February** Dynamic Incentive Program
After losing 4-2 to Monza last weekend, AC Milan have been beaten by as many as 11 points by city rivals Inter, and the race for the Serie A title is no longer realistic. In order to avoid the big four being empty, AC Milan can only rivet their strength in the Europa League, and in the first leg of the knockout play-offs, the Rossoneri beat Rennes 3-0 and came to the opponent's territory with a three-goal advantage, and the goal is naturally to advance. The two sides teamed up to concoct a goal shootout, Jovic staged an infernal drama, both scoring and sending points, Brijo hat-trick, Leao scored a wonderful one-stop goal, AC Milan lost 2-3, and advanced with an aggregate score of 5-3.
With three goal difference in hand, Stefano Pioli rotated to a certain extent for this game, with Olivier Giroud and Loftus-Cheek on the bench. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Maignan continued to guard the back of the net, with Te'o, Gabia, Kjaer and Florenzi at the back, Reinders and Bennacer in a double midfield, Rafael Leao, Moussa and Christian Pulisic lined up, and Jovic in the role of a lone arrow.
After the game started, Rennes went to the clock to grab the start, and AC Milan was not conservative, and the two sides formed a confrontation. Just two minutes into the opening period, Leao singled out Rennes' defence with the ball, changed direction in the penalty area and shot in one go, and Mandanda came out to block the ball.
In the 10th minute, Santa Maria passed diagonally in the middle, Briro took the ball outside the penalty area, calmly shot with his feet, and went straight to the lower left corner of the goal, Maignan couldn't reach the whip, the ball went into the net, Rennes broke the deadlock early, 1-0!
Trailing AC Milan, it was not long before it returned to color. In the 21st minute, Pulisic advanced in the middle and split the ball, Te'o followed up on the left side and crossed directly, Jovic nodded the ball when no one was marked, and quickly equalized the score, 1-1!
Jovic, who was once frustrated at Real Madrid and is seen as one of the worst signings in the club's history, has shone at AC Milan this season, contributing eight goals and one assist in eight starts in all competitions, making him joint second scorer with Christian Pulisic.
However, Rennes were not willing to give up the game, and in the 28th minute, a long-range free-kick went straight to the goal, but Maignan saved the ball. In the ensuing corner kick attack, Muyinga volleyed in front of the goal, and Maignan subconsciously reached out to block and kept the ball out!
After the first 45 minutes, AC Milan had 55% possession but were 4-12 down and the two sides returned to the dressing room with a 1-1 scoreline. In the 52nd minute, Terrier turned to get rid of him, Kjaer brought him down in the box, the referee pointed to 12 yards, and Briro made a contribution to give Rennes a 2-1 lead.
However, 6 minutes later, Moussa broke the ball in the middle, Leao started from the middle circle, ran all the way with the ball for a long time, passed Rennes 3 defenders, and played Mandanda in the penalty area, calmly pushed the empty goal, staged a wonderful one-stop show, AC Milan equalized again, 2-2!
However, in the 65th minute, Jovic reached out in the box to block Muyinga's header, the referee verified the foul through VAR and awarded a penalty again, Briro scored a hat-trick again, and Rennes led 3-2.
For the rest of the game, the two sides did not achieve anything, AC Milan lost 2-3, suffered Rennes' revenge, and swallowed two consecutive defeats in all competitions.
However, the defeat was somewhat innocuous for AC Milan as they advanced to the Europa League round of 16 5-3 on aggregate.
Wren won and went out, but it was also a standing death and could leave with his head held high.