AC Milan will kick off their 2020-21 Serie A campaign at Serie A on Monday night when they face Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Bologna.The Rossoneri begun their campaign on Thursday night with a Watch Live win over Shamrock Rovers in the second qualifying round of the Europa League in Dublin, thanks to goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hakan Calhanoglu.
Game date: Monday 21 September
Kick-off time: 20:45 (CEST)
Venue: San Siro
Referee: Federico La Penna
Pioli is expecting another tough test from Bologna as he stated in his pre-match press conference, while he will again battle a defensive crisis as Milan look to make it two wins from two to start the season.
Milan were unable to call upon defenders Alessio Romagnoli, Mateo Musacchio and Andrea Conti against Shamrock as all three continue to nurse injuries sustained towards the end of last season.
The trio will be out for Monday’s game too, as will Rafael Leao who has spent time in quarantine and has not yet trained with the group, but Ante Rebic will return from suspension.
Rebic is expected to occupy the left wing spot with Alexis Saelemaekers dropping to the bench. Hakan Calhanoglu and Samu Castillejo complete the trio behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Franck Kessie and Ismael Bennacer in front of the defence.
It will be a back four again with Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez on the right and left respectively. The young Matteo Gabbia will partner Simon Kjaer at centre-back, just ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo; Kessie, Bennacer; Castillejo, Calhanoglu, Rebic; Ibrahimovic.
