Milan predicted lineup vs Inter - Champions League

Pioli has some big decisions to make
Pioli has some big decisions to make / Marco Canoniero/GettyImages
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Milan welcome Inter to San Siro (on a technical level, anyway) for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening.

The Rossoneri are out to secure a place in the final for the first time since winning the competition back in 2007, when Pippo Inzaghi scored the match-winning brace to secure Milan a seventh European Cup.

The former striker's brother, Simone, will be in the opposite dugout and in charge of preventing Milan's return to the grandest stage.

Here's how Stefano Pioli could set his stall out.


Milan predicted lineup vs Inter

GK: Mike Maignan - His performances against Napoli in the quarter-finals elevated him into the conversation for best goalkeeper in the world. A couple more standout displays against Inter would strengthen his case further.

RB: Davide Calabria - Played out of his skin to keep Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet across those two legs. Inter don't quite have the same calibre of winger to cause such problems.

CB: Fikayo Tomori - The England international became only the 166th player to ever reach 100 appearances for Milan, receiving an honour from club legend and sporting director Paolo Maldini for this achievement.

CB: Simon Kjaer - Brings much-needed stability and experience at the back, though his last European semi-final - a Euro 2020 loss with Denmark to England - saw him score an own goal.

LB: Theo Hernandez - Will have his work cut out in duels with the energetic and tenacious Denzel Dumfries.


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CM: Sandro Tonali - Once a Football Manager wonderkid likened to Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso, Tonali has established himself as one of Europe's finest midfielders in his own right.

CM: Rade Krunic - Perhaps the unsung hero of Milan's midfield, doing the dirty work and putting the hard yards in.

RM: Alexis Saelemaekers - A confusing style of winger who rarely scores goals, though does turn up on big occasions, notably grabbing the latest of equalisers in Milan's recent draw at Roma.

AM: Ismael Bennacer - The Algerian has been used in a number of different areas this season, most recently excelling as a number ten.

LM: Brahim Diaz - Rafael Leao is out with a groin injury, meaning the Real Madrid loanee will switch to the left flank instead.

CF: Olivier Giroud - So often the man for the biggest of moments and one of only two players in this Milan squad to have won the Champions League before (the other being Divock Origi).