AC Milan return from the international break with a blockbuster of a game against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, which is of course a precursor for the Champions League quarter-finals.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) writes this morning that the only clash between Milan and Napoli so far this season dates back to 18 September 2022 and it was in some ways a match that greatly changed the fortunes of the season for both teams.
The Partenopei won a game that they were lucky to on the balance of play, and it was the last game Mike Maignan played before his long injury lay-off. In that game, Rafael Leao and Victor Osimhen were missing, who are probably the most important players for both sides.
These two added values could further disrupt the results of three games to come starting as early as Sunday evening, and the Portuguese winger should return to his more natural position wide on the left with a four-man defence also coming back.
Captain Davide Calabria will also be back on the field at right-back given Pierre Kalulu’s injury, and Alessandro Florenzi could actually play on the right wing to provide additional cover on that flank instead of Alexis Saelemakers.
Sandro Tonali is expected to start ahead of Ismael Bennacer and Rade Krunic will partner him, while in defence Simon Kjaer is currently the favourite over Malick Thiaw.
