(Football news) Les Rennais had an uphill battle returning to Roazhon Park after Milan easily won the first leg of their playoff knockout round match. Following two headers from Ruben Loftus-Cheek to take the lead in last week’s match, which Rafael Leao scored in the 53rd minute, Milan finished with a 3-0 triumph at San Siro, securing their trip to France as heavy favourites to advance.

As their comeback to continental competition after losing the Champions League went according to plan, Loftus-Cheek became the first player for the Rossoneri to score twice in a European knockout game in about 17 years.

Finishing third in a tough group, behind Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, saw the Italian giants drop down into the Europa League playoffs, but beating Rennes comprehensively puts them on track towards a first-ever triumph in UEFA’s second-tier tournament.

Last year’s wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli mean Milan have gone through to the next round 39 times from 45 previous European ties after winning at home in the first leg, so precedent is clearly on their side this Thursday.

However, Stefano Pioli’s much-changed team suffered a setback in Serie A last weekend, souring their superb start to 2024: Luka Jovic was sent off for reacting to provocation in an eventful 4-2 loss at nearby Monza, in which the home side scored twice during the final few minutes.

Still within two points of second-placed Juventus in the table, city rivals Inter Milan are 11 clear of the Rossoneri, whose faint Scudetto hopes may already have ended. Out of the Coppa Italia, too, the Europa League is surely their last chance of claiming silverware this season.

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