Pisa – Milan: Nkunku to lead the line as visitors eye another statement win on Friday
Milan return to league action with a Friday trip to Pisa, aiming to extend their surge after a convincing away win last time out. Kickoff is set for Friday, February 13 at 2: 45 PM ET, with the visitors poised to stick closely to the blueprint that delivered a 3-0 victory in Bologna.
Kickoff and what’s at stake
The match caps a demanding stretch on the road, marking the sixth and final away game in 42 days for Milan. With the title race and Champions League positioning tightening, another three points would apply pressure at the top while sustaining the team’s renewed rhythm after a 10-day pause from league play. The setting offers a charged Friday night under the lights in Pisa, a stage the visitors welcome as they try to stack momentum.
Minimal changes from the Bologna blueprint
Milan plan to double down on the attacking tandem that clicked so decisively in Bologna. Christopher Nkunku and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are in line to remain the focal point up front after spearheading that 3-0 win despite the team being outshot 11-7. Nkunku enters as the side’s most prolific scorer since Christmas, with five goals across his last six appearances, and the Frenchman looks firmly settled after a stuttering start to the season. Loftus-Cheek, up to five league goals, has found a sharp rhythm in recent weeks and continues to open lanes for his strike partner with powerful, direct runs between the lines. The pairing gives Milan a flexible front that can interchange, stretch defenses, and threaten in the box or from just outside it.
Midfield engine and defensive tweaks
The midfield core that drove control and composure in Bologna has been kept intact in training. Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modric, and Adrien Rabiot provide a blend of ball retention, range of passing, and ball-winning, with width supplied by Zachary Athekame and Davide Bartesaghi. At the back, one change has been tested: Fikayo Tomori stepping in for Koni De Winter alongside Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic. Tomori’s recovery pace and aerial presence offer added insurance against counterattacks, while Pavlovic’s aggression and Gabbia’s positioning have complemented Milan’s compact rest-defense structure. On the touchline, Massimiliano Allegri reaches his 530th game in charge of a Serie A match, a milestone that underscores the experience behind Milan’s current run.
Retreat in Tirrenia and the mood in camp
Milan decamped to a brief retreat in Tirrenia ahead of the match, greeted enthusiastically by locals as the squad sharpened details for Friday. Training drills again paired Nkunku with Loftus-Cheek, though Rafael Leao rotated into attacking sequences late in the session, a reminder of the depth available if the visitors need to tilt the game from the bench. The message inside the camp has been consistent: Pisa away is no walkover, and the visitors expect a lively, combative match-state with intensity peaks on second balls and transitions.
Prop watch and key trends to follow
Loftus-Cheek enters the night as a prominent anytime goalscorer candidate in betting markets, buoyed by his recent finishing touch and frequent penalty-area arrivals from advanced midfield zones. Nkunku’s form line is even hotter, with quick, darting movements off the shoulder that have punished back lines since the turn of the year. Leao’s potential involvement adds a direct, one-v-one threat if introduced, while Tomori’s return bolsters set-piece danger at the other end of the pitch. Milan’s recent template has been clear: compress space without the ball, spring forward through decisive first and second passes, and let the front pair manipulate gaps. Pisa must disrupt that rhythm early, challenge the visitors in wide areas, and keep restarts tidy to avoid conceding cheap territory. If Milan settle into their preferred tempo and win central duels, the visitors will feel confident about leaving Pisa with another result to fuel their push at the summit.
