UEL | Rennes 3-2 Milan (3-5 agg): Rossoneri into last 16

Milan are through to the Europa League last 16, despite falling 3-2 away to Stade Rennais, as Luka Jovic, Rafael Leao and the first leg 3-0 win proved enough.

The Rossoneri had a 3-0 first leg result to rely on, but were coming off Sunday’s 4-2 Serie A defeat to Monza after massive squad rotation. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was rested, giving Tijjani Reijnders a more advanced role, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic returning to the starting XI. Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega were injured, with Jan-Carlo Simic and Alex Jimenez ineligible. Rennes missed Mahamadou Nagida, Enzo Le Fée and Fabian Rieder, but started Amine Gouiri for a more attacking approach.

Rafael Leao’s angled drive was parried by Steve Mandanda’s legs after 90 seconds, then former Bologna defender Arthur Theate made a decisive tackle on the Portuguese forward.

See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.

However, Rennes took the lead when Ismael Bennacer fumbled a promising counter-attack with a heavy touch, sparking the turnaround that allowed Benjamin Bourigeaud to thump a daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner from outside the box.

EARLY GOAL RENNES 👀

The home side have been all over Milan and it's a wonderful goal from Bourigeaud to chase down the 3-goal deficit 🙇#UEL pic.twitter.com/8phudVks8N

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 22, 2024

Christian Pulisic wasted a golden opportunity to equalise with a heavy touch inside the box, but Milan did equalise when Reijnders spread the ball down the left for the Theo Hernandez cross first time onto the head of Luka Jovic. It was the Serbian’s 11^th goal in just 15 Europa League games.

Luka Jović makes it look so easy and Milan reclaim their 3-goal advantage in the tie 😮‍💨#UEL pic.twitter.com/NyQq5tB9tN

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 22, 2024

Mike Maignan needed a desperate reaction save on Arnaud Kalimuendo’s volley into the ground from close range, while Simon Kjaer made the block on a Gouiri curler and Theate nodded a free kick wide.

Leao wasted another promising counter-attack on the stroke of half-time, as Warmed Omari did not fall for the step-overs.

Leao again failed to finish a great attacking move straight after the restart, firing at on-rushing veteran Mandanda.

Instead, the referee pointed to the spot for a very soft penalty, as Terrier tried to turn Kjaer and backed into the defender. Bourigeaud stepped up and converted into the bottom corner, despite Maignan going the right way.

Rennes convert from the spot and there's plenty of time left to find the goals they need… game on 😤#UEL pic.twitter.com/JbpDoYWXYi

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 22, 2024

However, Leao finally managed to convert one of his many chances to make it 2-2 moments later. He started the run from midfield, shrugged off Alidu Seidu and it looked as if Mandanda and Omari had managed to smother, but Leao stole the ball out from under them to deposit into an empty net from a tight angle.

Milan strike back again through Leao and the Rennes defence won't want to watch this one back 😬#UEL pic.twitter.com/fy5rl3W8q4

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 22, 2024

Rennes received another penalty, this time via VAR, as Kalimuendo nodded a Bourigeaud free kick onto the arm of Jovic from point-blank range. Bourigeaud beat Maignan again to complete his hat-trick.

RENNES FROM THE SPOT AGAIN 🤯

Jovic's hand made contact with the ball and VAR advised the referee to take a look at the screen 👀#UEL pic.twitter.com/iLu7z2snfg

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 22, 2024

Maignan fingertipped an Ibrahim Salah curler wide to prevent an even more nervous finale.

Rennes 3-2 Milan (3-5 agg)

Bourigeaud 11, pens 54, 68 (R), Jovic 22 (M), Leao 58 (M)