Official: AC Milan vs. Cagliari starting XIs – Pioli benches the stars

AC Milan will square off with Cagliari at 20:45 CEST this evening and following six games without a win, they will be eager to get back to winning ways. As confirmed by the official eleven, Stefano Pioli has decided to bench several stars. 

It has been a tough month for the Rossoneri, first getting knocked out against Roma in the Europa League and then losing the derby against Inter. The 3-3 draw against Genoa was far from good last time out as well, and now a positive response is needed.

The rumours of the last 24 hours were confirmed as the official eleven was announced this evening, with Pioli benching the likes of Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao. It’s a chance for the others to step up, in other words.

Pierre Kalulu will surely be eager to prove himself after a season that has been ruined by injuries, with his future up in the air as well.

Official Milan XI (4-3-3): Sportiello; Kalulu, Gabbia, Thiaw, Florenzi; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic.

Bench: Nava, Torriani; Calabria, Caldara, Hernández, Terracciano, Tomori; Adli, Pobega, Zeroli; Jović, Leão, Okafor.

Official Cagliari XI (4-5-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Obert; Nández, Sulemana, Deiola, Prati, Luvumbo; Shomurodov.

Bench: Aresti, Radunović; Azzi, Di Pardo, Hatzidiakos, Wieteska; Mancosu, Oristanio, Viola; Kingstone, Lapadula, Pavoletti, Petagna.