GdS: Milan’s European mission resumes after 644 days – the latest on Tonali and Ibrahimovic

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan’s 2020-21 season is about to get underway as the Rossoneri gear up to face Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night in Ireland.

As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews), Milan will leave for Dublin on Wednesday before partaking in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. They will have three one-off knockout games to reach the group stages, meaning mistakes are strictly forbidden.

It will mark 644 days after the last game in Europe when Milan were dumped out by Olympiakos in 2018-19. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be there to lead Pioli’s attack after missing the last two friendlies with a bruised right leg, as the Swede is back in training.

At the age of 38 he will make his Europa League debut with the Rossoneri (in his previous AC Milan experience he has always and only played in the Champions League), a competition he won with Manchester United in 2017.

Sandro Tonali will also be there, but on the bench. The 20-year-old midfielder will be in the squad, but having remained in the pits for a long time, and it is unlikely that he will make his debut in Ireland.

It is more likely that he could feature on Monday at San Siro for the first league match against Bologna.

Tags AC Milan Shamrock Rovers Milan
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