Line-ups: Chievo-Milan

By Football Italia staff

Milan look to Gianluca Lapadula and 18-year-old sensation Manuel Locatelli in their surprising showdown for second place with Chievo.

It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action on the LIVEBLOG.

Incredibly, whoever wins in Verona this evening will fly into joint second place with Roma, as they are currently locked together on 13 points.

Vincenzo Montella is forced to do without injured Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Bertolacci, Luca Antonelli, Mati Fernandez and Cristian Zapata.

The choice was between Locatelli and Jose Ernesto Sosa for midfield playmaker and Montella has picked the teenager for his second Serie A start, the first this season.

As Carlos Bacca returned from international duty in Colombia quite late, he is rested in favour of ex-Pescara hitman Gianluca Lapadula.

Chievo miss Perparim Hetemaj and Bostjan Cesar, but Valter Birsa will be eager to impress against his former club.

He pulls the strings behind Antonio Floro Flores and self-confessed Milan supporter Roberto Inglese.

Chievo have not beaten Milan, home or away, since a 2-1 result here in December 2005. That was followed by 16 defeats and three goaless draws, but it’s worth noting the last three editions of this Bentegodi fixture have all been stalemates.

In fact, the Flying Donkeys beat the Rossoneri just twice in 28 Serie A encounters, losing 20.

This is a huge opportunity for Milan, because they host Juventus at San Siro next weekend.

Chievo: Sorrentino; Cacciatore, Gamberini, Dainelli, Gobbi; Izco, Radovanovic, Castro; Birsa; Inglese, Floro Flores

Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Bonaventura; Suso, Lapadula, Niang

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