Milan is set to clash with Lecce in a thrilling Coppa Italia showdown, headlining the round of 32. Tonight features a triple-header, with Cagliari vs. Frosinone and Udinese vs. Palermo also vying for victory. All eyes are on San Siro at 21:00 for the Milan-Lecce match.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri emphasises the Coppa Italia as a key season objective. "We'll focus on the league from Wednesday, but we have a game to win now. It's important to progress to the next round," he stated, urging his players to prioritise the cup tie before their big match against Napoli on Sunday.
Rafael Leao will remain sidelined, potentially for the last time. Allegri highlighted the club's cautious approach to Leao's injury: "Leao will definitely be out. We'll assess him on Thursday and Friday to decide his availability for the Napoli game." His absence is confirmed for the Lecce match.
Milan enters the game with boosted morale following their win against Udinese, with Mike Maignan back in goal. However, Allegri is expected to make several changes to the starting lineup. Ricci and Nkunku could feature from the start, giving Modric and Pulisic a rest. Rabiot might also start on the bench, offering an opportunity for players to prove their worth.
Milan's Possible Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Ricci, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Gimenez, Nkunku. Lecce's Possible Lineup (4-3-3): Falcone; Veiga, Tiago Gabriel, Gaspar, Ndaba; Kaba, Berisha, Kovac; Banda, Camarda, N'Dri.
Beyond the Coppa Italia, Napoli has extended Matteo Politano's contract until June 30, 2028. Tennis star Jannik Sinner returns to the court at the ATP 500 in Beijing after a break, facing Marin Cilic in his opening match.
While the Coppa Italia is a chance to experiment, Milan must aim for the trophy. It's a knockout competition, demanding victory to avoid the lottery of penalties. Winning is never easy, and Milan must bring their A-game.