Ruben Amorim's AC Milan Set for Home Debut Against Venezia
Ruben Amorim walks out at San Siro for the first time on Friday night with a win already in his pocket – and a storm already swirling around his biggest star.
The new AC Milan coach opened his Serie A tenure with a sharp, disciplined 2-1 victory away to Torino, built on the exuberance of teenager Alphadjo Cisse and the authority of Adrien Rabiot. Now comes the home unveiling, under the lights, against newly-promoted Venezia. The stage is bigger. The noise will be louder. The complications are too.
Because Rafael Leao will not be there.
The former Serie A MVP remains on the sidelines, his name still threaded through the final days of the transfer window. Aston Villa and Galatasaray continue to be linked with the Portugal international, and Milan go into their first home game of the season without the man who has so often been their reference point in attack.
Amorim, though, looks ready to double down on what worked.
Amorim sticks with a winning hand
Sky Sport Italia report that Milan are set to line up exactly as they did in Turin. No tinkering, no early experiments. Cisse, Goncalo Ramos and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are again expected to spearhead the attack in a 3-4-2-1 that already showed teeth on opening weekend.
Cisse, fresh from his goal at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, has earned another chance to run at defenders. Loftus-Cheek, operating between the lines, brings power and late runs into the box, while Ramos offers the penalty-area presence Amorim demands.
Behind them, the structure looks settled. Mike Maignan starts in goal, shielded by a back three of Koni De Winter, Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlovic. On the flanks, Samuel Chukwueze and Piero Estupinan are tasked with stretching Venezia and pinning their wing-backs deep, while Uran Bislimi Jashari and Yunus Musah are set to patrol central midfield.
Christian Pulisic is not expected to start but could finally see his first minutes of the season from the bench, with Amorim hinting in his pre-match press conference that the American is ready to be eased back into action.
Rabiot, Luka Modric and Alexis Saelemaekers are all expected to be in the matchday squad and are pushing for starting roles, yet the message coming out of Italy is clear: the coach is unlikely to disturb a winning XI this early.
Venezia arrive bruised, but largely unchanged
Venezia travel to San Siro on the back of a sobering 2-0 home defeat to Lecce. It was a reminder of the step up in intensity that Serie A demands, but not one that seems likely to prompt sweeping changes.
Reports suggest the visitors will also keep faith with the bulk of the side that started last weekend. Their shape should again be a 3-5-2, with a familiar surname drawing the eye.
Filip Stankovic, son of former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, is expected to start in goal, adding a touch of narrative spice to the evening. He will marshal a back three of Joel Schingtienne, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Bartol Franjic, with a busy midfield five of Daouda Hainaut, Matias Perez, Gianluca Busio, Basi and Correia working to close down space and spring counters.
Up front, Kelvin Yeboah and Adams are set to lead the line, tasked with punishing any Milan complacency and testing a defence that, Torino aside, remains relatively unproven under Amorim.
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.
Kick-off at San Siro is scheduled for 19.45 BST.
Where to watch
Supporters in the UK can watch Milan vs Venezia exclusively on DAZN, while fans in the USA will be able to follow the game live on Paramount+.
Amorim’s first steps in Serie A have already brought three points. Now comes the real audition: can his Milan convince a restless San Siro while one of their brightest stars hovers on the brink of the exit door?
