C Milan are set to welcome Rafael Leao back to their team as part of a triple injury boost for tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter.
Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli also hopes to have Rade Krunic and Junior Messias both available after knocks kept them out of the weekend defeat at Spezia.
But the most important news is the return of Leao, the Portuguese forward who starred in Milan’s quarter-final defeat of Napoli before missing the first leg against Inter Milan due to a thigh injury.
After joining training over the weekend, he is expected to step up his preparations for Tuesday’s bid to pull off a stunning Champions League comeback.
Comeback kid: Rafael Leao
/ REUTERSWith a two-goal aggregate deficit to contend with, Pioli has revealed his plans to start with three attacking midfielders – which is in part due to Ismael Bennacer’s injury absence.
The Algerian has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee issue, joining Alessandro Florenzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the sidelines.
While Milan did rest players ahead of the game, Inter went one step further with seven first-team regulars taken out of the team for the win over Sassuolo – the Nerazzurri aided by their more-stable league position.
Lautaro Martinez, Andre Onana, Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella will be among the usual suspects returning. Milan Skriniar is out injured.
Simone Inzaghi once again must pick between the in-form Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko to partner Martinez up front.
Predicted lineups
Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez (3-5-2)
AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Krunic, Tonali; Saelemakers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud (4-2-3-1)
