AC Milan did not have a pleasant journey in their return to the Champions League, as so far they have only won once, drawn one game, and lost the other three. However, this single victory was crucial, as it was away (1-0) against Atlético Madrid and that keeps them alive in the tournament. This Tuesday 6th, they will host Liverpool at San Siro in the final match of the group stage.
The Rossoneri team has the obligation to win in order to dream of qualifying for the knockout stages of the continental competition. But that's not all, as they not only depend on themselves: to advance to the next stage, they will have to hope that Porto does not defeat Atleti, nor that the Spanish team wins by a greater goal difference than them. The Italians are currently in third place by just one goal.
AC Milan won 2-0 against Salernitana in Serie A. Photo: AC Milan
However, AC Milan has a tough challenge not only because their opponent is one of the best clubs in Europe, which has great players like Mohamed Salah, but also because they have several absences for this match. Despite this, coach Stefano Pioli will be able to count on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did not play last weekend against Salernitana in Serie A.
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Simon Kjaer felt discomfort last Wednesday in the first half of the match against Genoa, and the medical tests revealed that he suffered a sprained left knee, so he underwent surgery and will be away from the pitch for six months. Rafael Leao had a small muscle injury in the hamstrings and will also not play against the Reds.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the rest of his teammates paid tribute to Simon Kjaer. Photo: Twitter AC Milan
But they are not the only ones, Kjaer and Leao are the latest absences, as they join the long list of players that Pioli will not be able to use. Davide Calabria, Samu Castillejo, Olivier Giroud, and Ante Rebic remain sidelined. One player who has recovered is goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Theo Hernández has also resumed training, both could start against Liverpool.