After demolishing Juventus in Turin, AC Milan face another matchup in the same city on Wednesday evening. This time it will be against Torino, who are fighting to avoid relegation. Milan, meanwhile, are striving for Champions League qualification. Every match is a must-win for Milan moving forward, but this one will be even tougher without Zlatan Ibrahimović.
AC Milan Head to Turn to Face Torino
AC Milan Projected Starting Line-Up
Gianluigi Donnarumma starting in between the sticks is a given. With that being said, these matches are pivotal for his future, as it seems as if he will only renew if the team makes the Champions League.
Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria will likely start as the full-backs. The centre-back pairing is interesting, however. Fikayo Tomori will certainly start, given his youth and top form. But Milan may opt for captain Alessio Romagnoli over Simon Kjaer, mostly due to having two matches in quick succession. However, Kjaer would be the best option, having played fantastically against Juventus.
The midfield double pivot will feature Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie – the duo finally being back together certainly explains Milan’s improved play.
There will be three players behind the lone striker in Stefano Pioli’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Samu Castillejo will make his way into the line-up on the right due to Alexis Saelemaekers’ suspension. He wins the battle due to experience, but Jens Petter Hauge would provide more for Milan if given the start.
Brahim Diaz and Hakan Calhanoglu will take the other spots. Pioli’s experimented with this pairing against Juventus, with it paying off remarkably well.
Ante Rebic, although not a true striker, will take the number nine role. He found the back of the net last weekend after replacing Ibrahimović and will look to do more of the same.
Match Expectations
Milan won 2-0 against Torino on Matchday 17, also with a weakened starting XI. As a result, you can expect Milan to win with a similar scoreline one Wednesday evening.
The defence is strong, and the Tomori-Kjaer duo in the middle is on-form at the moment. Belotti will be tough to stop, but this duo just silenced Cristiano Ronaldo. The quick turnaround of games will allow them to maximise focus on the mission of securing Champions League qualification.
The attack, though, is where things get interesting for Milan. Calhanoglu will have to be at the top of his game to create chances for Rebic, as Ibrahimović’s absence leaves a gaping hole in creativity. Calhanoglu, with help from Diaz, can certainly handle this task.
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