Europa League Knockout Round Kicks Off In Belgrade
After successfully navigating the Europa League group stage last year Milan kicks off the knock out stages of the 2020-2021 Europa League at Fudbalski Klub Crvena Zvezda also known as Red Star Belgrade. The Serbian team is very familiar to Milan fans pf course chiefly due to Dejan Savicevic.
The Serbian team is now coached by long time Serie A player and agitator Dejan Stankovic. The former Inter player has his team undefeated in Serbia’s SuperLiga after 21 games. Mirko Ivanic and Filippo Falco formerly of Bologna, Lecce and others lead the hosts on the pitch.
Milan is coming off the disappointing and poor defeat at Spezia and entering another crucial period of the season. Changes may be necessary to keep the players as fresh as possible for the Serie A challenge that has Milan now second in the standings behind Inter.
To that end it is predicted that Calabria, Kjaer, Kessie and Ibra are the leading candidates for the bench. Kalulu – or possibly Dalot – Tomori, Meite and Mandzukic will deputize for the aforementioned respectively. Theo is thought to remain a starter as do Romagnoli and Bennacer. The former may need to be rested as well with the derby coming up only three days after Belgrade but Pioli’s options are limited. Leao and Calhanoglu could also find the bench. The former will be replaced by Rebic and the latter can only really be replaced by Krunic as Diaz is still out injured. Castillejo looks to get the start at right wing as Mandzukic looks to get his first Milan start.
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