After a rough match and a loss to Juventus on Saturday, Milan are hosting Girona at home in the Champions League for Matchday seven of eight to try to directly qualify for the Round of 16 in this new League Phase format. Unfortunately, after already being spread so thin, Conceição is missing even more players for this one, barely able to scrape together a starting 11, with practically no bench, having to rely on youth players. Girona have only won one match, so must win to have the most remote chance of not being eliminated. A must win for both teams to continue their Champions League journeys against all odds, the most improbable dream.
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| After such a tumultuous season, if they could bring the Champions League dream to the fans... |
Girona come to Milan in the bottom eight of the Champions League table. A draw or a loss in this match ensures their elimination. However in La Liga, they sit in eigth place. Their most recent match was a 2-1 loss to Sevilla on Saturday. For that match, Michel lined up a 4-2-3-1 with: Gazzaniga; Arnau Martínez, David López, Krejcí, Blind; Romeu, Iván Martín; Tsygankov, Asprilla, Gil; and Abel Ruiz. From his Champions League list, Michel is reported to be missing Miovski and Gutierrez to injury. The probable lineups suggest that he may make some changes to his system and personnel in the midfield from Saturday's match.
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| The Girona side with something to prove, and everything to play for. |
Milan could jump into the top eight of the Champions league table with a win in this one, but also sit eighth in Serie A. Conceição, however, has a laundry list of missing players. First of all, Tomori is suspended for this match due to card accumulation. His injury list includes: Florenzi, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwueze, and Thiaw. Pulisic has remained with the team and is in doubt still as well, while Morata has recovered and should start. However, Jović and Jiménez are not on the Champions League list. And as if that was not enough, while Chukwueze is injured, he, Calabria, and Fofana are all one card away from suspension, so will have to be careful to avoid being suspended for the final League Phase match.
This means that Pavlović and possibly Emerson Royal will be starting, despite both being heavily linked with an exit from the club this week (and if reports are to be believed, actually asked to leave.) Morata would undoubtedly start up front, but that only leaves the goalkeepers, Calabria (if he does not start,) Terracciano, Okafor (also linked with an exit,) and Tammy Abraham on the bench from the first team. Futuro players expected to be on the bench include: Bartesaghi, Zeroli, and Camarda, although there may be more, considering that Milan Futuro do not play midweek.
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| Pavlović came up big before in the Champions League, now he'll get another chance. |
Milan have miraculously won their last four Champions League matches, after losing the first two. Despite struggling in the league, this match gives them hope of doing something worthwhile this season, especially since they risk not qualifying for Champions League next season. Even though this competition is part of Milan's DNA, it seems like this management are doing everything to erase that. Conceição made an impassioned plea to the fans to unite and support the team. Perhaps with that support, maybe, just maybe, this fatigued, depleted squad can pull off a win on Wednesday, and they can achieve the most improbable dream.
This post inspired by the music of The Cure's "To Wish Impossible Things"
Serie C Week 24
Reviewed by Elaine
on
9:01 AM
Rating:
