AC MILAN v TOTTENHAM: FUN FACTS

San Siro is preparing to host a special night. On Tuesday 14 February - at 21:00 CET - the Rossoneri return to play a Champions League knockout match for the first time in nine years. On the long-awaited evening of European stardom, Coach Pioli's AC Milan host Antonio Conte's Tottenham in the first leg of the Round of 16. Here are the main statistics and facts ahead of the match:

NEW HORIZONS
The San Siro match will be the fifth official meeting between AC Milan and Tottenham: the English side have a winning record and the Rossoneri, who will be playing for Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2013/14, have a chance to turn things around. The last Champions League round of 16 clash between AC Milan and an English side - Arsenal - brings back happy memories for the Rossoneri: a 4-3 final scoreline at the end of the two legs in 2011/12. On that occasion, AC Milan also played the first leg at home.

GOALS DEPARTMENT
Olivier Giroud has been involved in six goals in this Champions League (four goals and two assists) - the last AC Milan player to be involved in more goals in a single season in the tournament was Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2011/12 with nine, the result of five goals and four assists. The Rossoneri - in this edition - scored 12 goals in the group stage, with seven different scorers: Saelemaekers, Giroud, Pobega, Gabbia, Leão, Krunić and Messias.

AGGRESSION IN THE MIDDLE
The three players who have recovered the most balls in the central third of the pitch this Champions League season play for either AC Milan or Tottenham: Rodrigo Bentancur (34), Ismaël Bennacer (32) and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (31). Both midfielders of the English team have also found the net in this edition of the competition.

COACHES AND FIRST IMPACTS
Facing each other on Valentine's Day will be two Italian coaches: Stefano Pioli and Antonio Conte. For the Rossoneri coach, the match at San Siro will be his first Champions League Round of 16 match as a coach in his career, in what will be the 13th match at the helm of the Rossoneri in the top European competition. There will be five Italian coaches total involved in the Round of 16 of the competition: in addition to those already mentioned, Carlo Ancelotti, Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti will be added to the list.

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