Luka Modric was named in Milan’s starting line-up for Milan - Venice, the clearest pre-match signal that the midfielder is ready to play a central role again as the Rossoneri prepared for their 20.45 kick-off at San Siro.
The official teams were announced on 28 August 2026, with the match framed as Milan’s first at San Siro without Franco Baresi as captain. With Venezia also confirming their XI, the stage was set for a game that carried early-season significance for both sides.
Modric restored to the XI
Modric’s selection was the headline move in Milan’s team. In a broadcast sense, it is the kind of decision that immediately shapes the way the match is viewed: Milan are clearly trusting his control, timing and experience from the start rather than holding him back as an impact option.
That matters because this is still the stage of the season when managers are making early calls on balance and rhythm. Starting Modric suggests Milan want composure in the centre of the pitch and a player who can help connect the team when possession becomes more demanding.
Venezia’s break-threat remains the obvious warning
Venezia arrived needing their first points after a difficult opening against Lecce, but they still carried a threat on the counter. Yeboah and Akor Adams were highlighted as possible attacking outlets if Milan pushed too high or lost their structure in transition.
That makes the match more than a routine home fixture. Milan may have the stronger XI on paper, but the risk in these games is usually the same: one lapse, one loose pass, one broken shape, and the underdog suddenly has a route back into it.
What the official lineups tell us
The key detail is not simply that Milan and Venezia announced their teams. It is that the selection of Modric tells us Milan are treating this as a game to control from the outset, while Venezia’s shape will likely be defined by how well they can survive without the ball and then spring forward when space opens.
With kick-off scheduled for 20.45, the lineups offered the first real answer of the evening. Milan wanted experience and authority in midfield. Venezia wanted the chance to turn an early-season challenge into a response.
