Two struggling sides will hope to put their dysfunction to one side when AC Milan host Tottenham at San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday night.
Serie A champions Milan have been hit by injuries to key players but managed to end a run of seven games without victory by beating Torino 1-0 thanks to Olivier Giroud’s strike.
Spurs brought a quick close to a false dawn on Saturday, being embarrassed 4-1 by Leicester having produced the performance of their season to beat Manchester City the week prior.
AC Milan team news
The first choice goalkeepers for both sides are ruled out. Instead of Mike Maignan, the Rossoneri will have Ciprian Tatarusanu between the sticks.
Wing backs Alessandro Florenzi and Sergino Dest are absent through injury, while manager Stefano Pioli has confirmed midfielder Ismael Bennacer will not be fit in time.
Fikayo Tomori has a knock but could still feature, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tiemoue Bakayoko will not appear as they are not registered in Milan’s UEFA Champions League squad.
AC Milan predicted lineup vs Tottenham
AC Milan starting 11 (3-4-3): Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Tomori, Kjaer; Saelemaekers. Krunic, Tonali, Hernandez; Leao, Giround, De Ketelaere.
Tottenham team news
With Hugo Lloris sidelined, Fraser Forster will again take the gloves behind Tottenham’s defence.
Cristian Romero will come back into the back three having missed the Leicester defeat after getting sent off against City, but central midfield is where Antonio Conte has real problems as he prepares to return to San Siro.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is suspended having picked up three yellow cards in the group stage while both Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are sidelined for significant stretches. That limited depth could see youngsters Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr thrown in at the deep end.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs AC Milan
Tottenham predicted 11 (3-4-3): Forster, Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Sarr, Skipp, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
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