Torino vs AC Milan Predicted Lineups: Team News for Serie A Opener

Torino open their 2026 Serie A campaign at Stadio Olimpico di Torino against AC Milan in a fixture that has quietly become one of the most intriguing matchups in Italy. Both sides start the season on 0 points, with Torino listed 18th and AC Milan 12th only by alphabetical tiebreaks, so this is less about current league position and more about setting the tone for the new year.

Recent head-to-head meetings suggest a genuinely competitive rivalry. Across the last ten clashes in league and cup, Torino have beaten AC Milan several times at home and away, while Milan have also produced high-scoring wins in Milan and narrow victories in Turin. With such a balanced history and no current-season form data to lean on, predicted lineups and tactical setups become crucial in assessing where the edge might lie.

With no official lineups yet, this analysis focuses on predicted lineups built from the available squads, injury news, and betting markets. Both teams have significant absences and a few questionable stars, which will heavily shape the expected starting lineup and the way this Serie A opener is likely to play out.

Torino Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Torino enter the new season with some disruption at the back. Goalkeeper F. Israel is ruled out with a shoulder injury, and defender E. Cömert is listed as questionable with an injury. That immediately affects the spine of the team and forces the coaching staff to rethink the expected defensive structure for this opener.

With no recent league form to reference for 2026, Torino’s approach is likely to be pragmatic: a compact defensive block, heavy work-rate in midfield, and a focus on the physical presence and movement of their attackers. Given the opponent, the expected lineup should prioritise experience in goal and defence, ball-carrying and pressing energy in midfield, and a mix of power and mobility up front to threaten in transition.

Torino Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Paleari
DF: C. Biraghi; Saúl Coco; A. Ismajli; A. Dembélé
MF: M. Pedersen; I. Ilić; G. Gineitis; N. Vlašić
FW: D. Zapata; G. Simeone

With F. Israel unavailable, the experienced A. Paleari is the logical choice in goal from the remaining keepers, offering stability and communication in a high-pressure opener. At the back, C. Biraghi provides leadership and delivery from wide areas, while Saúl Coco and A. Ismajli give Torino aerial strength and physicality in central zones. A. Dembélé adds youthful legs and recovery pace on the opposite flank, important against AC Milan’s wide attackers.

In midfield, M. Pedersen and I. Ilić can anchor the central spaces, mixing ball-winning with progressive passing. G. Gineitis brings energy and vertical running, while N. Vlašić, listed as an attacker but capable of operating between the lines, is expected to act as the creative link, drifting inside to support the forwards. Up front, the predicted pairing of D. Zapata and G. Simeone gives Torino a double threat: Zapata’s strength and hold-up play combined with Simeone’s penalty-box instincts and pressing work-rate. This expected starting lineup is built to contest duels, exploit crosses, and punish any looseness in AC Milan’s defensive structure.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AC Milan travel to Turin with a more complicated injury picture. Y. Fofana, C. Nkunku, and F. Tomori are all ruled out as inactive, removing a key midfielder, a versatile attacker, and a first-choice central defender from consideration. On top of that, S. Giménez (ankle injury), R. Leão (muscle injury), and C. Pulišić (broken leg) are all listed as questionable, casting doubt over the availability of three major attacking pieces.

These issues mean that AC Milan’s lineups today will likely lean heavily on depth options, especially in attack and at centre-back. Without Tomori, the back line must be reshuffled; without guaranteed availability of Leão and Pulišić, the wide and creative zones may be filled by secondary or emerging attackers. Expect an organised, possession-oriented shape with an emphasis on controlling midfield through experienced operators and using intelligent movement in the final third rather than pure star power on the flanks.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Maignan
DF: P. Estupiñán; M. Gabbia; Mario Gila; S. Pavlović
MF: A. Rabiot; L. Modrić; R. Loftus-Cheek
FW: S. Chukwueze; Gonçalo Ramos; A. Saelemaekers

With all injured and inactive players excluded from the predicted XI, M. Maignan is the clear choice in goal, offering elite shot-stopping and distribution. At the back, P. Estupiñán and S. Pavlović provide balance on the flanks, combining defensive solidity with the ability to push forward. In central defence, M. Gabbia and Mario Gila form a robust pairing in the absence of F. Tomori, with both capable in the air and comfortable stepping into midfield when needed.

Midfield is where AC Milan can still field a high-quality trio despite absences. A. Rabiot adds physicality, ball-carrying, and defensive coverage; L. Modrić brings control, tempo-setting, and creativity from deeper areas; R. Loftus-Cheek offers vertical runs and an extra presence in the box. This combination should allow Milan to dominate central zones and feed the front three. In attack, S. Chukwueze’s direct dribbling and one‑v‑one ability from the right flank, Gonçalo Ramos’ penalty-area movement and finishing as the central striker, and A. Saelemaekers’ work-rate and tactical discipline on the opposite side make up a balanced, hard-working front line. Even without Leão and Pulišić in this predicted lineup, Milan retain enough variety to trouble Torino’s defence.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Injuries and absences could significantly influence the rhythm and attacking ceiling of this match. Both teams are forced to adjust key positions, which will shape how aggressive or conservative their managers can be with their game plans.

Torino Absences:

F. Israel — Shoulder Injury (Missing Fixture)
E. Cömert — Injury (Questionable)

AC Milan Absences:

Y. Fofana — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
C. Nkunku — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
F. Tomori — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
S. Giménez — Ankle Injury (Questionable)
R. Leao — Muscle Injury (Questionable)
C. Pulisic — Broken Leg (Questionable)

For Torino, the loss of F. Israel simplifies the goalkeeping choice but reduces depth, while the uncertainty over E. Cömert may weaken their options for defensive rotation. For AC Milan, the confirmed absence of F. Tomori is especially damaging, as it forces a reconfigured centre-back partnership. The inactive status of Y. Fofana and C. Nkunku strips depth and flexibility from midfield and attack, while the questionable status of S. Giménez, R. Leao, and C. Pulisic means Milan may have to start without their most explosive forwards or manage their minutes carefully if they are involved at all.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted Torino XI suggests a side built around physical duels, compactness, and direct attacking patterns. With Biraghi and Dembélé expected to push from full-back and the dual presence of Zapata and Simeone up front, Torino are likely to prioritise crosses, set pieces, and second balls around the box. Vlašić operating between the lines can link midfield and attack, while Ilić and Pedersen provide the structure to screen the defence and recycle possession.

AC Milan’s predicted setup leans more towards control and technical superiority in midfield. With Modrić orchestrating, Rabiot and Loftus-Cheek can both protect and break lines, allowing the full-backs to support attacks without leaving the centre exposed. Chukwueze and Saelemaekers should look to stretch Torino horizontally, creating space for Gonçalo Ramos’ runs in behind and for Modrić to find pockets between Torino’s midfield and defence. The key tactical battle will be whether Milan’s midfield three can outplay Torino’s more workmanlike central unit, and whether Torino’s aerial and physical advantage up front can unsettle a Milan back line missing Tomori.

Match Prediction and Verdict

With win probabilities effectively level at 33% for Torino, 33% for the draw, and 33% for AC Milan, and no clear prediction winner identified, the market and statistical models treat this as an evenly balanced contest. However, the pre-match odds from major bookmakers tilt slightly towards an away win, implying that AC Milan’s superior individual quality and deeper squad, even with several absentees, may give them a marginal edge.

Torino’s home advantage and strong historical results against AC Milan in Turin suggest they are more than capable of taking something from the game, particularly if their physical forwards can dominate in the box. Milan, though, should control more of the ball and create the cleaner chances if their predicted midfield trio clicks quickly at the start of the season. Given the even statistical outlook and the disruption in both squads, a tight, low‑margin result looks the most realistic scenario, with the draw a very live outcome.

Predicted Outcome: Torino 1–1 AC Milan

How to Watch Torino vs AC Milan Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

Spain: Local pay-TV sports channel or major streaming platform
UK: Leading sports broadcaster or official league streaming service
USA / North America: National soccer-focused network or premium streaming service
South America: Regional sports network with Serie A rights
MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports broadcaster or digital platform