Conte: “It’s important to stick together in this difficult period”
Tottenham visit AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at the San Siro tonight.
Antonio Conte’s side progressed to the knockout stages after a dramatic victory in Marseille, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s late goal securing top spot with the last kick of the game. Spurs come into the test against the Italian champions reeling, however, following a 4-1 thrashing at Leicester on Sunday, as well as a number of injury absences.
Tottenham have been rocked by the news that Rodrigo Bentancur has been ruled out for the season and with Hojbjerg and Yves Bissouma also injured, Conte starts with an inexperienced midfield duo tonight. Harry Kane will hope to lead Tottenham towards the quarter-finals, however, as they face a Milan side who have also been struggling for form.
The Serie A champions have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions under Stefano Pioli, including heavy defeats to Inter, Lazio and Sassuolo. Milan, who are seven-time European champions, are looking to reach their first Champions League quarter-final since 2012. Follow all the latest build-up and team news ahead of Milan vs Tottenham, below.
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
77 mins: And almost an instant impact! Leao swings it in from the left and his cross finds Giroud – it’s flicked on by the Frenchman but De Ketelaere, who was onside, can’t beat Forster from six yards!
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:42
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
75 mins: Milan make two changes: goalscorer Diaz and Saelemaekers are off. Charles De Ketelaere and Junior Messias are on.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:40
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
73 mins: Milan give the ball away cheaply from defence, and Spurs work it wide to Skipp. The midfielder keeps the ball in play and it’s played back to Richarlison, whose effort is blocked.
Sarr then tries an ambitious effort from 35 yards. It’s straight at the Milan goalkeeper.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:38
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
71 mins: Kane works a yard of space after turning Kjaer, but his switch out to Emerson is easily cut out.
The lack of link-up between Kane and Son is very strange, considering how good their partnership was last season.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:35
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
70 mins: Richarlison is coming on for Spurs – finally a change.
Richarlison replaces Kulusevski.
(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:32
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
67 mins: Leao found some space on the counter-attack but Tottenham are able to slow him down. Perisic then concedes a corner at the back post, but nothing comes of it. We’re 20 minutes into the second half and there’s yet to be a chance for either team.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:31
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
66 mins: Lenglet, of all people, finds himself in space and gets to the byline. The defender got past Krunic and Giroud but his pull-back is blocked out for a corner, and Son’s cross doesn’t lead to a chance. Tottenham’s set-pieces have been so poor.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:29
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
65 mins: Any sign of Spurs substitutions? Not yet. Conte has Richarlison and Danjuma on the bench but there’s been no movement so far.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:28
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
62 mins: Dier pulls Giroud’s arm after the striker turned. The defender is shown a yellow card and will now miss the second leg. Quite a harsh one considering the amount of fouls in this game – and I think that was Dier’s first.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:26
Milan 1-0 Tottenham
62 mins: Son pops up on the right and sees his cross blocked and put behind. Perisic’s corner is easily gathered by Tatarusanu, even though the goalkeeper continues to limp on his ankle.
Jamie Braidwood14 February 2023 21:25
