AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli will be without a number of key defenders in tomorrow’s Serie A derby against Inter Milan.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, report that Fiyako Tomori and Matteo Gabbia will start in the centre of defense for the Rossoneri.

Injuries have been a theme for Milan this season. Most notably in their backline.

Rarely has Rossoneri coach Pioli been able to call on all of his first-choice defenders.

And that will be the case tomorrow in the derby against Inter as well, the Gazzetta confirms.

French international Pierre Kalulu has been out for more than a month with a knee injury. And he is not likely to be back until around the end of the current month.

Meanwhile, veteran former Sevilla, Roma, and Wolfsburg defender Simon Kjaer recently picked up a thigh problem.

The Dane will also therefore be out for tomorrow’s derby clash.

Lastly, Pioli will also be unable to call upon young German international Malick Thiaw. The former Schalke man is absent due to suspension.

Tomori & Gabbia To Start In Defense For AC Milan Vs Inter

With the injuries and suspensions, Pioli does not have a terribly free hand in terms of his selections at the back for tomorrow’s derby.

One player who is fit and available is former Chelsea defender Fiyako Tomori.

The 26-year-old will marshal the defense for the Rossoneri.

Meanwhile, Milan youth academy graduate Matteo Gabbia will partner Tomori.

The 24-year-old had spent the first half of the season out on loan with La Liga side Villarreal.

However, the Rossoneri recalled Gabbia from that loan in January. This came amid the team’s ongoing issues with defensive injuries.

In terms of the fullbacks, however, it will be the two first-choice starters, the Gazzetta reports.

Theo Hernandez will start on the left, and Davide Calabria on the right.

The Gazzetta’s complete predicted Milan starting eleven for the derby is as follows:

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.