History of rivalry
An old rivalry will be re-ignited when Manchester United take on AC Milan in the Europa League Last 16 next month.
We've only met them 10 times in the past - both clubs winning five games each.
United first played Milan in the European Cup semi-final in 1957/58 - just three months after the Munich Air Disaster. The Red Devils went on to play three more games with the Italian club till 1969.
After a long gap, the Red Devils faced Milan again in 2004/05 in the UEFA Champions League. Five more encounters followed in the elite competition - with the next one set to be played on March 11, this time in the Europa League.
Current form guide
League position
Milan are currently second in the Serie A standings - four points behind leaders Inter Milan. The Rossoneri have a four-point lead over third-placed Juventus and have been in pretty great form this season.
However, they've lost their magic over the years. Famously called 'the fallen giants of Italian football', Milan no longer are feared like they were in the past.
In addition, they are without a win in their last four games across competitions amid injuries to Mario Mandzukic and Ismael Bennacer.
Who are they managed by?
Stefano Pioli, the current boss, deserves credit for a remarkable turnaround but don't be fooled - Milan are still far from their best.
Since taking charge of the club, Pioli has relied on a 4-2-3-1 formation more often than not.
Key factors behind their renaissance
- The ever-reliable Gianluigi Donnarumma has maintained four Serie A clean sheets this term. Milan have let in 28 goals in 23 league games.
- Pioli has succeeded in making the team play together as one, creating a family-like atmosphere in the dressing room. The result? Players give their all on the pitch.
- Players like Theo Hernadez, Bennacer, Kessie and Simon Kjear have been operating at an intense level. They run relentlessly in every game and never give up.
- And finally, how can we not mention Zlatan Ibrahimovic? He's scored 14 goals in Serie A - and he will be relishing to add to his tally against his former side.
Ante Rebic, Rafael Leao and Hakan Calhanoglu are other names we should be wary of. They're capable of turning the game around at any point - and the squad had an interesting reaction when they learned of the Europa League draw.
A few weaknesses we can exploit
- The current Milan XI is strong but they do not have many quality back-ups in the squad.
- The fixture congestion means a lot of their star players could be out of fuel. If the strong ones miss out, United will have a greater advantage in the game. The recent losses to Spezia and Inter Milan are great examples of the team faltering in the absence of key players.
- Pioli has been successful with a 4-2-3-1 but lately, the formation has become their biggest limitation. Opponents have figured out their tactic and the boss does not have too many other options.
Red Devil connection
United play Milan on March 11 at Old Trafford - marking Zlatan's first-ever return to Old Trafford since leaving in 2018.
This will also be a great opportunity for Diogo Dalot, who has played 19 times across competitions this season. The 21-year-old is eligible to face his parent club in both legs because of a clause in his loan contract.
How Ole feels about the draw
What Ole said: "The tradition and history of AC Milan, it's a great club that we welcome and it's a great stadium that we go to there, and we're looking forward to it.
"Zlatan, of course, I've been so impressed, I've got to say, by how his career has gone.
"He had a career-threatening injury when he was here but came back from that and went to [the] MLS, then came back to Milan and has really lifted them."
