How Milan and Juventus could line-up in Serie A clash

1:50pm on Wednesday 6th January 2021
By Martin Macdonald

Both Stefano Pioli and Andrea Pirlo will be missing key players for this Wednesday's huge Serie A showdown between Milan and Juventus at San Siro.

The Rossoneri have emerged as genuine title contenders in the 2020/21 campaign, leading Serie A by a point ahead of rivals Inter after the opening 15 matches.

Defending champions Juventus, meanwhile, are 10 points off the pace down in fifth, though do have a game in hand against the top three of Milan, Inter, and Roma.

Related news

Capello carries Juve back to the summit of Italian football - Serie A 2004-05

Kaka conquers Milan & Italian football - Serie A 2003-04

Both sides are coming off important wins at the weekend as Juve defeated Udinese 4-1, while Milan successfully overcame Benevento 2-0 despite going down to 10 men.

The player sent off at the weekend was Sandro Tonali, who will now miss the game against the Bianconeri due to suspension. Ismael Bennacer missed that game and he is not believed to be fit enough to return just yet, which would have meant a starting place in the middle of midfield for Rade Krunic alongside Franck Kessie.

However, Krunic and Ante Rebic were ruled out due to Covid isolation on the day of the game.

As well as Bennacer, there are fitness concerns over Matteo Gabbia and Alexis Saelemaekers, who both trained away from the main group on Monday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic also didn't take part in full training at the start of the week, and is likely not fit enough to feature against his former club as his absence continues.

Rafael Leao should be trusted to lead the line, then, fresh off a goal against Benevento.

Due to the huge amount of absences for Milan, Brahim Diaz may be asked to play a more withdrawn role in midfield.

Juve, too, are missing important players as second top scorer Alvaro Morata will miss out due the knock which also saw him sit out the win versus Udinese.

Paulo Dybala started that one alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, and will so again after the Argentine got on the scoresheet.

Alex Sandro is currently in isolation due to coronavirus and will not feature.

Pirlo does welcome back Adrien Rabiot and Juan Cuadrado from suspension, though the Colombian tested positive for Covid on Tuesday.