AC Milan and Stade Rennais are set to face each other for the first time in a competitive match.

Milan

Rennes

Match Stats

Given the formidable nature of their Champions League opponents – Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle United – AC Milan's failure to progress from this season's challenging 'Group of Death' wasn't a major surprise. However, they had aspired to replicate last year's journey to the final four. Securing the third spot in the group standings, behind Dortmund and PSG, forced the Italian giants into the Europa League. To advance to the last 16, they now face a challenging two-legged tie. While Milan is comfortably positioned for a Champions League place through their league performance, having scored 20 times in eight matches this year, they return to a competition they have yet to conquer. The seven-time European champions have never won the Europa League.Apart from their success in the 2008 Intertoto Cup, Rennes has yet to secure any continental silverware. However, as they journey to Italy's second city, they are currently enjoying their best form of the season. Les Rouge et Noirs, having triumphed in seven consecutive games since the New Year (including a penalty shootout victory over Marseille in the Coupe de France), head into the match against Milan with their last loss dating back to their final Europa League group fixture two months ago. Recent victories include a resounding 6-1 win against Sochaux to secure a spot in the cup quarter-finals, as well as triumphs over Nice and an improving Lyon side. Additionally, they managed to edge past Montpellier and Le Havre in the past couple of weeks.