Milan – Lecce Coppa Italia

Off three Serie A clean sheets Milan face off with Lecce in the second of early Coppa Italia rounds. This early Coppa Italia participation was of course necessitated by losing to Bologna in last season’s final.

Logic would dictate that this is a time to give some regular players rest and save them for Napoli and the Serie A. The squad that is available for Allegri is not exactly full of options. De Winter and Odugu are the back central defender for example. Athekame, who had debut minutes during the weekend, is the back up right back and the Bartesaghi on the left. Ricci is the presumed central midfield back up and Jashari is unavailable due to injury at least until early November. Up front Leao is still not ready and aiming for the weekend with only Pulisic, Nkunku and Gimenez as options.

Perhaps all of the above supposed backup will get starting minutes but it feels like Nkunku is the most proven and the most likely to get the coach’s trust. Many feel that Gimenez needs to be given every chance to gain confidence and form, perhaps this might be his chance.

If Milan progress the next Coppa match will be against Lazio in December in the round of 16.