Milan vs RB Salzburg

Milan in another must win situation. The side have a monumental 90 minutes ahead of them and the key players need to turn up.

He needs to be more dynamic in and around the box but also be more positive with the ball at his feet as opposed to continually knocking it all the way back to the defence. He really struggled against Wober in the first leg of this game as the pace of the Austrian centre back and his physicality to push Giroud off the ball threw off the Frenchman. [AC Milan](https://acmilan.theoffside.com) take on RB Salzbrug in a head-to-head for the second place spot in the group and qualification to the next round of the [Champions League](https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league).

Milan opt for Rade Krunic in the trequartista role with Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud, as they need a point against RB Salzburg to reach the Champions ...

[Noah Okafor](https://football-italia.net/player/noah-okafor/) is their Champions League top scorer with three goals in five games. [Fikayo Tomori](https://football-italia.net/player/fikayo-tomori/) returns from suspension to bolster the defence. [Fernando](https://football-italia.net/player/fernando-reges/) and [Nicolas](https://football-italia.net/player/nicolas/) Capaldo, while [Junior Adamu](https://football-italia.net/player/chukwubuike-adamu/) and Omar Solet are carrying thigh issues, but start regardless. [Torino](/teams/torino), as the injury list remains extensive, missing [Mike Maignan](https://football-italia.net/player/mike-maignan/), [Davide Calabria](https://football-italia.net/player/davide-calabria/), [Alexis Saelemaekers](https://football-italia.net/player/alexis-saelemaekers/), [Alessandro Florenzi](https://football-italia.net/player/alessandro-florenzi/), [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://football-italia.net/player/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) and those not on the Champions League list, [Aster Vranckx](https://football-italia.net/player/aster-vranckx/), [Yacine Adli](https://football-italia.net/player/yacine-adli/) and [Malick Thiaw](https://football-italia.net/player/malick-thiaw/). [Milan](/teams/milan) opt for [Rade Krunic](https://football-italia.net/player/rade-krunic/) in the trequartista role with [Rafael](https://football-italia.net/player/rafael/) Leao and [Olivier Giroud](https://football-italia.net/player/olivier-giroud/), as they need a point against RB Salzburg to reach the Champions League Round of 16. [You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Juventus-PSG on the LIVEBLOG.](https://football-italia.net/champions-league-liveblog-milan-rb-salzburg-juventus-psg/)

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has made five changes to his starting line-up for the crucial Champions League group stage game against Red Bull Salzburg ...

Charles De Ketelaere, Brahim Diaz, Junior Messias and Divock Origi are on the bench to start. Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer will be reunited as the double pivot as Tommaso Pobega has been relegated to substitute, with Rafael Leao on the left wing, Ante Rebic on the right wing and Rade Krunic as the playmaker. Ciprian Tatarusanu will be in goal given Mike Maignan’s absence with Pierre Kalulu right-back, Theo Hernandez left-back and a centre-back pairing of Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori, meaning Matteo Gabbia has dropped to the bench.

Get the latest Football updates on Eurosport. Catch AC Milan - Red Bull Salzburg live on 02/11/2022. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

That's twice now Milan have struck the woodwork. Milan are really taking the sting out of the game now. The Austrian side hae been largely stunned in this second half but they are now getting on the ball more frequently and looking to create chances. Milan work a really nice counter-attack. Milan have made it fourt! A ruthless performance from the Italian champions.

Get a report of the AC Milan vs. FC Salzburg 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, Group Stage football match.

"It was fantastic in front of our fans," Giroud told UEFA. [Theo Hernandez](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/233621/Theo-Hernández) had rattled the post, Giroud headed home [Sandro Tonali](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/261047/Sandro-Tonali)'s corner. "These kinds of nights are what we wish for," coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Sport Italia. [Junior Messias](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/261054/Junior-Messias) in stoppage time capped an excellent night for Milan who secured second spot in Group E behind [England](/football/team?id=448)'s [Chelsea](/football/team?id=363). [Rade Krunic](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/222595/Rade-Krunic) to make it two 43 seconds into the second half and Giroud put the game to bed in the 57th minute, drilling home after fine work from Rafael Leao. [Olivier Giroud](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/88965/Olivier-Giroud) scored two goals and created another as [AC Milan](/football/team?id=103) crushed [FC Salzburg ](/football/team/_/id/2790)4-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013-14.

Get the latest Football updates on Eurosport. Catch AC Milan - Red Bull Salzburg live on 02/11/2022. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

That's twice now Milan have struck the woodwork. Milan are really taking the sting out of the game now. The Austrian side hae been largely stunned in this second half but they are now getting on the ball more frequently and looking to create chances. Milan work a really nice counter-attack. Milan have made it fourt! A ruthless performance from the Italian champions.

AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (R, bottom) celebrates his second goal with teammate Fikayo Tomori during a UEFA Champions League Group E football match between ...

(Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) AC Milan's Rafael Leao (L) vies with Salzburg's Amar Dedic during a UEFA Champions League Group E football match in Milan, Italy, on Nov. AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (R) vies with Salzburg's Amar Dedic during a UEFA Champions League Group E football match in Milan, Italy, on Nov.

AC Milan needs a point to seal qualification into the knockout stages as they host nearest challengers RB Salzburg at the San Siro.

In terms of quality, Milan has the firepower to dislodge the defences of any team. Taking home advantage into account, the Rossoneri certainly have a huge boost, but Salzburg will be at their best. Milan would be hoping the winger fires on all cylinders and gets the critical goals they need to progress. The latter will replace Fikayo Tomori in the lineup. The attacker could make history by sending Milan through to the next round. Ciprian Tatarusanu will continue between the sticks, with Matteo Gabbia and Simon Kjaer expected to retain their places in central defence. The Rossoneri slipped to third in the league but remained in charge of their fate in Europe. However, it will take a fearless and famous victory at the San Siro to make that happen. Milan desperately needed a positive result in Croatia and will be pleased with the outcome. The Austrians hope to qualify for the knockout rounds for a second consecutive season. Milan ensured they put Dinamo Zagreb to the sword with an impressive 4-0 victory away from home. The four teams went in with a chance to qualify for the next round, but only Chelsea made their case.

AC Milan sealed their passage into the knockout stages of the Champions League in convincing fashion with a commanding 4-0 victory against Red Bull Salzburg ...

The final action of the game was the fourth goal and it came from Junior Messias. Shortly after, Tonali provided a nice turn and shot on the half-volley from the edge of the 18-yard box but it was straight at Koln. Giroud just could not be kept out of the game as he doubled his tally for the night in the 57th minute. He took the opportunity with a calm finish from close range, but the offside flag rightly ruled it out. If Giroud had blocked the previous attempt, he was the hero moments later as he headed Milan into the lead. The full-back broke free on the left and shot fiercely but the ball cannoned off the post and away.