Milan is giving Joao Felix his first start for the exciting match against Lorenzo Colombo’s Empoli, while Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic find themselves on the bench. The kickoff is set for 17:00 GMT at the Stadio Castellani, where fans can follow the live action alongside the games between Verona-Atalanta and Torino-Genoa. The Rossoneri have revamped their squad during the January transfer window, making notable moves on deadline day. Joao Felix made an impressive debut, scoring with an assist from Santiago Gimenez in their recent 3-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final victory over Roma, and now he makes his first start. Kyle Walker has been a regular since his debut in the derby against Inter, while Tammy Abraham continues to lead the center-forward role. Rafael Leao, nursing an ankle issue, is resting with an eye on the Champions League play-off against Feyenoord. Contrary to earlier reports about Tijjani Reijnders receiving a rest, it’s Pulisic who will be benched. The injury woes extend to Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alessandro Florenzi, and new arrival Warren Bondo. Empoli hasn't tasted victory since December 8, when they defeated Verona 4-1, managing only two points in their last eight Serie A matches. Despite suffering a 4-1 loss to Juventus, their performance was strong prior to going down to ten men. Youssouf Maleh is suspended, adding to a long absentee list, including Tino Anjorin and others. However, Alberto Grassi and Giuseppe Pezzella return from bans for this crucial tie. Notably, this match holds special meaning for former Milan youth player Colombo and Rossoneri-owned goalkeeper Devis Vasquez. The predicted AC Milan XI showcases their depth: Maignan, Walker, Tomori, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez, Sottil, Musah, Fofana, Pulisic, Joao Felix, and Abraham. Milan aims for another strong performance to continue building momentum.
