Probable XIs for Milan vs. Cagliari – Pioli snubs Hernandez and Leao

AC Milan are currently gearing up to take on Cagliari this evening and Stefano Pioli has decided to make a few significant changes to the starting XI. In fact, the likes of Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao will be on the bench. 

It’s been a tough month for Milan, failing to clinch a win in the last six games, and Pioli has thus decided to switch things up. As was first reported last night, the stars of the team will be on the bench, including captain Davide Calabria.

Certainly, this is a strong message by Pioli and the predicted XI was also confirmed by Gazzetta dello Sport this morning (see photo below). Alessandro Florenzi will be the starting left-back, while Pierre Kalulu will be on the right-hand side of the defence.

The decision to bench Calabria is especially notable as the captain just returned from his two-game suspension, now fully rested and ready to prove his worth. In any case, the results have not been going Milan’s way and one can understand Pioli’s decision here.

The Curva Sud have confirmed that their protest will continue this evening, meaning there will be no banners, flags or cheering in their section. Another strange game thus awaits the Rossoneri, that’s for sure.

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

Predicted Cagliari XI (4-2-3-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Obert; Deiola, Sulemana; Nandez, Oristanio, Luvumbo; Shomurodov.