AC Milan Prepares for Lazio Match: Amorim's 3-4-2-1 Strategy
AC Milan went back to work at Milanello on Thursday afternoon with one thought in mind: Rome. After two straight wins to open the 2026-27 campaign, the late equaliser conceded to Juventus in the 1-1 draw still lingers. Now comes a third away test in four league games, this time against Lazio in the capital, and Ruben Amorim looks ready to double down on his principles rather than rip anything up.
Amorim sticks to his shape
No surprises with the system. According to MilanNews, Amorim will again roll out his preferred 3-4-2-1, the structure that has already given this Milan side a clear identity in the opening weeks.
Mike Maignan stays in goal and keeps the captain’s armband, the undisputed reference point at the back.
In front of him, Koni De Winter is set to keep his place at the heart of the three-man defence, rewarded for his recent displays. Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlovic are expected to flank him, giving Milan a back line built for aggression and front-foot defending rather than sitting deep and absorbing pressure.
Wing battles and wide calls
Out wide, the choices say a lot about the way Milan intend to attack Lazio.
On the right, Samuel Chukwueze should start again, offering pace and direct running after Diego Moreira’s recent outing in Turin. Moreira looks likely to make way, with Chukwueze trusted to stretch the game from the first whistle.
On the left, Pervis Estupinan currently holds the edge over Davide Bartesaghi. That duel has tilted towards the Ecuadorian, whose experience and engine give Amorim both defensive cover and an extra runner in the final third. If confirmed, it would leave Bartesaghi as an option off the bench rather than from the start.
Midfield traffic: Modric at the controls
The engine room carries familiar names but still hides one or two selection questions.
Yunus Musah is expected to start again alongside Luka Modric in the double pivot. Musah’s legs and Modric’s brain give Milan a blend of power and craft that Amorim clearly trusts. Ardon Jashari sits just behind them in the pecking order for now.
There is, however, one possible twist. Adrien Rabiot could drop back into the double pivot if Amorim wants extra physicality and height in central areas. Should that happen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek would come in as the central playmaker, operating just behind the striker.
For the moment, though, the indications point elsewhere.
Rabiot, Cisse and the line led by Ramos
As things stand, Rabiot is expected to continue in the right-sided attacking midfield role. His ability to drift between the lines and link phases of play has made him a key part of the structure higher up the pitch.
On the left, Alphadjo Cisse is set to return to the starting XI after his goal against Juventus, a contribution that has strengthened his claim to a place behind the centre-forward. His presence offers another vertical runner and a threat arriving late in the box.
Up front, there is no debate. Goncalo Ramos will once again lead the line as the reference point in attack.
One name, though, will catch the eye on the bench. Christian Pulisic is expected to get his first minutes of the season from there, a potentially significant weapon to unleash if the game opens up in the second half.
Predicted XI and bench options
Predicted AC Milan XI vs Lazio (3-4-2-1):
Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Modric, Musah, Estupinan; Rabiot, Cisse; G. Ramos.
Expected substitutes: P. Terracciano, Torriani, Tomori, F. Terracciano, Diawara, Bartesaghi, Jashari, Comotto, Saelemaekers, Moreira, Loftus-Cheek, Hutchinson, Pulisic, Camarda.
Milan arrive in Rome still unbeaten, with a system that already looks well-drilled and a bench stacked with alternatives. Now comes the real question: can Amorim’s structure withstand another hostile away night and keep their early-season momentum alive in the capital?
