Sky: Milan’s predicted XI to face Sassuolo – changes on the left

Ruben Amorim is planning two changes to the starting eleven for Sassuolo-Milan, while the play could be weighted more towards a four-man backline.

In the last week or so, there has been a lot of talk about which formation Amorim will field at Mapei Stadium on Sunday evening. A three-man backline or a four-man backline? Per the reports today, everything points towards the latter.

However, as Amorim clarified during his press conference earlier today, it will likely be a mix of the two. He wants his players to be ‘able to understand when to switch formations’, giving them more freedom to move based on what the game requires.

Bartesaghi and Moreira in

Gazzetta dello Sport said it would be a 4-2-3-1 this morning, while Sky Italia has lined up the players in a 4-4-1-1. That’s really the same formation, though, so the key is that Mario Gila is occupying a right-back position as opposed to being a third centre-back.

In any case, leaving the formation chatter to the side for a minute, Amorim is expected to make two player changes: Davide Bartesaghi to replace Pervis Estupinan and Diego Moreira to replace Alexis Saelemaekers.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1): Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic, Bartesaghi; Modric, Rabiot; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Moreira; Ramos.

Predicted bench: Bouyer, Torriani, Tomori, Gabbia, Diawara, F. Terracciano, Estupinan, Jashari, Musah, Comotto, Loftus-Cheek, Cisse, Hutchinson, Camarda.