Milan are carrying genuine confidence into the post-international break period after a commanding 3-0 win over Lecce at San Siro, a result that lifted them to fifth in Serie A with 11 points from five games. The performance mattered beyond the scoreline because it validated tactical adjustments Ruben Amorim has been testing, with Mario Gila operating as a fullback and Adrien Rabiot returning to a more central midfield role proving particularly effective. Those rotations have given the squad greater flexibility and appear to have settled the mood at Milanello.

The break has not been entirely straightforward, though. Alexis Saelemaekers, who had started to find his footing after a positive cameo against Benfica and a starting role against Lecce, suffered a distorsive ankle injury in training. The club confirmed no structural damage, but his availability for Sunday's trip to Sassuolo remains uncertain. Amorim will likely turn to options including Moreira or Cisse to fill the gap on the attacking line.

There is also a longer-running subplot around Fikayo Tomori, who was reintegrated into the squad after a difficult summer but has yet to receive a single minute from Amorim. With a congested fixture list approaching, that situation may shift. On a brighter note, Gonçalo Ramos scored for Portugal against Norway during the break, a small but welcome signal for a striker still searching for his best form in Serie A.