Milan will defend the lead against Juve with its third goalkeeper

Milan will defend their Serie A lead in Saturday’s classic against Juventus with their third goalkeeper out after the injury of Marco Sportiello, instead of Mike Maignanwhich is sanctioned.

“Marco Sportiello suffers a contracture in the calf of his right calf and must take a ten-day break,” Milan reported in their press release. “At the end of this period, a new analysis will be performed to determine the evolution of your injury,” the text added.

Sportiello, 31 and signed last summer after being released from Atalanta, debuted in September at. relieve Maignan, injured in the thigh, in the last minutes of Milan-Newcastle in the Champions League (0-0) and in the following two Serie A games against Verona and Cagliari.

This Saturday, Sportiello is set to return between the sticks after the French goalkeeper was sent off against Genoa (0-1) on the last day before the national team break.

With the changes exhausted, the forward Olivier Giroud stood between the sticks in the last moments and it was provincial to keep the victory in Luigi Ferraris.

Mirante hasn’t been a starter since 2021

As a result, Stefano Pioli had to turn to his third goalkeeper, Antonio Mirante, 40, whose last game as a starter in Serie A was in April 2021 when he was still wearing a Roma shirt. Shortly after, in May, he also played all 90 minutes in the semi-final of the Europa League against Manchester United.

Mirante arrived in Milan in October of that year and since then his only presence in an official match was on the last day of last season when he relieved Maignan in the 89th minute against Verona.

Lapo Nava, 19 years old, will sit on the bench for the third time this season. Milan lead the championship with two points ahead of Inter (2nd) and four more than Juventus (3rd).