AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has named the starting line-up to take on Stade Rennais, and there are multiple changes compared to the team that beat Napoli.
Starting with the absences, Milan will be without Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega as they continue their recovery from surgery, while Fikayo Tomori is out with a muscle problem.
Davide Calabria picked up an adductor issue at the weekend, and Samuel Chukwueze is back from the African Cup of Nations but didn’t arrive in time to train with the team on the eve of the game so he misses out.
Simon Kjaer has passed a late fitness test meaning he will partner Matteo Gabbia in the centre of the defence, with Alessandro Florenzi playing as the right-back given Calabria is out, and Sunday’s match-winner Theo Hernandez at left-back.
There are two changes in midfield compared to the team that beat Napoli with Tijjani Reijnders coming back from suspension to partner Yunus Musah, meaning Ismael Bennacer and Yacine Adli start on the bench.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will act ahead of them as the attacking midfielder, flanked by Christian Pulisic to the right and Rafael Leao on the left. Olivier Giroud will be the centre-forward, with Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor on the bench.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Bench: Sportiello, Mirante, Bennacer, Adli, Jovic, Okafor, Thiaw, Terracciano, Eletu, Nsiala, Bartesaghi.
Official Rennes XI (4-4-2): Mandanda; G. Doue, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matusiwa, Santamaria, D.Doué; Terrier, Kalimuendo.
Bench: Gallon, Lembet, Gouiri, Blas, Wooh, Belocian, Salah, Seidu, Cisse, Lambourde, Nagida, Bertuğ Yıldırım.
