Official: Chelsea vs. AC Milan starting XIs – Allegri goes with three-man defence again

Massimiliano Allegri has named the final starting line-up of preseason, as AC Milan take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The major bit of team news for Milan is that Christian Pulisic is nursing an ankle injury and didn’t board the flight with the rest of the team for the final two friendlies.

Having played Leeds United in Dublin on Saturday, Allegri has understandably opted to go with basically a fully changed side, so as to manage minutes with the first competitive game just seven days away.

Chelsea vs. AC Milan: Official starting XIs

Once again it seems as though the coach has decided to rely upon a three-man defence, with Andrei Coubis, Fikayo Tomori – making his Stamford Bridge return – and Filippo Terracciano ahead of Mike Maignan.

Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi are therefore expected to act as wing-backs, with Youssouf Fofana, Samuele Ricci and Yunus Musah as the three-man midfield. Luka Modric was expected to start, but instead is on the bench.

In attack, Ruben Loftus-Cheek should act just behind Rafael Leao in a 3-5-1-1 system. Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Pervis Estupinan, Ardon Jashari, Modric, Samuel Chukwueze, Noah Okafor and Santiago Gimenez are all on the bench.

Official Milan XI (3-5-1-1): Maignan; Terracciano, Tomori, Coubis; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Ricci, Modric, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek; Leao.

Bench: Terracciano, Pittalrella, Torriani, Estupinan, Gimenez, Modric, Okafor, Chukwueze, Jashari, Pavlovic, Sia, Dutu, Gabbia.

Official Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro.

Bench: Jorgenses, Slonina, Delap, Essugo, Santos, Hato, Malo Gusto, Anselmino, George, Acheampong, Estevao, Rak-Sakyi, Antwi, Walsh.