GdS: Predicted XIs for Milan vs. Sassuolo – Jashari in with Modric rested

AC Milan will play their final Serie A match before Christmas on Sunday in the early kick-off against Sassuolo at San Siro.

Milan are hoping to defend top spot in the table before jetting off to Saudi Arabia for the Supercoppa Italiana. Sassuolo have been one of the league’s surprise packages though so far after returning to the top flight, and historically they have caused the Rossoneri a lot of issues.

AC Milan vs. Sassuolo: Predicted starting XIs

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Massimiliano Allegri will be without Rafael Leao, Youssouf Fofana and Santiago Gimenez. All three are recovering from injuries, but are hopeful of boarding the plane out to Riyadh during the week.

At present, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic will be the three-man defence again in front of Mike Maignan, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi as the wing-backs.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to join Ardon Jashari and Adrien Rabiot in the midfield trio, with Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic being the duo to lead the line.

The doubts at the moment concern whether Koni De Winter will start over Tomori, whether Luka Modric could in fact start, or if Samuele Ricci could be in the midfield with Loftus-Cheek presumably pushing up.

Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Jashari, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Pulisic.

Predicted Sassuolo XI (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kone; Volpato, Pinamonti, Lauriente.