Ruben Amorim's First Match at San Siro as AC Milan Coach

Ruben Amorim steps into San Siro for the first time as AC Milan coach on Friday night, chasing a second straight Serie A win and doing it without the club’s most explosive forward.

Rafael Leao remains out of the squad and firmly in the headlines, his future hanging over the final days of the transfer window as links to Aston Villa and Galatasaray refuse to fade. On the pitch, though, Amorim has little interest in change.

Amorim’s Milan sticks with a winning formula

Milan opened their campaign with a gritty 2-1 victory away to Torino, a result that immediately eased Amorim into Italian football. Teenager Alphadjo Cisse announced himself with a goal, Adrien Rabiot did what he so often does by delivering in a big moment, and the new coach walked off in Turin with three points and a template.

That template is set to remain.

Reports from Sky Sport Italia indicate Milan will go unchanged for Venezia’s visit. Cisse, Goncalo Ramos and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are again expected to spearhead the attack in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1, a front line that blends raw energy, penalty-box instinct and late runs from midfield.

Christian Pulisic is not tipped to start but could finally see the pitch for the first time this season. Amorim hinted in his pre-match press conference that the American is ready for minutes from the bench, a potentially significant weapon to unleash if the game drags into a tight second half.

Behind them, the spine looks settled. Mike Maignan starts in goal, with a back three of Koni De Winter, Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlovic. Samuel Chukwueze and Piero Hincapié Estupiñán are expected to patrol the flanks, with Ardon Jashari and Yunus Musah in central midfield.

Leao’s absence remains the one glaring omission. The former Serie A MVP is not just another name on the teamsheet; he is the player who bends games to his will. For now, Milan must prove they can create and finish without him, even as his future is debated away from the pitch.

Luka Modric, Rabiot and Alexis Saelemaekers are all set to be in the matchday squad and are pushing for starting roles, but the message from Italy is clear: Amorim does not intend to touch a winning side unless he has to.

Venezia arrive wounded but unchanged

Venezia make the trip north still smarting from a 2-0 home defeat to Lecce on their top-flight return. It was a sobering reminder of the step up from Serie B, but not one that has sparked panic.

Reports suggest the newly-promoted side will also resist sweeping changes. Confidence in the core group remains, even after a losing start.

There will be a familiar surname on the San Siro pitch. Filip Stankovic, son of former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, is expected to start in goal for Venezia, adding a touch of derby nostalgia to the evening even though the opposition is clad in red and black.

Venezia are likely to line up in a 3-5-2: Stankovic behind a back three of Joel Schingtienne, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Bartol Franjic. Out wide, Koffi Hainaut and a hard-running left flank will try to support a midfield unit of Tanner Tessmann or Gianluca Busio alongside key operators like Perez and Basi, with Gabriel Correia offering thrust. Up front, the pairing of Kelvin Yeboah and a lively Adams will look to test Milan’s back line in transition.

They know they will see less of the ball. They also know that one clean break can change everything in a stadium like this.

Probable line-ups

Milan (3-4-2-1): Maignan; De Winter, Gila, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Jashari, Musah, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek, Cisse; Ramos.

Venezia (3-5-2): Stankovic; Schingtienne, Bella-Kotchap, Franjic; Hainaut, Perez, Busio, Basi, Correia; Yeboah, Adams.

Under the lights at San Siro

Kick-off is set for 19.45 BST, with the stadium ready to judge Amorim on his home bow and to see how this remodelled Milan copes without its star winger.

For fans in the UK, the match will be shown exclusively on DAZN. Viewers in the USA can watch via Paramount+.

Amorim has his first taste of San Siro as Milan coach. Venezia have their first real test away from home. Leao’s future hovers over it all. Which story takes centre stage by full-time?