Torino vs AC Milan Predicted Lineups: Team News for Serie A Opener

Torino open their 2026 Serie A campaign at Stadio Olimpico di Torino against AC Milan in a fixture that has quietly become one of the league’s most intriguing tactical matchups. Both sides start from zero points and zero games played, with Torino listed 18th and AC Milan 12th only by alphabetical and pre-season ordering rather than performance. That makes this a clean slate, but recent head-to-heads suggest a tight, often high-intensity contest.

Recent meetings have been remarkably balanced. Across the last five Serie A clashes, each side has claimed multiple wins, with AC Milan edging Torino 3–2 in Milan in March 2026, while Torino have taken notable home victories such as 3–1 in May 2024. With no current league form to lean on, bettors and fans will be looking closely at predicted lineups and squad news to gauge where the early advantage might lie.

Pre-match odds frame AC Milan as clear favourites despite the level table: away win prices between 1.72 and 1.85 imply roughly a 54–58% chance of an AC Milan victory, while Torino’s home odds in the 3.96–4.76 range suggest only about a 21–25% chance for the hosts. The predictions model itself is more cautious, giving 33% to each of home, draw, and away outcomes, underlining just how much uncertainty surrounds the first round of a new Serie A season.

Torino Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Torino arrive with a relatively stable squad but do have one confirmed absentee and one key doubt. Goalkeeper F. Israel is ruled out with a shoulder injury and is listed as a missing fixture, while defender E. Cömert is questionable with an unspecified injury. That shapes the expected selection at the back and in goal, with the coaching staff likely to lean on experience for this opener.

With no recent league form string available, Torino’s approach is best inferred from their personnel. Expect a compact, hard-working structure with a strong emphasis on midfield running and physical forwards such as D. Zapata and G. Simeone. The expected starting lineup should balance youth and experience, with technical midfielders like I. Ilić and N. Vlašić providing the creative link to a powerful front line.

Torino Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Paleari
DF: C. Biraghi, Saúl Coco, A. Ismajli, C. Bianay Balcot
MF: I. Ilić, M. Pedersen, G. Gineitis, N. Vlašić
FW: D. Zapata, G. Simeone

This predicted lineup leans on A. Paleari in goal with Israel unavailable, supported by a back line anchored by Saúl Coco and A. Ismajli. C. Biraghi’s presence on the left should give Torino set-piece quality and crossing from deep, while C. Bianay Balcot offers energy and recovery pace on the opposite flank. In midfield, I. Ilić and M. Pedersen provide a blend of ball-winning and distribution, with G. Gineitis adding legs and vertical running.

Further forward, N. Vlašić is expected to operate between the lines, linking play into a powerful attacking duo of D. Zapata and G. Simeone. Both are natural penalty-box forwards who thrive on crosses and quick combinations, making Torino’s wide delivery and second-ball aggression crucial. With no top scorers or assists data yet for the new season, the emphasis is on established profiles: Vlašić as the creative hub, Zapata as the target man, and Simeone as the relentless presser and finisher.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AC Milan travel to Turin with a deeper squad but also a more complex injury picture. Y. Fofana, C. Nkunku and F. Tomori are all listed as missing fixtures and therefore ruled out. On top of that, S. Giménez (ankle injury), Rafael Leão (muscle injury) and C. Pulišić (broken leg) are all marked as questionable. Even if one or more of those doubts make the bench, they cannot be assumed starters for the expected lineups today.

Those absences and doubts significantly affect Milan’s spine and attacking firepower, especially at centre-back and in the wide forward roles. Nonetheless, they retain a wealth of options in midfield and attack, including M. Maignan in goal, experienced creators like L. Modrić and A. Rabiot, and a varied forward group with S. Chukwueze and Gonçalo Ramos. Expect an attacking-minded shape, with Milan aiming to dominate the ball and use their technical midfield to control tempo despite the missing names.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Maignan
DF: P. Estupiñán, M. Gabbia, Mario Gila, S. Pavlović
MF: L. Modrić, A. Rabiot, R. Loftus-Cheek
FW: S. Chukwueze, Gonçalo Ramos, A. Saelemaekers

In this predicted lineup, M. Maignan anchors the side from goal, with a back four built around M. Gabbia and Mario Gila at centre-back in the absence of F. Tomori. P. Estupiñán offers thrust and overlapping from the left, while S. Pavlović provides defensive balance on the right. The midfield trio of L. Modrić, A. Rabiot and R. Loftus-Cheek promises control, physicality, and late runs into the box, giving Milan a strong central platform.

Up front, S. Chukwueze is expected to stretch Torino’s defence from the right with his direct dribbling, while A. Saelemaekers offers work rate and tactical discipline on the opposite flank. Through the middle, Gonçalo Ramos provides a focal point, capable of both link-up play and penalty-area finishing. With Leão, Pulišić and Giménez all doubtful, this front three maximises available depth while preserving width and pressing intensity.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences on both sides shape the tactical narrative of this match, particularly in goal for Torino and in defence and attack for AC Milan. With no suspensions listed, the focus is entirely on injuries and inactive players.

Torino Absences:

• F. Israel — Shoulder Injury (Missing Fixture)
• E. Cömert — Injury (Questionable)

AC Milan Absences:

• Y. Fofana — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
• C. Nkunku — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
• F. Tomori — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
• S. Giménez — Ankle Injury (Questionable)
• R. Leao — Muscle Injury (Questionable)
• C. Pulisic — Broken Leg (Questionable)

For Torino, Israel’s absence simplifies the goalkeeping decision but reduces competition, while Cömert’s doubtful status pushes the coaching staff toward alternative centre-back options like Coco and Ismajli. For AC Milan, the loss of Tomori removes a key defensive leader, and the possible absence of Leão, Pulisic and Giménez could strip much of their usual explosiveness in the final third, forcing a more possession-heavy, midfield-driven approach.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted Torino setup suggests a compact, physically robust side that will seek to congest central areas and rely on quick transitions to exploit the spaces behind Milan’s full-backs. With Ilić and Pedersen screening the defence and Vlašić linking to Zapata and Simeone, Torino can threaten from crosses and second balls, especially targeting the central pairing of Gabbia and Mario Gila, who may still be settling as a partnership in the absence of Tomori.

AC Milan, by contrast, are likely to lean on their superior technical quality in midfield. Modrić and Rabiot can dictate tempo and move Torino’s block side to side, looking to isolate Chukwueze against Biraghi and create overloads with Estupiñán on the left. Loftus-Cheek’s forward runs will test Torino’s ability to track midfield runners, while Gonçalo Ramos battles Ismajli and Coco for aerial and physical dominance. The wide defensive duel between Pavlović and Torino’s left-sided attackers, plus the battle of second balls around the edge of the box, could be decisive.

Match Prediction and Verdict

With both teams starting the Serie A season without any current form data, the contest hinges on squad depth and how well they absorb key absences. The predictions model rates the game as finely balanced at 33% for each of home win, draw and away win, but the betting markets are more bullish on AC Milan, implying around a 54–58% chance of an away victory and only 21–25% for Torino.

Given Milan’s stronger bench and higher individual ceiling in midfield, they should have enough control to create more sustained pressure, even if their frontline is weakened by doubts over Leão, Pulišić and Giménez. Torino’s physical forwards and strong home record in recent head-to-heads mean they are unlikely to be overrun, and a tight, low-scoring contest is the most plausible scenario. Aligning with the evenly split prediction percentages, a draw looks a realistic outcome for this opener.

Predicted Outcome: Torino 1–1 AC Milan

How to Watch Torino vs AC Milan Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local pay-TV sports channel / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports broadcaster or official Serie A streaming partner
• USA / North America: National sports network or dedicated Serie A streaming service
• South America: Regional sports channel with Serie A rights
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network or official Serie A broadcaster