Juventus vs Milan: The First Big Test of the Season Is Here
After back-to-back convincing wins in the opening two Serie A matchdays — a 2-1 away victory against Torino and a 2-0 home win over Venezia at San Siro — Rubén Amorim‘s Milan are now gearing up for their first real season test: Juventus vs Milan, scheduled for Sunday. A fixture steeped in history and rivalry between two of Italy’s most decorated clubs, one that already looks like a defining moment for Milan’s ambitions this season.
Gabbia Doubtful: Ankle Problem for the Defender
The main concern in the Milan camp centres on Matteo Gabbia. The Italian centre-back is dealing with an ankle issue and has been undergoing a series of physiotherapy sessions at Milanello. His recovery ahead of the Juventus match looks complicated: starting seems unlikely, and even a place on the bench remains uncertain. Losing Gabbia is far from a minor issue, given his importance within the defensive structure Amorim has been building, which relies on a compact and well-organised back four.
The Italian defender’s potential absence is made more significant by a summer transfer window that failed to bring reinforcements in that area. In the final hours of the session, the club attempted to move on several profiles, but ultimately no centre-back arrived at Milanello.
Tomori Back in Full Training: The Reintegration Is Complete
Against this backdrop of defensive uncertainty, the most significant news is Fikayo Tomori’s reintegration into the squad. After roughly a month of working individually, separated from the group, the English defender completed his first full training session alongside his teammates. The message is clear: Tomori is once again available to Amorim and could feature in the squad for the trip to the Allianz Stadium.
The situation had become one of the most talked-about stories of Milan’s summer, with the Portuguese coach himself stating in a press conference that players deemed outside the project would not be reintegrated without a prior transfer. The window closed without a solution for the former Chelsea man, however, and both the club and the manager chose the pragmatic route by bringing Tomori back into the fold. Amorim was also seen speaking directly with the player during training, a gesture that appears to have firmly closed the chapter on any lingering tension.
It is worth noting that Juventus had been one of the clubs most interested in Tomori during the summer window, with former Milan sporting director Ricky Massara having attempted to broker a deal that ultimately fell through for financial reasons. On Sunday, the English centre-back could find himself facing the very club that had tried to sign him — quite a different scenario from what anyone expected a few weeks ago. For more on the story, check out our in-depth piece on Tomori Reintegrated at Milan: The Right Call, But the Management Raises Questions.
Milan’s Likely Defensive Setup Against Juventus
With Gabbia doubtful and Tomori back in training, Amorim faces key decisions when putting together his defensive unit. The Portuguese coach can count on Mario Gila as a reliable option, with Tomori a strong candidate to partner him in the centre. The next training sessions will be decisive in determining whether the English defender has enough sharpness to start or whether he will initially be available from the bench.
Sunday’s appointment is pivotal: Juventus vs Milan is never just another game, and Amorim knows it. Milan go into the fixture on the back of two straight wins, with the belief that a positive result at the Allianz Stadium would send a powerful statement to the rest of the league.
