Milan have Theo Hernandez back and Soualiho Meite starts in this massive test with Josip Ilicic’s Atalanta.
It kicks off at 17.00 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games, including Udinese–Inter, on the LIVEBLOG.
Milan have Theo Hernandez back and Soualiho Meite starts in this massive test with Josip Ilicic’s Atalanta.
It kicks off at 17.00 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games, including Udinese-Inter, on the LIVEBLOG.
The Rossoneri are three points clear at the top of the table, but because goal difference is used at the midway stage, they still need one point to be sure of the Winter Champion title.
Inter are away to Udinese at the same time, so if they win and Milan lose, Antonio Conte would snatch the crown.
Stefano Pioli has Theo Hernandez back after he proved to be a ‘false positive’ for COVID, while Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic have recovered from the virus, but Hakan Calhanoglu is still self-isolating.
Ismael Bennacer and Matteo Gabbia remain injured, with Alessio Romagnoli and Alexis Saelemaekers suspended.
It means Pierre Kalulu has to fill in at centre-back with Simon Kjaer, who has shaken off a knock, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic supported by Samu Castillejo, Meite and Rafael Leao.
It’s the first start for Meite, who arrived on loan from Torino last week, and is preferred to Brahim Diaz.
Sandro Tonali is back from his ban, while new signings Mario Mandzukic and Fikayo Tomori are on the bench.
Atalanta have seen their march up the table slow down over the past eight days, as they were held to back-to-back draws by Genoa and Udinese.
The second was Wednesday’s rescheduled Week 10 fixture, which was originally called off due to waterlogged pitch.
Mario Pasalic, Cristiano Piccini and Papu Gomez are out of action, so Josip Ilicic starts upfront with Matteo Pessina and Duvan Zapata.
Atalanta have lost only one of their last 10 Serie A meetings with Milan and are unbeaten at San Siro since January 2014.
Milan: G Donnarumma; Calabria, Kalulu, Kjaer, Theo Hernandez; Kessie, Tonali; Castillejo, Meite, Leao; Ibrahimovic
Milan bench: Tatarusanu, A Donnarumma, Dalot, Mandzukic, Rebic, Hauge, Brahim Diaz, Musacchio, Tomori, Maldini, Colombo, Krunic
Atalanta: Gollini; Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Pessina; Ilicic, Duvan Zapata
Atalanta bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Maehle, Sutalo, Palomino, Lammers, Muriel, Caldara, Malinovskyi, Depaoli, Ruggeri, Miranchuk
Ref: Mariani