Milan test a new system with Nikola Kalinic and Andre Silva, giving Hakan Calhanoglu a free role, in their Europa League trip to Austria Vienna.
It kicks off at 18.00 UK time (17.00 GMT), follow the build-up and action from this game, Atalanta-Everton and Vitesse-Lazio on the LIVEBLOG.
Milan test a new system with Nikola Kalinic and Andre Silva, giving Hakan Calhanoglu a free role, in their Europa League trip to Austria Vienna.
It kicks off at 18.00 UK time (17.00 GMT), follow the build-up and action from this game, Atalanta-Everton and Vitesse-Lazio on the LIVEBLOG.
The Rossoneri fought through two preliminary rounds to reach the group phase of their first European competition in three years, crushing Craiova and Shkendija without conceding.
Vincenzo Montella’s men had won all six competitive games this season until Sunday’s 4-1 Serie A setback at Lazio.
They are in the same group as Rijeka and AEK Athens, but begin with a visit to Vienna.
Andrea Conti, Ricardo Rodriguez and Fabio Borini have been left behind, while Suso and Jack Bonaventura are benched.
It’s a three-man defence to make the best out of captain Leonardo Bonucci’s characteristics, with Cristian Zapata given the nod rather than Mateo Musacchio.
Calhanoglu has something of a free role, able to drift forward to play behind the two strikers, Andre Silva and Kalinic.
It’s the first start in a Rossoneri jersey for the Croatia international, who arrived from Fiorentina late in the transfer window.
The UEFA Cup/Europa League is the only major continental trophy that Milan haven’t already won, but they do have form in Vienna, having lifted the 1990 European Cup at the Prater.
Austria Vienna have had a stuttering start to their domestic season, particularly when it comes to conceding goals, and are without a win in five European home fixtures.
Captain Raphael Holzhauser is very strong in the air, less so when pressed in midfield, while Felipe Pires and Korean Jinhyun Lee provide pace.
Goalkeeper Robert Almer, Alexander Grunwald and Brazilian forward Venuto are unavailable for the hosts.
This is the first ever meeting between the clubs, but Austria won only one of their previous 12 clashes with Italian sides, drawing five and losing six.
Milan lost just one of their nine matches against Austrian opposition, a 5-2 European Cup defeat at Rapid Vienna in 1957.
Austria Vienna: Hadzikic; Klein, Kadiri, Westermann, Martschinko; Holzhauser, Serbest, Prokop; Pires, Monschein, Lee
Austria bench: Pentz, Gluhakovic, Tajouri-Shradi, Friesenbichler, De Paula, Borjovic, Salamon
Milan: G Donnarumma; Zapata, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Abate, Kessie, Biglia, Antonelli; Calhanoglu; Andre Silva, Kalinic
Milan bench: Storari, Musacchio, Calabria, Montolivo, Bonaventura, Suso, Cutrone
Ref: Gozubuyuk (NED)