Rennes-Milan is a match valid for the return leg of the play-offs for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League and is played on Thursday at 6:45 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
The first round of the all-Rossi challenge was won by AC Milan, which at the San Siro a week ago asserted its superiority against Rennes, downed 3-0 in the first leg of the play-offs for access to the Europa League round of 16. An almost one-sided match, in which Stefano Pioli’s men had already made things clear in the first half-hour: having taken the lead at 32′, the Diavolo doubled at the beginning of the second half, again with former Chelsea Loftus-Cheek, by far the best player on the field. The final seal – probably also on qualification – was put by Leao, who returned to scoring after more than a month of fasting.
The three-goal lead allowed Milan to secure passage to the round: at Roazhon Park they could afford to lose even by two goals and still land among the top sixteen of the continental competition. Despite the bombastic success in the cup, however, Pioli’s team sank by surprise in the league match against Monza (4-2) and saw its long streak of positive results, which had lasted for as many as six matches (five wins and a draw), interrupted. An unexpected collapse, which prevented the Rossoneri from overtaking Juve in second place in the standings and which inevitably represents a worrying step backward compared to what Theo Hernandez and his teammates had shown in recent outings. And there was no shortage of criticism of the coach, guilty of overdoing the turnover in Brianza.
All Milan wants to redeem the defeat in Monza
Rennes, on the other hand, had no problem getting rid of tail-end Clermont, beaten 3-1: for Julien Stephan’s Rossoneri it was the sixth consecutive victory in Ligue 1.
In 2024, the Rouge et Noir lost exclusively to AC Milan: after their stuttering start they are now back in the fight for fourth place, or at least a European spot, since sixth-placed Lens has only two more points. Stephan will face the return match with Milan with the knowledge that he has nothing to lose and will do so with the starters: the only absentees are Le Fée and Rieder. It is likely that Pioli, although qualification is not in question, will also choose a competitive eleven, with Jovic in the center of the trident.
The prediction
Acc Milan wants to react after the unexpected collapse in Monza and should be able to avoid defeat even at home to Rennes, who proved to be no match for the Rossoneri. This time, however, the Bretons are likely to score at least one goal. Finally, the second half is likely to be more prolific than the first.
The probable lineups of Rennes-Milan
RENNES (4-4-2): Mandanda; G. Doué, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matusiwa, Santamaria, D. Doué; Kalimuendo, Terrier.
MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
