AC Milan v Rennes result - Loftus-Cheek gives Milan commanding advantage in Europa League knockouts

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek gave AC Milan one foot in the Europa League Round of 16 with a well-taken brace before Rafael Leao heaped more misery on Rennes who have a three-goal mountain to climb in the return leg next week.

Milan looked a handful for Rennes right from the opening stages of the game with Leao, Tijjani Reijnders and Yumus Musah going close to scoring before Loftus-Cheek broke the dam just after the half-hour mark.

He hit his fifth and sixth goals in eight games against Rennes, both coming from confident headers that reflect his purple patch before Rafael Leao - not always the calmest in front of goal - all but ended the tie with a clinical third.

Rennes’ substitute striker Amine Gouiri did bring some life to the French side with 20 minutes to go and may well have played himself into the starting 11 for the home leg, but they’ll need much more than that after being completely outmatched by Milan.

It could’ve been even more than a three-goal deficit too, had Stefano Pioli not opted to rest some of his star players with Milan sat just a point behind second-placed Juventus in Serie A.

With Milan seemingly set for the Round of 16, here's the goal that might've sealed the deal.

And that's that! Milan look set to advance to the Europa League Round of 16 after an emphatic first-leg victory, Amine Gouiri brought a positive impact from the bench for Rennes but they'll need much more than that next week to overturn this deficit.

Even the officials don't want to extend this longer than they have to.

It was very nearly worth the wait, as substitute Ismael Bennacer struck a savage free-kick that just couldn't dip enough.

While we wait for the free-kick, here's Loftus-Cheek's second goal...

Tijjani Reijnders has been one of Milan's standout players on his return for the starting XI and steamed forward towards the penalty area with the Rennes defence on rollerskates.

He's tripped but it's just outside the penalty area, and Nagida even escapes with just a yellow card.

That last change for Milan means their entire attacking midfield line is off.

Amine Gouiri has been the best player for Rennes since coming on, potentlally their best player of the evening, and has created a couple of close-range chances that Maignan has just about dealt with.

And Ludovic Blas joins the forward line.

Rennes need the other Salah now

And the visitors empty their bench too...

Alessandro Florenzi has also made way.

He's grabbed two goals and now is off for a rest before Milan take on Monza on Sunday.

Christian Pulisic and Alessandro Florenzi are having plenty of joy down the right flank as Rennes push to get anything from the game. Both have gone close in consecutive counter-attacks but Milan are able to close ranks in defence every time they lose the ball.

Amine Gouiri has taken the game to Milan, he loosed a shot that flies just past the post. Unfortunately that's the only types of chances Rennes are creating.

And it's a second switch for the visitors.

It's Rennes' January signing Alidu Seidu who's on to try and change things.

Rennes are preparing to make multiple substitutions, they'll need something pretty spectacular though.

They've had more possession since the third goal but Milan are happy to just sit back and the Frenchmen can't break them down.