GdS: Leao, Pulisic and Saelemaekers at risk – Allegri facing headaches ahead of Bologna trip

AC Milan will be back in Serie A action on Tuesday night in Bologna, and Massimiliano Allegri will have a depleted attack.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s arrival is hinging on an extra medical regarding his knee condition, while Allegri is preparing for the tough trip to Bologna with limited options.

Attack in crisis (again)

In training on Sunday, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christopher Nkunku were tested up front together, not exactly the starting pairing. Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao’s physical problems, however, are nothing new.

The American – after hamstring problems – is now dealing with iliopsoas bursitis, and his presence at the Dall’Ara is highly doubtful. At most, he will be fit enough for the bench. Rafa, meanwhile, continues to struggle with the adductor problem that emerged almost two months ago in Turin.

Leao will be available in Bologna tomorrow, but as in recent weeks, the build-up to the match has been challenging, with no opportunity to push too hard in training. And the usual question mark hangs over his starting spot.

Allegri will certainly once again be unable to field his two stars at the same time. Until New Year’s Eve, Pulisic and Leao had only started together in the league derby against Inter. In 2026, the matches against Genoa and Lecce were added, although it seemed both were only half-fit.

If Leao bites the bullet and starts tomorrow, it’s likely that he will play alongside Nkunku, as they did in the last match against Rome. For the Portuguese, it would be a chance to break a drought that began on January 8th (a goal against Genoa).

Alexis Saelemaekers will be forced to sit out due to a recurrence of his left adductor problem. Therefore, the right flank will be a hotly contested choice between Zachary Athekame and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with the Englishman also available as a midfielder or second striker.

Youssouf Fofana could return to the starting lineup in midfield, having sat out 180 minutes of the last two matches against Lecce and Roma. In defence, Strahinja Pavlovic is in contention, but Allegri could keep the Tomori-Gabbia-De Winter trio.