Contrary to the reports that have emanated from Italy over recent days, AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has said that Ismael Bennacer is not fit enough to feature against Tottenham this evening.
Tottenham go into the first leg at the San Siro without several of their key players, with Hugo Lloris, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ryan Sessegnon and Yves Bissouma out with injuries while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is suspended for the clash.
That means that Antonio Conte might have to rely on an inexperienced central midfield pairing of Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr this evening.
It seemed like Milan had much more positive news on the injury front, with Milan News reporting on Sunday that Bennacer and Fikayo Tomori both came through a training session unscathed and that the centre-back and the midfielder are expected to be fit for the clash against Spurs.
However, Pioli has now insisted that he will not be risking the Algerian this evening as he is not 100 per cent fit.
The Rossoneri manager told Calcio Mercato on Monday: “Bennacer trained with us yesterday, but he’s not at 100% and we can’t risk him, so he won’t be in the match.”
Spurs Web Opinion
This is good news for Spurs as Bennacer makes this Milan side tick and it would not have been ideal to have the 25-year-old go up against our inexperienced midfield. Given our form and injury issues, the key this evening is to stay in the tie. I suspect Conte might even take a one-goal defeat if you offered it to him right now.
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