Junior Messias Is Out Of The Empoli Match Due To Muscle Strain

An Empoli source has told that Brazilian winger Junior Messias withdrew from Saturday's match with AC Milan after suffering a muscle strain in his calf. According to the team officials, Messias was not allowed to leave for Empoli on Saturday morning because of an injury he sustained the day before. French goalkeeper Mike Maignan is out along with Theo Hernandez, Divock Origi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, although Stefano Pioli's other important players are still injured. Belgian attacker Alexis Saelemaekers is expected to start in the role for the Champions according to the report. As reported by Messias' club, he did not travel with the rest of the team on Saturday morning due to his injury.

Maignan, Origi, and Ibrahimovic are all injured, as are Maignan and Hernandez. Maignan and Hernandez are likely to start, and Saelemaekers will likely replace him. Pioli is likely to start Maignan and Hernandez in the midfield and Messias on the right.