AC Milan's Gabbia in Contention for Starting Spot as Milan Return to Three at the Back
AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is set to revert to a 3-5-2 formation for the trip to face Hellas Verona, with defender Matteo Gabbia in contention for a starting role. According to reports from the Italian press, Allegri is poised to abandon the four-man defence that faltered in a recent defeat to Udinese, opting instead for a three-man backline at the Bentegodi Stadium.
Gabbia, a product of the Milan youth academy, has been out of action for over a month but returned to the bench in the last match. His availability presents Allegri with a selection dilemma. If Gabbia starts, he is expected to play in the centre of the three-man defence, which would create a direct competition for the right-sided centre-back position between Fikayo Tomori and new signing Caleb Okoli, with Strahinja Pavlovic likely to occupy the left side.
Gabbia's potential inclusion is backed by a curious statistic: in the seven matches Milan have lost this season across all competitions, the Italian defender was only on the pitch for one of those defeats. His return to full fitness after a month-long absence provides Allegri with a fresh and, statistically, a potentially fortunate option in a backline that has looked vulnerable.
In midfield, Youssouf Fofana is expected to return to the starting lineup after an illness kept him on the bench for the last match. The French international's return is seen as crucial for providing stability and physicality in the center of the park.
Questions remain, however, in the final third. The attacking unit has struggled for consistent form, with Rafael Leao facing criticism from the San Siro crowd last time out, Christian Pulisic in a goal drought, and the strike force of Santiago Gimenez, Christopher Nkunku, and Niclas Fullkrug failing to deliver consistently. The final selection in the attacking line remains Allegri's most significant decision ahead of the trip to Verona.
