GdS: Predicted XIs for AC Milan vs. Lazio – Allegri resolves major dilemma

AC Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro for a Saturday night showdown, and they can grab top spot for the time being with a win.

Milan have gone 11 games unbeaten in the league and they beat Inter in the derby last time out to move into second place, two points behind Roma. Lazio meanwhile have recovered well after a rocky start and are now starting to climb up the table, having lost one in eight in Serie A.

AC Milan vs. Lazio: Predicted staring XIs

It will be a tricky test against Maurizio Sarri’s men, and Massimiliano Allegri has a notable absence to contend with. Christian Pulisic complained of muscle fatigue in training during the week, and will sit out along with Santiago Gimenez and Zachary Athekame.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, the three-man defence Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic will line up ahead of the captain Mike Maignan, fresh off the back of his derby heroics.

Alexis Saelemaekers has recovered from a back issue and will keep his place, while Davide Bartesaghi is set to continue on the left flank. Adrien Rabiot, Luka Modric and Youssouf Fofana should start in an unchanged midfield trio.

Christopher Nkunku is expected to get the nod to start up front alongside Rafael Leao, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek the only real alternative. The paper give Nkunku an 80% chance of starting over the Englishman.

Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Leao.

Predicted Lazio XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Guendouzi, Vecino, Basic; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni.