As Milan prepares for their Sunday evening clash against Atalanta at San Siro, the air around Milanello reportedly hums with quiet confidence. Last weekend’s 4-0 demolition of Udinese may have lifted the spirits within the Rossoneri camp, but with a resurgent Atalanta side visiting and a decisive Coppa Italia return leg against Inter looming midweek, Sergio Conceicao has a tactical puzzle on his hands.
While Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are expected to reprise their roles in Milan’s revamped attacking trident, the real intrigue lies deeper. Will Joao Felix feature at all? Has Santiago Gimenez recovered in time to stake his claim?
Milan’s 3-4-3 formation breathed new life into a team that had looked stale and uncertain just weeks ago. Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic brought calm and cohesion to the backline, while Fofana and Reijnders controlled the tempo from midfield. On the flanks, Alex Jimenez and Theo Hernandez provided width and engine, setting the stage for Pulisic and Leao to flourish.
Despite the congested fixture list and expectations for rotation, Conceicao is sticking to what works. According to Sky Italia, the Portuguese manager is expected to field the exact same lineup that crushed Udinese, favoring consistency over experimentation. “The first indications of the new system were very positive, but confirming them against a stronger side is also needed,” noted one report via Sky Italia.
Will Joao Felix start?
There has been various speculation around Joao Felix—whether he’ll finally be handed a more prominent role. But once again, it appears that the Portuguese playmaker is not part of Conceicao’s immediate plans. Despite his talent and flashes of brilliance, he remains on the outside looking in, with no spot for him in the current setup.
“Felix has found himself surplus to tactical requirements in Conceicao’s current configuration, and it’s hard to see where he fits unless the system shifts,” observed MilanNews.it earlier this week.
Will Santiago Gimenez be available?
Two major injury concerns loomed during the week: Mike Maignan and Santiago Gimenez. The French goalkeeper was withdrawn last week after a head collision with teammate Alex Jimenez, but all medical checks came back clear. By Friday, he was back in full training at Milanello.
“Maignan has returned to training at full speed, showing that he has completely recovered after the trauma suffered,” reported Peppe Di Stefano of Sky Italia.
Gimenez, meanwhile, has also returned to training after suffering a knock in the Fiorentina match two weeks ago. Though physically recovered, he faces a tactical roadblock rather than a medical one. Conceicao appears to favor both Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic, who have impressed in the Mexican’s absence.
So, has Santiago Gimenez recovered from injury? Yes—but don’t expect to see him from the first whistle. The major January signing is physically fit but not yet trusted to lead the line. Instead, Luka Jovic will continue as the starting striker, rewarded for his intelligent link-up play and movement—even if goals have eluded him recently.
“Even though he didn’t score [against Udinese], Jovic played an effective match, creating space for the wingers and midfielders,” highlighted MilanNews.it. Conceicao’s current hierarchy appears fixed: Jovic starts against Atalanta, Abraham is likely reserved for Inter, and Gimenez waits for his chance from the bench.
Strong side, with one eye on Inter
Despite whispers of rotation ahead of the derby, Milan will go full strength against Atalanta. The Portuguese manager wants to maintain momentum and sharpen his preferred XI ahead of the Coppa Italia decider.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Leao; Jovic.
