Champions League line-ups: Milan vs. Club Brugge
MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 14: Theo Hernandez of AC Milan celebrates with his team-mate Rafael Leao after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Venezia at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 14, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez return to the Milan starting XI with Alvaro Morata and Christian Pulisic against Club Brugge as they seek their first Champions League points.
It kicks off at San Siro at 17.45 UK time (16.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Juventus-VfB Stuttgart and Aston Villa-Bologna on the Liveblog.
Paulo Fonseca remains under pressure, especially after losing both Champions League fixtures to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Rossoneri got back on track in Serie A at the weekend, hanging on for a 1-0 win over Udinese despite the early Tijjani Reijnders red card.
Theo Hernandez was suspended for that match and Rafael Leao dropped, but both return to the start today, along with Matteo Gabbia and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Morata is again used as a centre-forward in the 4-2-3-1, as Tammy Abraham is out with a shoulder injury, joining Davide Calabria, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi on the treatment table.
Club Brugge lost the opening Champions League fixture 3-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund with all the goals conceded in the final 15 minutes, but then won 1-0 away to Sturm Graz.
Gustaf Nilsson and Bjorn Meijer are injured, with Dedryck Boyata and Kamal Sowah ineligible for this tournament.
Former Bologna midfielder Andreas Skov Olsen is struggling with a calf issue, so not 100 per cent fit.
They have Belgium international veteran Simon Mignolet in goal and impressive left-wing-back Maxim De Cuyper, who has been linked with a possible move to Milan.
Hans Vanaken, Christos Tzolis and Skov Olsen are the top scorers with four goals in all competition this season.
Club Brugge won here 1-0 during their last visit, even if that was 21 years ago.
Milan: Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata
Milan bench: Sportiello, Torriani; Pavlović, Terracciano, Thiaw; Musah, Zeroli; Camarda, Chukwueze, Okafor
Club Brugge: Mignolet; Ordóñez, Mechele, Seys; Talbi, Vanaken, Onyedika, Jashari, De Cuyper; Jutglà, Tzolis
Club Brugge bench: Jackers; Romero, Sabbe, Spileers; Nielsen, Vetlesen; Skóraś, Skov Olsen, Vermant
Ref: Zwayer (GER)
16
22
23
46
19
8
60'
14
29
75'
7
75'
11
10
60'
22
65
46'
44
4
55
30
68
46'
20
15
8
70'
9
70'
57
42
31
28
18
96
17
60'
21
60'
80
75'
73
75'
27
58
29
17
2
10
46'
64
46'
7
70'
21
70'
