Milan’s Sportiello Injured With Maignan Suspended For Juve Clash

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 19: Mike Maignan of AC Milan goes down with an injury during the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Newcastle United FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

AC Milan’s goalkeeper blues continued on Thursday as the Serie A leaders said Marco Sportiello had suffered a calf injury which rules him out of this weekend’s clash with Juventus.

In a statement Milan, who will also be without the suspended Mike Maignan for Sunday’s night’s fixture, said second-choice goalkeeper Sportiello’s left calf would be re-examined in 10 days.

Italian media report that Sportiello, 31, could be out until after the next international break in mid-November.

The duo’s absence means that 40-year-old Antonio Mirante will start his first Serie A match since April 2021 when he was a Roma player.

French international ‘keeper Maignan is suspended for being sent off in the seventh minute of added time in Milan’s 1-0 win at Genoa before the most recent international break.

Maignan’s France teammate Theo Hernandez will also miss the Juve match after his fifth booking of the season at Genoa triggered a one-match suspension.

Milan head into Sunday’s match at the San Siro two points ahead of their local rivals Inter Milan, and four in front of third-placed Juve.