GdS: 5v5 – Allegri and Conte set to match in midfield for Milan-Napoli

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AC Milan vs. Napoli is probably the most anticipated game of this gameweek, more so as it could be an early Scudetto indicator.

Few games in Italian football will draw the same attention this season as Milan-Napoli. It is a simple fact. Ultimately, it is a mirror situation, and the situations align far too much for it not to be a point of intrigue.

The Rossoneri will have genuine Scudetto ambitions heading into this game, and if they can get three points, they will almost definitely enter the conversation – if they are not already present. Whilst the perfect Neapolitans will hope to go five for five.

Milan-Napoli: Predicted lineups

This morning’s Gazzetta dello Sport, seen below, has looked into the possible teams for this evening, and Allegri and Conte are placing a lot of emphasis on the midfield, it seems.

Mike Maignan will start in goal, whilst Strahinja Pavlovic, Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori will line up as a back three. A midfield bank of five provides the most intrigue, though, featuring Alexis Saelemaekers, Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Pervis Estupinan. Leading the line will be Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez.

For Conte, it will be a 4-1-4-1 again. Meret in goal, fronted by a back four of Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Juan Jesus and Gutierrez. In front of them, Lobotka will guard the defence, sitting behind the four of Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne and McTominay. Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line.

Whilst the defensive shapes differ, both managers will opt for a similar midfield set-up, with a deeper playmaker sitting in the middle of a four-man midfield. It seems, then, that the midfield battle will be the winning factor here.

There has been a lot of talk about the Rossoneri having the best midfield in Italy. If that is the case tonight, and it is proven, who knows how the game could play out.

Possible Milan XI vs Napoli (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez.

Possible Napoli XI vs Milan (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Jesus, Gutierrez; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund