AC Milan's Portuguese forward #10 Rafael Leao (C) takes a shot to score a goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Milan AC and Atalanta at San Siro stadium in Milan on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)
AC Milan's Portuguese forward #10 Rafael Leao (C) takes a shot to score a goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Milan AC and Atalanta at San Siro stadium in Milan on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic lead a full-strength Milan against Slavia Praha in the Europa League Round of 16.

The first leg kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Roma-Brighton and Maccabi Haifa-Fiorentina on the LIVEBLOG.

Stefano Pioli is taking no chances in this tournament, which is their last chance to win silverware this season, as well as a trophy that the club has never lifted.

Only Tommaso Pobega is still out injured, so Giroud leads the attack with support from Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Leao.

Tijjani Reijnders returns in midfield after he was rested for the chaotic 1-0 win over eight-man Lazio, while Alessandro Florenzi gets the nod at right-back, largely because he is suspended in Serie A anyway.

Slavia Praha topped the Europa League group ahead of Roma, having won every single game except for a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico in October.

They also lost only one match all season domestically and are in second place, four points behind local rivals Sparta.

Stanislav Tecl, Bolu Ogungbayi, Sheriff Sinyan and David Pech are ineligible for this competition, with star midfielder Christos Zafeiris, goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar and Petr Sevcik injured.

Mojmir Chytil is their top scorer this season with 15 goals, four of them in five Europa League games, while defender David Zima joined from Torino in January.

Milan: Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud

Milan bench: Sportiello, Mirante, Calabria, Bennacer, Jovic, Okafor, Kalulu, Chukwueze, Tomori, Thiaw, Terracciano, Musah

Slavia Praha: Stanek; Vicek, Holes, Zima, Diouf; Dorley, Masopust; Doudera, Provod, Zmrzly; Chytil

Slavia Praha bench: Mandous, Sirotnik, Ogbu, Wallem, Tijani, Van Buren, Jurecka, Boril, Schranz, Tomic, M Jurasek, Konecny

Ref: Meler (TUR)

Player statistic

1st half
Alessandro Florenzi Yellow card 2'    
    26' Red card El Hadji Malick Diouf
Olivier Giroud Goal 34'    
    36' Goal David Doudera
Tijjani Reijnders
(Assist: Alessandro Florenzi)
Goal 44'    
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
(Assist: Alessandro Florenzi)
Goal 45+1'    
2nd half
    65' Goal Ivan Schranz
Davide Calabria Yellow card 72'    
Christian Pulisic
(Assist: Rafael Leão)
Goal 85'    

Match statistic

65
Possession %
35
20
Total shots
8
9
Shots on target
2
5
Shots off target
3
6
Blocked shots
3
8
Corners
4
0
Offsides
0
8
Fouls
9
Milan
Slavia Praha

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
42
46'
46
Defender
46'
24
Defender
19
Defender
8
Midfielder
66'
14
Midfielder
81'
7
Midfielder
11
9
Attacker
80'
10
Attacker
36
Goalkeeper
21
Defender
86'
4
Defender
12
3
Defender
27
Defender
8
Midfielder
87'
17
Midfielder
83'
33
Midfielder
83'
19
Midfielder
13
Attacker
61'

Substitutes

83
Goalkeeper
20
Defender
57
Goalkeeper
38
Midfielder
21
Attacker
28
Defender
80
Midfielder
2
Defender
46'
23
Defender
46'
15
Attacker
66'
17
Attacker
80'
4
Midfielder
81'
14
Attacker
28
Goalkeeper
31
Goalkeeper
35
Midfielder
43
Defender
9
Attacker
5
Defender
26
Attacker
61'
18
Defender
83'
15
Attacker
83'
29
Defender
86'
6
Midfielder
87'

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