GdS: Milan’s predicted XI for Cagliari clash – Pavlovic and Leao to grit their teeth

There are quite a few doubts regarding the starting eleven for Cagliari-Milan tomorrow, given that several players aren’t at their best, but a first indication has now emerged. 

Milan are looking to start the year in the best way possible, i.e. with a win, but they will have to get past Cagliari to succeed on this front. While the Rossoneri have been very successful in this fixture historically, it’s never easy to face the Sardinian side away from home.

The situation hasn’t been made any better by the injury situation, with Christopher Nkunku ruled out for the game. The likes of Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao have at least been called out, but they aren’t 100% either.

Latest reports on the XI

According to the latest from Gazzetta dello Sport’s Luca Bianchin, Pavlovic is expected to grit his teeth and play despite the flu that he’s been struggling with in the last few days. However, if he doesn’t make it, Davide Bartesaghi and Pervis Estupinan will start on the left-hand side of the defence.

Photo by AC Milan

Up front, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will definitely start and is expected to partner up with Rafael Leao, who has been deemed to be in better condition than Pulisic currently. The American could still make a cameo during the game, but a start appears very unlikely for now.

Finally, in midfield, Youssouf Fofana will be back from start as a result of Loftus-Cheek’s new duties in attack.

Predicted XI per Gazzetta dello Sport (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Leao.