SLAVIA PRAHA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

In Prague to progress in the Europa League; another step in our journey. Dublin would be the final destination, but it's far away, too soon to think about the next stages when we have to focus on the return leg of the round of 16 tie away to Slavia Praha. We arrive with an advantage, but qualification hangs in the balance at the Eden Aréna. A game to play, not to blunder, presented to you in our Match Preview ahead of kick-off at 18:45 CET.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Second consecutive win in Serie A, another 1-0. AC Milan beat Empoli at the weekend to gain points on their main rivals and a place in the table, now sitting second. The Rossoneri are in good form, seeing good results, and heading to the fixture with practically the entire squad available. Nothing to manage, the best side will play: Leão will be rested after missing out in the league, Calabria in for a suspended Florenzi, Gabbia or Kjær behind Tomori and Adli or Bennacer beside Reijnders. The technical expertise is superior, and an intelligent performance is necessary.

"We know we have an advantage, but the tie must be earned in this match, with a performance to match," Coach Pioli stated in the press conference. "We're aware that they're accustomed to attacking aggressively, with intensity, but this might lead us to find spaces." Fikayo Tomori added: "They possess quality, intensity, and energy and will be buoyed by a passionate atmosphere. We'll need to be ready, all together."

LATEST FROM SLAVIA PRAHA
After the negative ending at San Siro, Slavia Praha spoke of a comeback. Hotting up, the atmosphere will be a big factor, pushing the side on at the stadium. Despite the 4-2 scoreline, the Czech side showed they were organised and dangerous, physical and unwilling to give up, even down to 10 men for more than an hour, they were still in the game. In the Czech First League, they just beat Teplice 4-0 at home, with Jurásek's hattrick and a goal from Wallem, allowing them to close down on the league-leaders Sparta Praha (-1) who lost in Plzeň. Diouf suspended for the straight red picked up in Milan, the line-up is expected to reflect a 4-2-3-1 and the offensive attitude.

"We'll be playing in a stadium full of supporters, the whole country will be watching us," said Jindřich Trpišovský before the match. "We'll do everything we can, we want to continue playing as we did in the first leg. We want to be bold, we'll see if we can match AC Milan."

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan could go through to the Europa League quarter-finals for the first time, whilst considering the UEFA Cup, it would be the fifth (latest being in 2001/02).
• Slavia Praha haven't won in their last 4 home games in Europa League elimination rounds (2D, 2L) and have only scored once in these clashes. The Czech side, however, just hosted an Italian team in the current edition, beating Roma 2-0 in the group stage.
• Despite having only played three games in the Europa League 2023/24, AC Milan has bagged the most headers: 5 of 9 total goals. Slavia Praha came up second with 4 (equal to West Ham and Roma).
• Ruben Loftus-Cheek has scored three goals with AC Milan in Europe in 2023/24 (all in the Europa League), he has only once scored more in a single season (four with Chelsea in 2018/19).

WHERE TO WATCH SLAVIA PRAHA v AC MILAN
In Italy, the game will be live on Sky and DAZN. To watch Slavia Praha v AC Milan 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 17:30 CET until just before kick-off, followed by interviews and Pioli's post-match comments. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, AC Milan Official App, and official social media channels.

LATEST FROM EUROPA LEAGUE
Round of 16 in play, quarter-finals at stake. The results will come in, here is the full schedule: kicking off at 18:45 CET, Rangers v Benfica (2-2 on aggregate), Slavia Praha v AC Milan (2-4), Villarreal v Marseille (0-4), and West Ham v Freiburg (0-1). At 21:00 CET, it's Atalanta v Sporting CP (1-1 on aggregate), Brighton v Roma (0-4), Bayer Leverkusen v Qarabağ (2-2) and Liverpool v Sparta Praha (5-1).

REFEREE
Swedish referee, Glenn Nyberg, will officiate the match, who at 35, has no previous experience with the Rossoneri and one with the Czechs: 3-1 to Nice in the Europa League 2020/21 group stage. This season, he has been in charge of Champions League fixtures (four, including Borussia Dortmund 1-1 PSG in the last game of Group F). Assisting him will be Mahbod Beigi and Andreas Söderqvist, with Adam Ladebäck as fourth official. The Dutchman Dennis Higler will be on VAR duties with Pol van Boekel as AVAR.

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