AC Milan’s bid to produce a stunning comeback against Inter in tonight’s Champions League decider has been boosted by the return of Rafael Leao.
Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli has Rade Krunic and Junior Messias both available and back in the lineup too after knocks kept them out of the weekend defeat at Spezia.
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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 straight back into the starting XI in what is a huge boost to his side’s hopes.
With a two-goal aggregate deficit to contend with, Pioli revealed his plans ahead of the match to start with three attacking midfielders - which is in part due to Ismael Bennacer’s injury absence.
The Algerian has been ruled out for six months 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 are among the usual suspects returning. Milan Skriniar is out injured.
Simone Inzaghi has named the in-form Romelu Lukaku on the bench, with Edin Dzeko getting the nod to partner Martinez up front.
Inter XI: Onana, Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Martinez, Dzeko
Subs: Handanovic, Cordaz, Gagliardini, De Vrij, Gosens, Correa, Bellanova, Asllani, D’Ambrosio, Stankovic, Brozovic, Lukaku
AC Milan XI: Maignan, Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez, Krunic, Tonali, Messias, Diaz, Leao, Giroud
Subs: Mirante, Nava, Ballo, Rebic, Kalulu, Kjaer, Florenzi, Origi, Pobega, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere
