Milan could give Reijnders new role against Rennes | OneFootball

Milan are expected to start Rafael Leao, Luka Jovic and in a more advanced role Tijjani Reijnders for the Europa League play-off with Rennes.

It kicks off at Roazhon Park on Thursday at 17.45 GMT.

They won the first leg 3-0, but confidence was hit hard by Sunday’s 4-2 Serie A defeat to Monza, so coach Stefano Pioli is not going to take risks with squad rotation again.

Jovic was sent off in that game and earned a two-match Serie A ban, so is practically certain to start tomorrow in the Europa League rather than Olivier Giroud.

Leao was initially rested against Monza due to a calf issue, but is raring to go, with Samuel Chukwueze again likely to step in for Christian Pulisic.

A big change, according to Sky Sport Italia, could see Reijnders moved into a more advanced trequartista role behind the strikers, allowing Ruben Loftus-Cheek a rare rest.

Milan have some very big games coming up in Serie A, as they face fourth-placed Atalanta on Sunday and then Lazio next Friday.

There are not many options in defence, as Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori are injured, while Malick Thiaw looked very rusty and error-prone in the Monza defeat.

Jan-Carlo Simic and Alex Jimenez are not on the UEFA list.