Mario Mandzukic gets his first Milan start with Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic in the very difficult Europa League trip to Dejan Stankovic’s Red Star Belgrade.
The first leg in the Europa League Round of 32 kicks off at the Marcana in Belgrade at 17.55 GMT.
Mario Mandzukic gets his first Milan start with Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic in the very difficult Europa League trip to Dejan Stankovic’s Red Star Belgrade.
The first leg in the Europa League Round of 32 kicks off at the Marcana in Belgrade at 17.55 GMT.
The Rossoneri are torn between progressing in the Europa League and focusing on the Scudetto, as they go head-to-head with new leaders Inter on Sunday afternoon.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Franck Kessie and Davide Calabria are therefore rested, so Mandzukic gets his first start since joining as a free agent in January.
His fellow Croatian Ante Rebic also starts, with lifelong Crvena Zvezda fan Rade Krunic finally getting his wish to play in this iconic stadium.
There are some familiar faces in the Belgrade side, including coach Dejan Stankovic, the former Inter midfielder.
They also have two Italian players in the squad, ex-Sassuolo striker Diego Falcinelli and recent acquisition from Lecce Pippo Falco, but only the former is in the starting XI.
He has support from El Fardou Ben Nabouhane and Mirko Ivanic.
Red Star Belgrade: Borjan; Milunovic, Pankov, Degenek; Gobeljic, Kanga, N Petrovic, Rodic; Ben Nabouhane, Ivanic; Falcinelli
Red Star bench: Popovic, Gajic, Bakayoko, Pavkov, Falco, Gavric, Sanogo, S Srnic, Vukanovic
Milan: G Donnarumma; Kalulu, Tomori, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Meite, Bennacer; Castillejo, Krunic, Rebic; Mandzukic
Milan bench: Tatarusanu, A Donnarumma, Calabria, Dalot, Tonali, Calhanoglu, Ibrahimovic, Leao, Kjaer, Gabbia, SaelemaekersKessie
Ref: Sidiropoulos (GRE)