Predicted XIs for Roma vs. Milan – Musah the surprise inclusion

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has had the last few days to study which team will be the right one to overturn the first leg deficit against Roma, and he seems to have made his decisions.

According to what is being reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, Mike Maignan should return between the posts after missing the draw against Sassuolo due to fatigue.

The back four in front of him should consist of Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez as the right and left-backs respectively, then Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori as the central defensive pairing.

The big news is regarding the midfield, where Yunus Musah is now expected to get the nod over Ismael Bennacer to partner Tijjani Reijnders. Ruben Loftus-Cheek keeps his position as the attacking midfielder.

That means Christian Pulisic will start on the right, with Rafael Leao on the opposite flank and Olivier Giroud leading the line. The likes of Bennacer, Yacine Adli, Noah Okafor, Samuel Chukwueze and Luka Jovic can all come off the bench.

Roma meanwhile are down as having a 4-4-2 system compared to the 4-3-3 they have been using. Svilar should be in goal; Celik, Smalling, Mancini and Spinazzola form the back four; El Shaarawy, Bova, Paredes and Pellegrini are down as the midfield four; Dybala and Lukaku lead the line.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.

Predicted Roma XI (4-4-2): Svilar; Celik, Smalling, Mancini, Spinazzola; El Shaarawy, Bove, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku.