AC MILAN v TOTTENHAM: MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A
The Rossoneri play a Champions League Round of 16 game at San Siro for the first time in 3,282 days. This length of time is one of the measures by which to judge the importance of tonight's game. There are just a few hours to go until AC Milan v Tottenham so here is our Match Preview:
LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan have just got back to winning ways in the league, which will be sure to have given the Rossoneri a fresh injection of confidence ahead of this big European fixture. Our boys are hoping to make the home factor count so as to be in a more comfortable position heading into the return leg in London, especially now that the away goals rule has been abolished. After the 1-0 win over Torino, we got some good news on the injury front: Tomori is fully fit again and looks set to start, Bennacer is still unavailable but is nearing a full recovery and Florenzi is making good progress. Pioli looks set to continue with the back three, though there is a decision to be made on the third centre-back spot as both Kjær and Thiaw are in contention to start. Saelemaekers could be preferred to Calabria and Messias on the right-hand side, while Díaz, Leão and Giroud will likely be confirmed as the attacking trio. We'll need to take suspensions into consideration though as Ballo-Touré, Krunić and Tomori would all miss the second leg, should they pick up a booking tonight.
"We'll need to be at our best in order to win," Stefano Pioli said in his pre-match press conference, "both technically and in terms of fitness. We'll need to play well, trying to dominate the game and trying to cause them problems. We'll need to be alert and compact. Tottenham play with pace, intensity, physicality and quality."
LATEST FROM TOTTENHAM
Tottenham go into the game fresh from a big defeat in the Premier League; Spurs took the lead against Leicester City before the Foxes stormed back to a 4-1 win over Conte's men. Spurs currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League, two points off the top four. Their group-stage campaign was positive but complicated; they only qualified for the knock-outs following a 2-1 win over Olympique Marseille on the final matchday in Group D (11 points). Conte is also having to deal with an injury crisis, especially in midfield, with Højbjerg suspended and Bissouma and Bentancur out injured. First-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is also out. Tottenham's formation will likely be similar to Milan's. Here is the predicted Spurs line-up: Forster in goal, Romero, Dier and Lenglet, preferred to Tanganga and Davies at the back; Emerson Royal or new signing Pedro Porro, Skipp, Sarr and Perišić in midfield, with Kulusevski, or perhaps Richarlison, Son and Kane (captain) in attack).
"We're taking on the Champions of Italy and we know how difficult it is to win Serie A," Antonio Conte said ahead of the game. "They were brilliant. What Stefano Pioli did with AC Milan last season was really incredible. It'll definitely be a difficult game between two sides who will look to dominate - there are no favourites at this level."
WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
In Italy, AC Milan v Tottenham will be on Sky and Canale 5 (Mediaset) in HD at 21:00 CET. Streams will be held on Sky Go, NOW and Infinity+. We also have Milan TV's Matchday on our channels, which starts at 19:30 CET and runs until kick-off. After the game, we will have interviews and Stefano Pioli's press conference.
LATEST FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Tuesday sees the start of the Round of 16 with AC Milan v Tottenham and also PSG v Bayern München, which kicks off at the same time as our game. Here is the full list of ties:
Tuesday 14 February, 21:00 CET: AC Milan v Tottenham, PSG v Bayern München.
Wednesday 15 February, 21:00 CET: Club Brugge v Benfica, Borussia Dortmund v Chelsea.
Tuesday 21 February, 21:00 CET: Liverpool v Real Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt v Napoli.
Wednesday 22 February, 21:00 CET: RB Leipzig v Manchester City, Inter v Porto.
REFEREE
Swiss referee Sandro Schärer will take charge of the game. He has never refereed a game involving either the Rossoneri or the Lilywhites but has officiated two games involving Italian sides in the Champions League this season with the Italians winning both (Inter, 2-0 away at Viktoria Plzeň; Juventus, 3-1 at home to Maccabi Haifa). Assisting Schärer will be linesmen De Almeida and Zogaj and fourth official Fähndrich. Fritz (assisted by San) is on VAR duty.
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