Champions League line-ups: Milan vs. Girona

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·22 Januari 2025

Champions League line-ups: Milan vs. Girona

Milan welcome Alvaro Morata back with Rafael Leao on Sergio Conceicao’s Champions League debut against Girona, but are forced into defensive changes.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT.

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You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Sparta Prague-Inter on the Liveblog.

It has been a mixed start for Conceicao since taking over from Paulo Fonseca on December 30, winning the Supercoppa Italiana, then on Saturday losing 2-0 to Juventus in Serie A.

Morata was suspended for that match and returns upfront with Leao, but Christian Pulisic is still not 100 per cent fit, with Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Malick Thiaw injured.

Considering Fikayo Tomori sits out a ban too, Strahinja Pavlovic gets a rare start, having been linked with a possible transfer to Fenerbahce.

Although Milan lost the first two Champions League games, they won the next four in a row.

GIRONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 20: Abel Ruiz of Girona FC and Juma Bah of Real Valladolid CF battle for the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Girona FC and Real Valladolid CF at Montilivi Stadium on December 20, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Girona lost five of their total six matches and make the trip without Miguel Gutierrez and Bojan Miovski, while Gabriel Misehouy is cup-tied.

They sit eighth in LaLiga and their most recent European fixture was a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Notable players include Donny van de Beek on loan from Manchester United, Bryan Gil owned by Tottenham Hotspur, ex-Napoli defender David Lopez and veteran centre-forward Cristhian Stuani.