Champions League, Milan-Girona: Pavlovic and Gabbia back. Musah in place of Pulisic

Milan, 22 January 2025 – Definitively put the ugly defeat suffered on Saturday against Juventus behind us and take home the fifth consecutive victory in Champions League, which would allow them to seriously mortgage the direct passage to the eighth finals of the top competition without going through the Caudine Forks of the playoffs. Two objectives that are definitely within reach for Milan, who travel at two different speeds between the championship and the cup, and who this evening at 21pm (live TV and streaming on Amazon Prime Video) will host Girona at San Siro, currently thirtieth with only 6 points and very few hopes of a place in the top flight. To achieve this goal, the Rossoneri will need that hunger that Mr. Sergio Conceicao he didn't see in the match against Juventus: "Two different speeds between the league and the cup? Every match is different from the other. It's true, playing in the best club competition in the world gives you great motivation and teams like Milan must aim to be there every year. We are working to qualify for next year too. This week I saw the lads concentrated and focused. After the match against Juve, I told the team that this is a mental job and it's up to the coach to help them find the right attitude. The lads show me every day that they are motivated to work and grow as we want." What is missing above all is continuity: "We are looking for it. I don't have to defend myself for my words. After Juve I said what I felt. The lads know what needs to be done. You have to look each other in the eye, work and believe in what you do to find continuity. This is the beauty of football: the continuous restart. After a good match you have to start again to prepare for the next one. Just like after a bad match. It's an opportunity to improve." Conceiçao then called the fans to gather: “They are the soul of the club. They must support us and be our twelfth man on the pitch. In fact, the first. Without them, Milan does not exist. They must put aside all sympathy for us. Milan is Milan. We must look at the symbol. Without the fans, the club does not exist. We will do everything but we need their support”. Pulisic's departure from the bench is likely, in doubt until the end: “He’s staying with us and we’ll see how he is after the final touches. However, I don’t want to risk losing him for long. He could end up on the bench but I don’t want to risk that.”  

The possible choices of Conceiçao and Michel

The AC Milan coach should opt for 4-2-3-1: given Tomori's suspension, the central pairing of Gabbia and Pavlovic should be proposed in defence in front of Maignan, with Emerson Royal and Theo Hernandez on the flanks. In front of the defence, Bennacer and Fofana will once again be used, while Leao, Reijnders and Musah will be the three attacking midfielders behind striker Morata. On the other hand Michel will respond with a 4-3-2-1 “Christmas tree”: Francés, David Lopez, Krejcì and Blind will form the back line to protect goalkeeper Gazzaniga. Yangel and Van de Beek will instead be the mezzali on the sides of the playmaker Romeu, while the attacking midfielders Tsygankov and Bryan Gil will operate behind Abel Ruiz. Times and where to see the race: the Milan-Girona match, valid for the penultimate round of the first phase of the UEFA Champions League, will be broadcast on Wednesday 22 January at 22pm exclusively on Amazon Prime Video both on TV and streaming.

Probable Lineups:

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Pavlovic, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Fofana; Musah, Reijnders, Leão; Morata. All. Conceição. Girona (4-3-2-1): Gazzaniga; Frances, David Lopez, Krejcì, Blind; Yangel, Romeu, Van de Beek; Tsygankov, Bryan Gil; Abel Ruiz. Coach Michel.