The inaugural encounter between AC Milan and Slavia Prague is set to unfold at the San Siro, as both teams strive to secure an edge for the upcoming second leg.
AC Milan, having navigated through this season’s challenging ‘Group of Death’ in the UEFA Champions League, now shift their focus to the Europa League, eyeing success against Slavia Prague in the upcoming fixture.
Transitioning from the elite European competition to the second-tier tournament poses a formidable task for any team, demanding dominance over opponents to establish themselves as contenders. Stefano Pioli sees a promising opportunity to advance deep into the competition, deeming the Round of 16 clash with Slavia Prague as favorable.
The San Siro will witness the historic first encounter between the two sides, with AC Milan aiming to make a lasting impression and gain an advantage heading into the second leg.
Despite a recent victory against Lazio, AC Milan grapples with inconsistent form, reflecting their overall performance. The team faced challenges in the playoffs against Rennes, narrowly progressing despite a second-leg defeat following a substantial 3-0 lead in the first leg, resulting in a 5-3 aggregate score.
On the other side, Slavia Prague analyzes Milan’s variable performances, sensing an opportunity at the San Siro. While the Prague-based team has a mixed record in Italy, never securing a victory, they boast resilience in first-leg European knockout games, having lost only once in their last ten.
Although facing a formidable task in beating AC Milan at the San Siro, Slavia Prague previously clashed with Roma in Italy, experiencing a 2-0 defeat. Regardless, the visitors aim to maintain composure, extract a positive result from the match, and carry momentum back to Prague.
News about the team and their strategic approach
AC Milan
In preparation for the upcoming clash at San Siro, Stefano Pioli aims to replicate the success of AC Milan’s first-leg performance against Rennes, which saw them secure an impressive 3-0 lead heading into the return leg in France. With the aspiration of maintaining this momentum, Pioli is poised to select the most formidable lineup available.
Despite grappling with a challenging season marred by injuries, Milan currently has only Tommaso Pobega unavailable for selection. While not all players have fully recovered, Pioli welcomes the return of most key contributors, providing a boost to the team’s overall readiness.
In the defensive lineup, Pioli may opt for Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw as the preferred centre-back pairing, while Alessandro Florenzi and Theo Hernandez are well-positioned for the full-back roles. The right-back position might see consideration for Davide Calabria, although Pioli may lean towards Florenzi for his fitness and sharpness.
The midfield is likely to feature Tijjani Reijnders and Ismael Bennacer as the first-choice duo, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic taking charge of the wide attacking zones. Leading the line will be Olivier Giroud, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to continue in the crucial role of attacking midfielder, remaining a consistent and preferred choice for Pioli.
Possible line-up (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Slavia Prague
The Slavia Prague squad enters the upcoming contest with minimal injury concerns, as David Pech and Christos Zefeiris stand as the sole absentees from the forthcoming clash. Jindrich Stanek, returning after a substantial period of injury, has recently bolstered the team’s defensive capabilities, having featured in the Prague Derby and positioning himself for potential participation at San Siro.
Stanek is anticipated to benefit from the support of a back three, featuring Tomas Vlcek, Tomas Holes, and David Zima in the defensive positions. The wing-back roles are likely to be reprised by David Doudera and Jan Boril, stationed on either flank. In the central midfield, the pairing of Matej Jurasek and Lukas Masopust appears to be the preferred combination.
The striking responsibilities for Slavia Prague will rest on Mojmir Chytil, who is expected to lead the line against AC Milan. Oscar Dorley and Ivan Schranz offer versatility, capable of playing in wide roles or adopting a more compact positioning behind the central striker, providing tactical flexibility for Slavia Prague.
Possible line-up (3-4-2-1): Stanek; Vlcek, Holes, Zima; Doudera, Jurasek, Masopust, Boril; Dorley, Schranz; Chytil.
Important statistical figures
– AC Milan and Slavia Prague are facing each other competitively for the first time.
– AC Milan has recorded scoring in 23 consecutive games across various competitions.
– AC Milan has secured two victories in their last five matches in all competitions.
– Slavia Prague has experienced only one defeat in their last ten European knockout first-leg matches.
– Despite eight attempts, Slavia Prague has yet to secure a victory in Italy.
Player worth observing
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
