Official: AC Milan vs. Club Brugge starting XIs – five changes from Udinese win | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named his starting line-up for the game against Club Brugge, with some changes compared to Saturday’s win over Udinese.

It is crucial that Milan get their first points of their Champions League campaign in what could be a tricky fixture against the Belgian champions. The absentees are Ismael Bennacer, Marco Sportiello and Alessandro Florenzi who are recovering from surgery, plus Davide Calabria who remains out with a calf issue.

Matteo Gabbia missed the Udinese fixture after complaining of muscle discomfort but he has come back into the side, partnering Fikayo Tomori at centre-back meaning the pairing from Saturday drops to the bench. Mike Maignan is in goal, with Emerson Royal and Theo Hernandez the full-backs, given the latter’s ban only applies in the league.

Ahead of the defence is the now customary double pivot of Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders – who each face an intriguing battle against their counterparts – while Ruben Loftus-Cheek should operate ahead of them in the attacking midfielder role.

Christian Pulisic moves back to the right wing spot with Samuel Chukwueze therefore returning to the bench. Rafael Leao is back in the side after sitting out on Saturday, while Alvaro Morata leads the line. Francesco Camarda is among the subs, and if he comes on he would break a record.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata.

Bench: Sportiello, Torriani, Pavlovic, Thiaw, Terracciano, Musah, Zeroli, Chukwueze, Okafor, Camarda.

Official Club Brugge XI (4-3-3): Mignolet, Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari, Vanaken; Talbi, Jutglà, Tzolis.

Bench: Jackers, Romero, Skov Olsen, Vetlesen, Vermant, Skoras, Nielsen, Spileers, Sabbe.