AC Milan are in Prague hoping to make their first leg advantage count in order to book a place in the Europa League last 16, but Slavia Praha have already shown they are a tricky proposition.
In his pre-match press conference this evening, Stefano Pioli admitted that he has already chosen the team that will start on Thursday at the Fortuna Arena based on the kind of game he expects, i.e. one where Slavia have to chase goals.
According to MilanNews, Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud will return to the attack. The Portuguese missed the last match in the league against Empoli due to a suspension, while the Frenchman started on the bench to make room for Luka Jovic.
Completing the attack will be Christian Pulisic on the right and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as an attacking midfielder, both of whom scored in the 4-2 first leg victory.
In defence, Stefano Pioli will have to do without the suspended Alessandro Florenzi and therefore captain Davide Calabria will act as right back. Theo Hernandez will be on the left, and Fikayo Tomori will be partnered by Simon Kjaer or Matteo Gabbia.
Much will also depend on the condition of the Italian central defender given that after Milan-Empoli, Pioli declared that Gabbia ‘was tired in both calves on Thursday’. However, it seems that he has recovered and will start.
Finally, Yacine Adli returns to the midfield and the Frenchman will be alongside Tijjani Reijnders, with Ismael Bennacer therefore dropping back to the bench.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori Theo; Reijnders, Adli; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Bench: Sportiello, Mirante; Kalulu, Kjaer, Thiaw, Terracciano; Bennacer, Musah; Chukwueze, Okafor, Jovic.
Injured: Pobega.
One yellow from suspension: Maignan, Tomori, Musah, Calabria.
Disqualified: Florenzi.
I prefer Kjaer and Gabbia to partner tomori is not that Solid
Tomori is not solid? But older slower Kjaer is? Some of the comments you make….
Every comment he makes. They’re all bizarre.
Is he liquid or gas?
We can only expect it’s not the same result like Inter di Merda who lost by penalty kick recently.
If Milan the only team remaining in a European comp from Italy, it’s going to change perspective real quick.
We are in EL, not CL. Not really bragging rights.
Not if we beat the likes of Bayer and/or Pool, that would help with our reputation.
Difficult but not impossible.
Was talking more on the overall season perspective. But I think Roma is very likely to go to the next round so there’s that
I disagree. Why was the UEFA Cup a big deal 25 years ago? What has changed? This is simply a perception created by the money in the CL, and people who surrender to to that mentality. It’s still a good competition to win. MOST importantly, winning the EL gets us into the next CL draw in Pot 1, so we don’t have to deal with the Pot 3 we’re constantly in, which has resulted in us getting into a group of death in two of the last three CL campaigns and the resultant early departure from the same competition.
Only you say.
Hmm so what about Roma, Atalanta and Fiorentina?
Looking forward to seeing the tandem of Gabbia and Tomorri in action.
3-1 Milan
Leao with a goal and 2 assists
Puli and RLC to score.
Forza Milan.
I think we lose 1-2 and go through. Or tie and go through. Simply because Pioli doesn’t know how to manage games.
Who gets the 3rd assist? I hope you are right.
Adli. Short vertical to Puli making the run.
🙂
Me too re Gabbia and Tomori! I think on paper this is going to be our strongest lineup at the moment, maybe Benny for Adli for slight more defensive solidity though.
I expect nothing less than losing 3 -2 again and making it through in a heart attack. Furlani to score in the last minute with a controversial PK.
Would that be Elliot with the assist then?
🙂
Finanza Police 🤭😂😂😂
Considering Italian teams usually plays like a wounded animal when there’s a controversy/scandal, I expect nothing less than a commanding 4-0 victory here.
Jokes aside, hopefully we’ll progress, 2 goals cushion should be enough. An early goal for us should help settle the nerve.
We are not supposed to lose to Slavia in any term!
I don’t care about qualifications if we lose 2-1 to some mediocre team from Prague.
We need to win, and it’s a chance to show performance because we are in a 2-goal advantage already.
Prepare for hell in Prague. Usually the stands are on fire (literally) in these Eastern European stadiums when a big game is on. And their players feel they can beat us considering they cornered us in San Siro until that red card and even after, they managed to score two goals.
Facts 💯
Last game i had made mention that we really should have had that one last goal as insurance seeing as we were a man up at home 🤦♂️ Playing in Eastern Europe ain’t easy. And Slavia played well given the circumstances
Pioli is incapable of studying a situation , we should have 3 players or even 4 in midfield, then use 2 attackers preferably Leao and Okafor, or Jovic , we close the midfield, and hit them on the counter
Drop kjaer, he’s off the pace. Use Gabbia instead