Week 1 Preview: Fiorentina – Milan

A summer that can be termed revolutionary is about to end and a new era is in full swing. A much changed Milan team will start the 2015-2016 Serie A season with higher aims and more money hoping for a swift return to the elite or at least to the European stage. Fiorentina, themselves with a new coach in Paulo Sousa and changes (Mario Suarez and Davide Astori just to name two) provide the opposition on the first match day.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has settled on a 4-3-1-2 and signs in the pre-season have been more positive than not. The Coppa Italia lineup earlier in the week vs Perugia is likely to remain unchanged partly due to Jeremy Menez remaining on the injury list with a back problem. The other major injury is M’Baye Niang who likely will not return to the line up before November.

Diego Lopez hopes to continue to provide man of the match performances and Mihajlovic will start the season depending on youth in defense. Mattia De Sciglio or Ignazio Abate will play along side Alessio Romagnoli, Rodrigo Ely and Luca Antonelli. The quartet’s average age is in the low 20s making them one of the youngest. The midfield three will be relying on Nigel de Jong cleaning up in the center with Andrea Bertolacci and Giacomo Bonaventura on the sides. Riccardo Montolivo’s status is somewhat unanswered, it is unlikely that he remains benched often when healthy. The front two are established. The two big summer buys, Luiz Adriano and Carlos Bacca, only need a settled provider which for now is likely to remain Keisuke Honda. The final days of the transfer window might change this however.

The transfer window will close after two Serie A matches. Empoli will provide the opposition next week.

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FORZA MILAN