GdS: Predicted XIs for Milan vs. Napoli – Allegri keeps faith in Gimenez

Massimiliano Allegri is expected to opt for consistency in his AC Milan side for the big game against Napoli on Sunday.

Allegri and Milan want to lay down a marker after a good start to the season by beating last season’s Scudetto winners at San Siro. However, they face a side that have won every league game under Antonio Conte so far.

AC Milan vs. Udinese: Predicted XIs

According to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Allegri will continue with the same rearguard of Mike Maignan in goal then a three-man defence of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic.

Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan are almost certain to be the two wing-backs, either side of a midfield trio of Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot. Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic are down as the front two.

Conte meanwhile is tipped to persist with his new 4-1-4-1 system that sees Rrahmani come in for the injury Buongiorno, Lobotka as the midfield pivot, the reigning Serie A MVP McTominay on the left, and De Bruyne behind Hojlund.

The big news for Milan is that they should have two weapons off the bench: Rafael Leao has returned to the fold and should be in the squad, while Christopher Nkunku is getting nearer to 100% after a goal in midweek.

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

Predicted Napoli XI (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Spinazzola; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund.