AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli will field what is not far off the strongest possible line-up to ensure that his side get no scares from Stade Rennais tonight, a report claims.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below) has the predicted line-ups for the game at Roazhon Park tonight, with Milan hoping to reach the last 16 without too many issues after a 3-0 first leg win.
The back four in front of Mike Maignan is expected to be Alessandro Florenzi, Simon Kjaer, Matteo Gabbia and Theo Hernandez, which means Malick Thiaw drops back to the bench.
The doubts regarding the midfield seem to have been solved with Tijjani Reijnders in the middle of a three, flanked by Ismael Bennacer to the left and Yunus Musah to the right.
Christian Pulisic is tipped to get the nod over Samuel Chukwueze on the right, with Rafael Leao on the left and Luka Jovic up front given that he is banned for the next two games after this.
Rennes head coach Julien Stephan meanwhile is not expected to make any changes from the first leg, which means Kalimuendo and Terrier will be leading the line.
Probable Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Jovic.
Probable Rennes XI (4-2-3-1): Mandanda; G. Doue, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matusiwa, Santamaria, D. Doue; Kalimuendo, Terrier.
Love this! Reijnders is a better player when given freedom to roam, as he did when Milan played traditional 4-3-3 at the beginning of the season. Hopefully there can be an early goal and kill off the sting, ready for Atalanta on Sunday.
Bennacer and pobega are not milan material they are both slow and weak
Bennacer is a great footballer wdym
You’re putting Bennacer in the same bracket as Pobega? 👀 wow…just…..wow……
just wish Bennacer could stay healthIER.
Are you really comparing Bennacer with Pobega???🤦🏿♂️
Tells you all you need to know about this guy’s understanding of talent…
Hoping that we score one or two goals at the first half, that way Puli and Leao can come off and rest for Atalanta. Worried we’ll overwork Puli and e’ll get injured. Also, Chuk needs more minutes to show us why we bougt him.
Reijnders regista while Bennacer is on the pitch? Pioli🤦♂️
Not regista. He’s gonna play in the RLC role.
I think out of the 3 midfielders, Reijnders won’t be playing the regista role.
I’d like to see Musah as DM and Bennacer/Reijnders as Mezzali.
Probably Pioli will either play Musah and Bennacer in the pivot or Bennacer as Regista
I would have wanted to see Reijnders as an AM (or a more advanced CM) with Bennacer and Musah as a double pivot.
Heres hoping musah has a good game. Has been improving alot. Okafor should start on the right and give pulisic a rest. Second half if things are going well he can shift to the left and chukeweze can go on the right. Then we rest both leao and pulisic for atalanta… Leao looks like he wants to impress in europe so should start. Reckon jovic could be the hero. Will want to prove something hopefully after being sent off.
Its a shame Chuck and Okafor aren’t starting. This would be an ideal opportunity for them to get some minutes, and for Leao and Pulisic to get some rest. Esp Pulisic as he has a history of injuries.
Well, we saw what happened last game, but it’s hard to argue about their need for minutes. I don’t think they should start together, however. I would like to see Leao start the match with Chukwueze on the right, and then at around the 60th have Okafor come in for Leao and Puli come in for Chuk.
I guess having Jovic, Okafor and Chukwueze starting at the same time is just too much for now, they simply didn’t accumulate enough time together to form the attacking trio.
I’d say if we’re doing well, we should definetly sub Leao and Pulisic by halftime or maybe around the 60th minute.
Reijnders as the trequartista. Bennacer as the 6.