Week 3: Roma – Milan

In the aftermath of two wins out of two to start the 2023-2024 Serie A season optimism has risen. The summer moves have satisfied many, if not most fans, despite the earlier losses of Maldini and subsequent sale of Tonali.

Bigger tests on the pitch await starting with away to Roma – including Champions League matchups with PSG, Dortmund and Newcastle. This match is happening in the shadow of the last day of the summer mercato where the search for a Giroud alternative at center forward seems to have hit several stumbling blocks – more on that soon and on the forum.

The starting 11 for this match is likely to be almost unchanged from the first two matches. The biggest question mark seems to be right back position where Kalulu and Calabria compete for the chance to be on the pitch as the Olimpico. Maignan, Thiaw, Tomori and Theo will complete the back line with Loftus-Cheek, (the staying at Milan) Krunic and Reijnders. The middle three have been solid in these early days as have been the front three of Pulisic, Giroud and Leao. When required the backups can provide more satisfactory, and arguably much better, options like Chukwueze and Okafor.

Mourinho’s men have made some intriguing moves this summer bringing in Sardar Azmoun, Romelu Lukaku and Renato Sanches on loan and signing Evan Ndicka on a free transfer. For this match however, none are likely to start and Paolo Dybala is not 100% and looks set to miss the match.

Follow this match and more on the forum.