Milan receives a friend named Tottenham, with whom they have the ups and downs of this course in common. Pioli is committed to a system of three centers, and Conte arrives with many casualties.
A big Champions League night awaits AC Milan at San Siro. Nine years later, Milan will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, with Antonio Conte on the Spurs bench.
The rossoneri have not advanced to the Champions League quarterfinal stage since 2012; they are aware that they are not considered favorites in the tie, and that lack of pressure will suit Milan manager Stefano Pioli, whose side currently sit fifth in Serie A, a point behind runaway leaders Napoli.
Spurs too are somewhat erratic in the Premier League, going from a high after beating Manchester City to being brought back down to earth last weekend with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Leicester. The margin of the result was the biggest defeat ever suffered by Conte in his time in the Premier League. Spurs are also suffering through a series of injuries, with goalkeeper Lloris still missing from the lineup. There was further bad news on Monday after initial reports confirmed that Bentancur’s season is over due to an ACL tear.
Sessegnon, Bissouma, and the suspended Hojbjerg will also miss the Milan game.The North London side will look to Kulusevski and, above all, talisman Harry Kane to lead the attack and take a positive result back to London for the second leg on March 8.
Milan boss Pioli affirmed that he was encouraged after the team’s performance as they beat Torino over the weekend, and it’s expected that, once again, the Rossoneri will employ a three-man back line. Theo Hernandez and Rodrigo Leao will look to link up with Brahim and feed Giroud in order to provide the milanisti with the big Champions League night they desire.