AC MILAN v STADE RENNAIS: MATCH PREVIEW

Rossoneri against the French Rossoneri, the colours of AC Milan and Rennes add a touch of romance - fittingly the day after Valentine's Day dedicated to lovers - to the first leg of the Europa League Playoff scheduled for Thursday, 15 February at 21:00 CET at the San Siro. However, it will be a battle on the field because the stakes are high, with only one team progressing to the next knockout phase. The Rossoneri return to the competition after dropping down from the Champions League group stage: the regret for that elimination is now in the past, and there is great enthusiasm to compete for this cup.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan come into this game in good form, especially after the victory against Napoli. The win was significant, prestigious, and doubly valuable, allowing them to solidify third place in Serie A and also close in on second place (one point behind). The Rossoneri will play at home, making the opening round even more delicate and precious. Pioli has just lost Calabria (muscle problems) but will have Reijnders back after suspension and Thiaw returning after a long absence. The European commitment might allow for some slight rotation in the lineup, especially in defence with Terracciano alert and Hernández potentially moved into the centre. Candidates for the attack include Okafor and Jović.

"European matches are always demanding," commented Mister Pioli in the pre-match press conference. "We've had plenty of time to study them; they have talent and play a lot of vertical football. They can create chances at any moment and must be faced with attention and care." Matteo Gabbia added: "They're a very good team, direct, with fast and dynamic players. We know what to expect, and we've prepared the game very well."

LATEST FROM STADE RENNAIS
Stade Rennais are experiencing a fantastic run of form. They've been winning since mid-December and are the most in-form team in Ligue 1 (statistically even above Paris Saint-Germain), where they've been involved in a massive and consistent comeback. They currently sit 7th and last Sunday defeated Le Havre 1-0 away thanks to Bourigeaud's goal. They've also performed well in the French Cup, having just qualified for the Quarterfinals. Bourigeaud, in particular, is their top scorer and one of the most interesting players in the team coached by Stéphan. Other offensive threats include Kalimuendo, Gouiri, and Terrier. They usually line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with experienced Mandanda in goal (also the captain) and Theate providing solidity in defence. Le Fée and Rieder are absent.

"We will play against a high-quality opponent" - Julien Stéphan commented on the eve of the game. "AC Milan has history in Europe, they are a Champions League side and have many strong players, we have a great respect for their history. There are dangers everywhere but we have prepared well, they will start by putting us under great pressure".

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan and Stade Rennais will meet for the first time: AC Milan have won four of the last five knockout matches against French opponents in major European competitions, including the most recent one where they eliminated Lyon in the Champions League quarterfinals in 2005/06.
• AC Milan (20) are the second team with the most vertical attacks - sequences of play that start in their own half and, with at least half of the movements forward, end with a shot or a touch in the opponent's area in the ongoing European competitions, after Real Madrid (25).
• Olivier Giroud has been involved in eleven goals in nine appearances in the Europa League knockout phase (seven goals and four assists): the Frenchman could become the fourth oldest player to score in the knockout phase of this competition after Molina, Samuel, and Klose.

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v STADE RENNAIS
In Italy, the match will be broadcast on DAZN, Sky, and TV8. To watch AC Milan v Stade Rennais in a different country, you can check the "Where to watch AC Milan on TV" section under "Abroad." On the Rossoneri channels, the appointment is with Milan TV's Matchday: the live coverage will start at 19:45 CET until just before kick-off, followed by interviews and Mister Pioli's press conference. From 20:50 CET, there will also be a Live Reaction on AC Milan's Twitch channel. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, AC Milan Official App, and official social media.

LATEST FROM EUROPA LEAGUE
An intense schedule for the first leg of the Europa League Playoffs, with eight matches scheduled for Thursday, 15 February. At 18:45 CET, Feyenoord v Roma, Galatasaray v Sparta Prague, Shakhtar Donetsk v Marseille, and Young Boys v Sporting CP will take place. At 21:00 CET, Benfica v Toulouse, Braga v Qarabağ, Lens v Freiburg, and AC Milan v Stade Rennais will kick off.

REFEREE
The Montenegrin Nikola Dabanović will officiate AC Milan v Stade Rennais. At 42 years old, with no specific previous matches officiated for AC Milan, he has refereed matches in the Champions League (qualifiers) and Europa League (group stage) this season. The officiating team will include assistants Todorović-Jovanović and fourth official Bošković; Kajtazović as VAR, and Borošak as AVAR.

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