Rafael Leao is not fit to start AC Milan’s huge Champions League meeting with Inter tonight.
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He trained alone on the eve of the game before a fitness test on Wednesday morning, after which he joined the Rossoneri squad at the team hotel before a decision is expected a few hours before the semi-final first leg.
Reports in Italy suggest the verdict is still pending on Leao’s fitness yet there is a sense that he is likely to miss out.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli explained on Tuesday: “Field work was scheduled for today. Tomorrow morning he’ll try to push and if he’s okay he will be present, otherwise he won’t.
“He could start, he could be able to play and he may not even be on the bench. It will depend on the type of work he can do, because with his quality and characteristics he must be 100 per cent. Let's see, it's still open.”
Alexis Saelemaekers starts down the wing if Leao is not fit, while Ante Rebic is another option.
Elsewhere, Brahim Diaz is pushing to start ahead of Junior Messias on the right. Tommaso Pobega is the only other fitness concern.
For Inter, Romelu Lukaku benched. Edin Dzeko was rested at the weekend, along with Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, in a possible hint at Simone Inzaghi's ideas.
Milan Skriniar and Robin Gosens are sidelined, while Danilo D'Ambrosio could be fit for a place on the bench.
Starting AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Saelemaekers, Bennacer, Brahim Diaz; Giroud.
Starting Inter Milan XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko.
AC Milan squad: Maignan, Bartoccioni, Mirante, Nava, Pseftis, Calabria, Ballo, Hernandez, Kalulu, Tomori, Kjaer, Florenzi, Thiaw, Gabbia, Paloschi, Coubis, Bozzolan, Bartesaghi, Bakoune, Bennacer, Tonali, Diaz, Pobega, Krunic, Saelemaekers, Zeroli, Gala, Foglio, Giroud, Rebiv, Leao, Origi, Messias, El Hilali, Longhi, De Ketelaere, Mangiameli, Alesi
Injured: Rafael Leao (thigh), Pobega (rib)
Inter squad: Handanovic, Cordaz, Onana, Botis, Dumfries, De Vrij, Bellanova, Acerbi, Dimarco, D'Ambrosio, Darmian, Skriniar, Zanotti, Fontanarosa, Bastoni, Gagliardini, Gosens, Asllani, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Carboni, Brozovic, Dzeko, Martinez, Correa, Lukaku
Injured: Skriniar (back), Gosens (shoulder), D'Ambrosio (thigh)
Date: 8pm BST, Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Venue: San Siro
TV and live stream: BT Sport
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)
