CorSport: Trio to miss out as Allegri relies on his trusted men against Cagliari

Leao is expected to be left out of the starting XI due to poor recent performances and repeated jeers at San Siro, with his last goal coming on March 1 and form declining since. Milan’s results without him include seven wins from nine games, 20 goals scored, and an average of 2.44 points per game. Nkunku is expected to start as the main forward after a suspension, operating as a second striker behind the primary attacking role. Fofana and Tomori are also expected to be benched, with De Winter as the alternative to Tomori. Rabiot and Modric are expected to start, while Bartesaghi is favored on the left and the right flank is contested between Saelemaekers and Athekame. Pulisic may start on the bench, with Fullkrug favored to partner Nkunku if needed.

"The main name (in terms of importance) not to be included in the starting eleven will be Leao. The Portuguese has performed poorly in recent weeks, and San Siro has repeatedly jeered him. It could even be his Milan curtain call after seven years, based on rumours. Without Leao, Milan have seven wins out of nine games played, with 20 goals scored and an average of 2.44 points per game. He remains Milan's top scorer of the season, but his last goal dates back to March 1 and since then his form has steadily declined."

"Last Sunday's suspension allowed Christopher Nkunku to validate his status as the team's most in-form forward. Leao, therefore, will sit on the bench (at least from the start), while the Frenchman will operate as a second striker. Youssouf Fofana and Fikayo Tomori are expected to end up on the bench just like Leao. Koni De Winter will get the nod as the only credible alternative to Tomori."

"Assuming Adrien Rabiot will be a starter and Luka Modric will return, Samuele Ricci or Ruben Loftus-Cheek are the alternatives there. On the left flank, Davide Bartesaghi is favoured over Pervis Estupinan, who is returning from his suspension in Genoa. On the right, the race is tight between Alexis Saelemaekers and Zachary Athekame, with the former having been in a worrying decline for several games."

"In attack, there are serious doubts about who will partner Nkunku. Christian Pulisic starting on the bench shouldn't be a surprise, and in that case Niclas Fullkrug is favoured over Santiago Gimenez, who h"

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