The international break has allowed Milan to recover a few players ahead of their next game against Empoli, although a number of others are still unavailable. The Rossoneri currently sit three points behind league leaders Napoli and Atalanta after their 2-1 loss to the former ahead of the international break, so they’ll be hoping to pick up a strong win over Empoli this weekend as they look to kick off this busy six-week period in a strong fashion.
Divock Origi continued training separately and he’ll certainly be absent for the match, although he could sit with his teammates on the bench. Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan continued their recovery at Milanello and are still far from returning, with both set to miss a number of games across the next month. In defence, today’s training suggested that Fode Ballo-Tourè will replace Theo Hernandez on the left side while on the opposite flank Davide Calabria will also be a starter, with Fikayo Tomori and of either Pierre Kalulu and Simon Kjaer as centre-back.
In midfield Sandro Tonali should return from the first minute, while Tommaso Pobega is challenging Ismael Bennacer for a starting shirt, because the Algerian has recently returned to Milanello from international duty. In the attack, Junior Messias is ahead of Alexis Saelemaekers for the right wing spot, on the left Rafael Leao returns after having served the suspension against Napoli, and in support of Olivier Giroud will be Charles De Ketelaere as the playmaker. Robinho has tipped them to win the tie comfortably.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori/Kjaer, Ballo-Toure; Tonali, Pobega; Messias, De Ketelaere, Leao; Giroud.