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Boxing Rennes vs AC Milan Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview
Italian football betting expert, Daniele Fisichella, is here with his Rennes vs AC Milan prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview ahead of the second-leg, Europa League clash on Thursday evening. Can Rennes mount a comeback? They’ve got a hell of a job on their hands.
Our Rennes vs AC Milan prediction is for a 2-2 draw.
Rennes vs AC Milan Prediction, Team News, Lineups and Fixtures Preview
In this article:
- Rennes vs AC Milan Team News and Possible Lineups
- Rennes vs AC Milan Stats
- Rennes Fixtures
- AC Milan Fixtures
- Safer Gambling
Rennes vs AC Milan Prediction: Les Rouge et Noirs need a perfect night to overcome big deficit
Europa League, Play-offs, 2nd leg, Thursday, February 22nd, 17:45 (UK)
Coming on the back of nine unbeaten games, you’d have expected Rennes to play with more audacity in the first leg at San Siro.
Instead, they looked too rigid in their 4-4-2 formation, and Milan took control of the game thanks also to a couple of tactical moves from Stefano Pioli, like deploying Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the right-hand side with a licence to join the attacks.
The Englishman scored a brace (he has already got seven goals this season, more than in his last four campaigns in England combined) as the Rossoneri look set to qualify for the Round of 16.
Good attacks – bad defences
Rennes, who have won six games in a row in Ligue 1, should come out fighting on Thursday, given they’ve got no other choice but to play on the front foot.
The hosts have France’s third-best attack (34 goals) and have improved since Julien Stéphan took over Bruno Genesio on the bench.
Rennes have only kept one clean sheet in the last seven in all competitions, but they can push AC Milan, whose away form remains inconsistent.
In fact, Rafael Leao & co. have got the fourth worst defence in Serie A (24 goals conceded, the same as bottom-of-the-table Salernitana) as they’ve let in eight goals in the last three trips against Udinese, Frosinone and Monza.
On Sunday, it was their first defeat in the league since 9 December (3-2 against Atalanta), but AC Milan struggles to control games and often gives their best only when they’re back against the wall.
Eleven points away from Inter, but with no risk of dropping down the fifth place in the table, AC Milan is targeting this competition to save their season.
Therefore, it is unlikely Pioli will play an under-strength team in northern France. The visitors haven’t kept a clean sheet away in the last ten games, eight of which have produced more than 2.5 goals with both teams on the scoresheet.
- Rennes vs AC Milan Prediction: Both Teams To Score – Yes (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 1.80
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stakes: 10/10
Rennes vs AC Milan Prediction odds via bet365 as at 08:00, February 19th, 2024. Odds may now differ.
Rennes vs AC Milan Team News and Possible Lineups: Cheek of it
Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored a brace in Milan’s 3-0 win over Rennes last time out in the UEFA Europa League, more than he had in his previous 28 appearances in major European competition combined (1). The former Chelsea man is in line for a start here, looking to build on his European double.
Luka Jovic’s red card at the weekend cost AC Milan the game, though he’s able to feature in France on Thursday.
Rennes’ longest ever unbeaten run at home in major European competition – W6 D4 between September 2021 and November 2023 – was put to an end by Villarreal on Matchday six of this season’s UEFA Europa League group stage (3-2); Les Rennais last lost back-to-back home games in the UEFA Cup/Europa League in October 2007 (3 in a row).
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; G. Doué, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matusiwa, Santamaria, D. Doué; Kalimuendo, Terrier
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Musah, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Jovic
Match Stats: An away double for Milan?
- AC Milan could win multiple away games in the same European campaign for the first time since the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League (2).
- Following their 2-1 win over Newcastle at St. James’ Park on MD6 of the UEFA Champions League group stage, Milan are looking to win back-to-back away games in major European competition for the first time since October 2009.
- Rennes are unbeaten in three previous home games against Italian teams in all European competition (W1 D2), all of which have come against a different opponent (W1 v Lazio, D1 v Juventus, D1 v Udinese).
Rennes Fixtures: That’s a tough five
- Vs AC Milan (H)
- Vs PSG (A)
- Vs Le Puy (H) – Coupe de France
- Vs Lorient (A)
- Vs Lille (H)
AC Milan Fixtures: Free-scoring Atalanta beckons
- Vs Rennes (A)
- Vs Atalanta (H)
- Vs Lazio (A)
- Vs Empoli (H)
- Vs Verona (A)
SAFER GAMBLING
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