Picking the Best Potential AC Milan Lineup to Face AS Roma in Serie A on Friday
AC Milan will host AS Roma at the San Siro on Friday, in what will be their first home clash of the 2018/19 Serie A season.
Despite losing 3-2 to SSC Napoli in their season opener at the Stadio San Paolo, I Rossoneri gave a highly encouraging performance, taking a two-goal lead before I Ciucciarelli mounted a stunning fightback in the second half.
If Gennaro Gattuso's side can produce a similarly impressive display against Roma, the visitors could be in for a torrid night - especially seeing as I Giallorossi conceded three goals in the first half against Atalanta on Monday.
Here's how Milan might line up on Friday:
1. GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
It's difficult to believe that Donnarumma is still only 19 years old, as he has already made 107 Serie A appearances for Milan, as well as winning six senior caps for Italy.
Although he made some costly errors against Juventus in last season's Coppa Italia final, Donnarumma is still widely regarded as Gianluigi Buffon's natural successor as Italy's number one shot-stopper.
2. RB: Davide Calabria
Now in his fifth season with Milan, Calabria was one of I Rossoneri's standout performers in their season opener against Napoli.
As well as making five tackles and three clearances, the 21-year-old also demonstrated his attacking prowess, bursting forward to finish off an excellent passing move.
Calabria made 21 league appearances for Milan last season and has represented Italy 36 times at youth level.
3. CB: Mateo Musacchio
Before signing for Milan in 2017, Argentinian defender Musacchio spent seven seasons at La Liga side Villarreal.
In the 2016/17 season, he was part of one of the meanest defences in Spain, as Villarreal conceded just 33 league goals - a record bettered only by Atletico Madrid.
However, he has struggled to make an impact at the San Siro, making just 15 Serie A appearances last season.
4. CB: Alessio Romagnoli
Italy defender Romagnoli was one of several centre backs targeted by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho this summer.
The 23-year-old joined Milan from Roma for €25 million in 2015 and has since made 90 league appearances for I Rossoneri, scoring three times.
Unfortunately, Romagnoli had a rather mixed game against Napoli, in which he failed to make a single tackle.
5. LB: Ricardo Rodriguez
Switzerland full back Rodriguez is unlikely to be popular with Northern Ireland fans. As well as converting a highly controversial penalty in the FIFA World Cup playoff between the two countries last year, the Swiss also made a vital clearance off the line.
Rodriguez has also impressed for Milan since moving to the San Siro in 2017, particularly in the Europa League, where he scored twice and contributed two assists last season.
6. RM: Franck Kessie
Since joining Milan on loan from Atalanta in 2017, Kessie has firmly established himself as one of Gattuso's key players. The 21-year-old Ivorian scored five goals and contributed three assists in Serie A last season.
Kessie's disciplinary record leaves something to be desired - as well as conceding an average of just under two fouls per league game last season, he picked up a total of nine yellow cards.
Then again, this record reflects exactly the kind of uncompromising approach which Gattuso always favoured in his playing days.
7. CM: Lucas Biglia
Biglia is a vastly experienced central midfielder who has made more than 400 appearances in league football in Argentina, Belgium and Italy - including 29 Serie A appearances for Milan.
The 32-year-old made more than two tackles per league match last season, but he isn't just a defensive player. Thanks to his excellent vision and passing range, he is also a threat going forward.
Biglia won 58 caps for Argentina, before retiring from international football after the World Cup in Russia.
8. LM: Giacomo Bonaventura
After scoring a magnificent goal against Napoli in Milan's first match of the 2018/19 season, Bonaventura really didn't deserve to finish the match on the losing side. The Italy midfielder also achieved an outstanding passing success rate of 92.5 percent at the Stadio San Paolo.
With eight goals and three assists in Serie A last season, Bonaventura was one of Milan's most impressive performers.
The early signs suggest that he will play a similarly crucial role for I Rossoneri this season.
9. RW: Suso
Since returning to Milan from a loan spell at Genoa in 2016, Suso has been outstanding in Serie A, scoring 13 goals and setting up 17 for I Rossoneri - including one in the recent 3-2 loss to Napoli.
Perhaps surprisingly, the 24-year-old former Liverpool winger has made just one senior appearance for Spain. Then again, La Roja don't exactly have a shortage of talented wingers and attacking midfielders.
10. ST: Gonzalo Higuain
He had a miserable World Cup with Argentina this summer, but Higuain remains one of the most gifted goalscorers in the world. He scored a staggering 36 goals for Napoli in Serie A in the 2015/16 season, thus equalling the all-time Serie A record.
Some may question the wisdom of signing a 30-year-old whose scoring rate has dropped significantly since 2016. Nevertheless, Higuain still scored 16 league goals for Juventus last season.
Few would bet against another relatively prolific season for the Argentinian, who has also scored 31 goals in 75 international appearances.
11. LW: Fabio Borini
As many Liverpool and Sunderland fans will remember from Borini's frustrating spells at Anfield and the Stadium of Light, the Italian isn't exactly a prolific forward.
The 27-year-old was directly involved in just ten of Milan's goals in all competitions last season, scoring four and assisting six.
Nevertheless, Borini's tireless industry is a valuable asset for his team, as he is more willing than many forwards to track back and defend. He made three tackles in the Napoli game - three more than defender Romagnoli managed in the same match.