Milan-Slavia Prague is a match valid for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 and is played Thursday at 9 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
The Nyon urn pulled out the Czechs from Slavia Prague for Milan, a team not to be underestimated even if the biggest dangers the Diavolo managed, with a bit of luck, to avoid them. The Europa League is a peculiar competition and Stefano Pioli’s men realized this in the play-off for access to the round of 16 with Rennes: after sweeping away the French 3-0 at San Siro, Hernandez and his teammates relaxed a bit too much and ended up losing the return match (3-2), offering one of the worst performances of the season.
Pioli doesn’t want his teammates to make the same mistake with Slavia Prague, as the chances of making it to the back of this competition – and thus try to lift a title – are very much there. Milan, meanwhile, returned to winning ways last Friday, making a splash at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio, which was bent by an Okafor goal in the final (0-1). The Rossoneri recorded their first clean sheet after three matches (Rennes, Monza and Atalanta) but the match with the biancocelesti was heavily conditioned by Pellegrini’s expulsion at the beginning of the second half, which generated a sea of controversy (Lazio finished in eight). In the standings, however, Pioli’s team made a big leap, moving to within one point of second-placed Juventus.
The Czechs have already mocked Roma
Slavia Prague has already faced an Italian on its way: in the group, Jindrich Trpisovsky’s red-and-whites contended for first place with Roma, at the time still coached by Jose Mourinho, coming out on top.
Defeat at the Stadio Olimpico and victory in the Czech Republic, two matches ended with the same result, 2-0 (the Giallorossi then finished second on goal difference). At home, after a long winning streak, last week came the first defeat of 2024 in the domestic cup derby with Sparta Prague (2-3). Stracittadina that was repeated after a few days also in the league, with Slavia that even this time did not manage to get the better of their cousins (0-0) despite finishing with an extra man. In the standings, ahead, there is always Sparta, +4 over their rivals. Trpisovsky has no formation problems: behind striker Jurecka, in the 3-4-2-1, Wallem and Schranz will act. On the other side Pioli fields the re-established Thiaw in defense, while in the midfield it is a duel between Adli and Bennacer over who should flank Dutchman Reijnders.
The Prediction
Slavia Prague is a very organized team in the non-possession phase and is very good at exploiting the restarts.In any case, it remains an opponent within reach but for Milan it might not be a quiet night. And it cannot be ruled out that the Rossoneri will concede at least one goal.
The probable formations of Milan-Slavia Prague
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
SLAVIA PRAGUE (3-4-2-1): Stanek; Ogbu, Holes, Zima; Masopust, Zafeiris, Sevcik, Provod; Wallem, Schranz; Jurecka.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
