally a part of the Serie A calendar, all eyes are drawn to its higher significance—a precursor to subsequent week’s Coppa Italia last in Rome. Although there’s hypothesis about attainable sweeping modifications, supervisor Sergio Conceicao is anticipated to handle his squad with subtlety moderately than a whole overhaul.

Regardless of murmurs of heavy rotation, the Portuguese boss is anticipated to area a aggressive beginning XI, with solely minor changes aimed toward balancing health and kind. The Rossoneri enter this fixture on the again of three straight victories and 4 wins from their final 5 video games, signaling a well timed resurgence in kind.

The tactical shift to a three-man protection has delivered dividends, with simply two objectives conceded and 11 scored in that interval. Nevertheless, their most up-to-date win—a gritty 2-1 triumph away to Genoa—was hard-earned. 

Vitinha opened the score, earlier than Rafael Leao equalized and compelled the winner through an personal purpose, assisted by Santiago Gimenez. However Leao will play no half on Friday, because the 25-year-old is suspended.

Rotation with goal

The important thing query stays: which of Milan’s attacking stars will function within the first act of this double-header? Regardless of earlier experiences, the most recent replace now appears to recommend that Christian Pulisic will hold his place within the lineup, whereas Joao Felix will step in to exchange the suspended Leao. That leaves Santiago Gimenez because the seemingly candidate to guide the road, getting a uncommon begin after largely enjoying a backup position since March 15 in opposition to Como.

“There are only two selection dilemmas,” reported Sky Italia, “in defense between Thiaw and Gabbia, and in attack between Jovic and Gimenez.” In the end, it seems Gimenez is the favored alternative, providing Conceicao an opportunity to guage his striker forward of the ultimate with out risking Luka Jovic’s freshness.

The anticipated XI, in keeping with Calciomercato and La Gazzetta dello Sport, is a 3-4-2-1 formation: Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Theo Hernandez; Pulisic, Joao Felix; Gimenez.

Sky Italia’s journalist Gianluca Di Marzio echoed comparable expectations, highlighting that Conceicao would keep away from widespread rotation as a consequence of a mix of accidents and the aggressive significance of the match.