Europa League. 1/16 finals. The first match
Milan. “Giuseppe Meacca”
Milan – Rennes 3:0
Naked: Loftus-Cheek 32, 47, Leau 53
“Milan“: Magnan, Florenzi (F. Terracciano 75), Gabbia, Kjær (Thiaw 62), Hernandez, Reynders, Musa, Loftus-Cheek (Bennacer 75), Pulisic (Adli 81), Giroud, Leau (Okafor 62)
“Rennes“: Mandanda, G. Doue (Seydoux 67), Omari, Teat, Truffer (Nagida 76), Bourijeau, Santamaria, Matusiva (Blas 76), D. Doue (Salah 76), Calimuendo (Guiri 67), Terry
Warning: Nagida 87
Chief Arbiter: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro)
Current Rennes players have played more Europa League matches in their careers than current Milan players. It is logical that the LE is called “our Champions League”. Moreover, in light of the match in Milan, where 9-10 thousand fans went with them. Head coach Julien Stephan spoke regarding the team’s most prestigious match in Eurocups in history, and defender Adrien Truffer said that they play football for such people.
The Bretons went to Lombardy with eight victories in a row in all tournaments, nine matches without defeat. But today these series were interrupted in a brutal manner. Burnt out? Couldn’t stand the pressure of the legendary stadium and the historic evening? Or is it just that Milan is so strong? He is also in good form, with seven wins and a draw in his previous nine matches. And he also calls the tournament “our Champions League.”
The Rossoneri are disappointed with their season, and the future of head coach Stefano Pioli is in question. They were eliminated from the Champions League, as well as from the Italian Cup, in the league they are eight points behind the leader, and they also have a game in hand. The only chance to take the trophy is the Europa League. That’s why the motivation for it is very high, that’s why the strongest lineup came out today from the first minutes. And therefore the opponent might not resist.
Stefan stated that it is especially important to survive the opening of the match. Rennes did it. Milan were in no particular hurry. Except that Leau hit the crossbar with a ricochet, and Musa finished the cross inaccurately from a very good position. The French launched good counterattacks. But in the end they still missed it. Right-back Florenzi, standing in for the injured captain Calabria, crossed and Loftus-Cheek headed home clearly.
In the first half, the Rossoneri hit the target only twice. But in the second they doubled this figure very quickly. Kjær completed the corner with his back, Mandanda pulled it in, but Loftus-Cheek finished it off with a falling header. And soon the classic pairing of Leau-Teo Hernandez played. The first kicked back, received a cross from the second in the penalty area and clearly fired into the far corner.
Loftus-Cheek’s second brace in all competitions in three weeks, his fifth goal in a month following just two this season. Leau’s third goal since the start of the year following just one in the last three months of the previous one. Although even now the Portuguese has not scored for more than a month.
Next, Rennes finally began to hit the target. Twice in one attack, Magnan parried the blows of Guiri from the right and from Santamaria from distance. The same Guiri received space on the right. Although he didn’t hit the target then. And in counterattacks, Milan should have scored more. Mandanda parried Pulisic’s shots in two attacks, in the second he finished off Okafor, and the defender cleared it from the goal line. Bennacer almost missed with a free kick.
The French’s chances of winning back at home are almost zero.
