AC Milan vs Venezia: Lineups announced for Serie A opener at San Siro with Luka Modric starting

AC Milan and Venezia have confirmed their starting lineups for their Serie A meeting at San Siro on August 28, 2026, with Luka Modric included in Milan’s XI. The match is part of the first matchday of the 2026-27 Serie A season.

AC Milan arrive following last week’s away victory that the club described as the start of a new era under Ruben Amorim. Amorim’s debut produced maximum points and made him Milan’s first manager to win in his Serie A debut in ten years; it was also Milan’s first season-opener victory since 2023. Newly promoted Venezia began their top-flight return with a defeat on the opening weekend.

AC Milan’s confirmed starting XI is: Maignan (GK), Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Musah, Modric, Bartesaghi, Loftus-Cheek, Cisse, Ramos. Milan’s substitutes listed by the club are: Bouyer (GK), Torriani, Diawara, Terracciani, Gabbia, Bartesaghi, Ricci, Comotto, Rabito, Saelemaekers, Moreira, Pulisic, Camarda.

Venezia’s starting XI is: Stankovic (GK), Schingtienne, Bella-Kotchap, Franjic, Hainaut, Kike, Busio, Basic, Haps, Yeboah, Akor Adams. Their bench comprises: Matteo Grandi (GK), Montipo, Ale Gomes, Halhal, Correia, Sagrado, Panada, Matteo Dagasso, Lamine Fanne, Helgason, Sohm, Farji, Lauberbach, Okoro, Rrahmani.

Venezia returned to Serie A after a season in Italy’s second division during which they set new club records for points, goals and victories in a single Serie B campaign, but they were defeated at home by Lecce on the first matchday. Record-signing Nigerian striker Akor Adams scored two goals in his Coppa Italia debut against Modena.

The club summary noted that "they will first be put to the test when they play Milan," and that the Lagunari have lost all four of their league encounters over the last ten years. The Serie A fixture at San Siro will therefore be Venezia’s immediate top-flight test following promotion.

Venezia are scheduled to meet Udinese in the second round of the Coppa Italia next week following Akor Adams’s two-goal performance against Modena.