Ruben Amorim’s San Siro bow comes with a complication. The new Milan coach walks out under the lights on Friday night without Rafael Leao, the club’s former Serie A MVP and the man whose future hangs over the final days of the transfer window.
No Leao, same expectations.
Amorim’s Milan sticks to the script
Amorim could hardly have asked for a better start. A 2-1 win away at Torino, built on the exuberance of teenager Alphadjo Cisse and the authority of Adrien Rabiot, gave his Serie A reign an immediate edge of credibility. It was not flawless, but it was convincing enough to make one thing clear: this is not a team in transition that plans to wait.
Sky Sport Italia report that Amorim intends to reward that performance with continuity. Milan are expected to line up exactly as they did in Turin. No tinkering. No early experiments. Cisse, Goncalo Ramos and Ruben Loftus-Cheek should again form the attacking trident, with the young forward handed another chance to ride the wave of his debut goal.
Behind them, the structure remains familiar: Mike Maignan in goal; a back three of Koni De Winter, Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlovic; Samuel Chukwueze and Pervis Estupinan patrolling the flanks; Uran Bislimi Jashari and Yunus Musah anchoring midfield.
There is, however, a subplot waiting on the touchline.
Christian Pulisic is not expected to start, but Amorim has already opened the door for the American to taste his first minutes of the season from the bench. For a coach who has stressed competition for places, those late cameos could quickly turn into something more significant.
Leao absent, rumours present
Leao’s absence is sporting and symbolic. On the pitch, Milan lose their most explosive outlet. Off it, the noise grows louder.
The Portugal international continues to be linked with a move away, with Aston Villa and Galatasaray both circling as the window ticks towards its close. For now, he is unavailable, and Milan must show they can live without him, at least for a night.
Amorim does have senior options pressing from behind. Luka Modric, Rabiot and Alexis Saelemaekers are all expected to be in the matchday squad and are pushing for starting roles. Yet the message from Italy is consistent: the coach is reluctant to disturb a winning formula so early in the campaign.
Venezia arrive wounded, not broken
On the other side of the halfway line, Venezia arrive at San Siro with a point to prove and a defeat to erase.
Their return to Serie A began with a 2-0 home loss to Lecce, a sobering reminder of the gap between the top flight and the division they have just escaped. Even so, early reports suggest Venezia will resist the temptation to overhaul their side. The plan is to keep faith with the group that fell short last weekend and trust that the lessons have been learned.
There will be a familiar surname in goal. Filip Stankovic, son of former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, is expected to start between the posts. His presence adds a small twist of Derby della Madonnina nostalgia to an otherwise straightforward league fixture.
Venezia should mirror Milan’s back three. Stankovic will be protected by Joel Schingtienne, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Bartol Franjic. The five-man midfield is likely to feature Gaetan Hainaut, Perez, Gianluca Busio, Basi and Correia, with Yeboah and Adams leading the line in a 3-5-2 that will try to compress space and frustrate.
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 at San Siro
Kick-off is set for 19.45 BST, a Friday night stage that feels tailor-made for a coach making his first San Siro appearance and a squad trying to write a new chapter without one of its brightest stars.
Supporters in the UK can watch the game live on DAZN, while viewers in the USA can follow it on Paramount+.
Amorim has his plan. Venezia have their warning from week one. With the transfer clock ticking and Leao’s future unresolved, how long can this version of Milan stay untouched?
