Milan Faces Fiorentina Amid Injury Challenges on October 19

MILAN, Italy — AC Milan is set to face Fiorentina on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the iconic Stadio Meazza at 20:45 CET. With significant injuries affecting the squad, including key players Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot, Milan has decided to start Bartesaghi on the left side, while relying on Rafael Leao up front and Luka Modric in midfield.

Fiorentina manager Stefano Pioli is also dealing with challenges, as his team starts the match with zero wins and only three points in the standings. This match marks Pioli’s return to San Siro as an opponent after leaving Milan. Despite a rocky start this season, he is keen to turn things around against the strong Milan side that is currently contending for the top of the Serie A leaderboard.

Milan aims to capitalize on a slip by Napoli, who lost to Torino, and seeks to make a statement in this high-stakes match. Allegri expressed confidence in his squad despite the injuries. “It’s a great opportunity to continue climbing the table,” he noted. The absence of Pulisic and Rabiot has raised questions, but Saelemaekers is expected to make an appearance.

The officiating crew for the match includes referee Marinelli, with assistants Mondin and Bahri, IV official Arena, and VAR team Abisso and Di Paolo. Both managers have some lineup decisions to make, with Pioli pondering a shift between Gudmundsson and Fagioli in his starting XI.

Fiorentina hopes to count on its recently recovered player, Moise Kean, who could start at San Siro. The match serves as a pivotal point for both teams, where former players and friends will meet on the field amid speculation about potential lineups.