Ruben Amorim's Milan Faces Venezia Without Rafael Leao
Ruben Amorim walks out at San Siro for the first time on Friday night with a clear idea in his head and a major hole in his team sheet.
No Rafael Leao. Still.
The Portuguese coach, who opened his Serie A tenure with a gritty 2-1 win at Torino, faces newly-promoted Venezia with his star winger sidelined and the transfer window still swirling around him. Leao remains heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa or Galatasaray in the final days of the market, leaving Milan to prepare for their home bow without last season’s attacking talisman.
Amorim bets on continuity
The response from Amorim is simple: don’t touch a winning side.
Reports from Sky Sport Italia indicate Milan are set to line up exactly as they did in Turin. Teenager Alphadjo Cisse, who marked his league debut with a composed finish for the Rossoneri’s second goal, is expected to keep his place in attack alongside Goncalo Ramos, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek again operating between the lines.
Behind them, the structure remains intact. Mike Maignan in goal. A back three of Koni De Winter, Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlovic. Samuel Chukwueze and Pervis Estupinan patrolling the flanks, with Ardon Jashari and Yunus Musah in the engine room.
Amorim has options if he wants to tweak the balance, and big ones at that. Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Alexis Saelemaekers are all pushing for starting roles and are expected to be in the matchday squad. For now, though, the message from Milan is clear: trust the side that delivered in Week 1.
Pulisic waiting in the wings
Christian Pulisic is not expected to start, but his name is edging closer to the spotlight.
Amorim hinted in his pre-match press conference that the American could see his first minutes of the season from the bench. With Leao absent and speculation raging, Pulisic’s ability to attack space and carry the ball at pace could become a crucial weapon as the game opens up.
Whether he appears or not, the dynamic on the left will feel different without Leao’s familiar surges. Milan must show they can dominate at home even without their headline act.
Venezia arrive with a familiar surname
Venezia travel to San Siro bruised but not broken.
Their return to Serie A began with a 2-0 home defeat to Lecce, yet early reports suggest they will also resist the urge to overhaul the side. Stability is the word for Paolo Vanoli’s men as they step into one of the most intimidating arenas in Italian football.
There will be a notable name in goal. Filip Stankovic, son of former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, is expected to start between the posts for the visitors, adding a slice of derby nostalgia to the night even in a Milan–Venezia fixture.
Venezia are set to stick with a 3-5-2: Stankovic behind a back three of Joel Schingtienne, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Bartol Franjic. On the flanks, Antonio Hainaut and a hard-running wide unit will look to support a midfield of Gianluca Busio, plus Perez, Basi and Correia, with the front two of Yeboah and Adams tasked with unsettling Milan’s back line on the counter.
Probable line-ups
Milan (3-4-2-1): Maignan; De Winter, Gila, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Jashari, Musah, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek, Cisse; Ramos.
Venezia (3-5-2): Stankovic; Schingtienne, Bella-Kotchap, Franjic; Hainaut, Perez, Busio, Basi, Correia; Yeboah, Adams.
Under the lights
Kick-off at San Siro is scheduled for 19.45 BST, with UK viewers able to watch exclusively on DAZN and fans in the USA tuning in via Paramount+.
Amorim has his stage, his system and, for now, his winning XI. What he doesn’t have is Rafael Leao. How long that remains Milan’s reality may define far more than just one Friday night in August.
