GdS: Probable Milan XI to face Rennes – Pioli to field strong team

AC Milan are set to resume their Europa League journey on Thursday night when they take on Stade Rennes at San Siro, fighting for a place in the round of 16. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below), Stefano Pioli is going to try and field as strong a team as he can for this knockout round playoff match, the first of two legs.

That means the expected attacking quartet will not be rotated. Olivier Giroud should hold his place, which will be a shame for Luka Jovic who may have expected to start.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek will continue behind him, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic on the flanks.

Tijjani Reijnders is available again and he is expected to start in the midfield, potentially with Yunus Musah alongside him. Yacine Adli and Ismael Bennacer are contenders to play in this role too.

It is the defence that may look quite different, thanks to the injuries to Davide Calabria and Simon Kjaer, Calabria will definitely be out, whilst Kjaer is unlikely to start.

That means Alessandro Florenzi is needed on the right, and Theo Hernandez will have to partner Matteo Gabbia in the middle. Filippo Terracciano is set for a first start on the left.

Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Gabbia, Hernandez, Terracciano; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.