Key events
Tonight’s other game in Group E has just finished. RB Salzburg have claimed their first win, beating Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 at Stadion Salzburg thanks to a 71st-minute Noah Okafor penalty. As things stand, they move to the top of the group, cranking up the pressure on bottom-placed Chelsea.
Team news: Koulibaly starts
Chelsea make two changes to the XI sent out for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace last weekend. Kalidou Koulibaly makes his first appearance under Graham Potter. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also called up. Jorginho and Kai Havertz drop to the bench.
A couple of Chelsea old boys line up for Milan this evening: Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori. Erstwhile Liverpool supersub Divock Origi is on the bench.
The teams
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Fofana, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, James, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Chilwell, Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling.
Subs: Jorginho, Pulisic, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Mendy, Broja, Zakaria, Ziyech, Gallagher, Azpilicueta, Havertz, Cucurella.
AC Milan: Tatarusanu, Dest, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Tomori, Toure, Bennacer, Tonali, Krunic, De Ketelaere, Leao, Giroud.
Subs: Diaz, Rebic, Origi, Pobega, Gabbia, Mirante, Jungdal, Gala, Coubis.
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands).
Preamble
AC Milan are old-school European royalty; Chelsea kings of the new. Both of Chelsea’s European Cups have been won since Milan’s last victory in 2007; the rossoneri, second only to Real Madrid on the all-time list with seven wins, haven’t got anywhere near since. In other words, this is a match-up right out of the top drawer, yet there’s been no overlap whatsoever with both clubs simultaneously in their pomp. In fact, the only time they’ve previously met was in the first group stage of the 1999-2000 Champions League, a goalless affair at Stamford Bridge preceding a 1-1 draw at San Siro, Olivier Bierhoff and Dennis Wise with the goals, both clubs in something of an unglamorous transitionary phase. Their third competitive meeting tonight sees the two megaclubs in equally middling form, but with Chelsea bottom of the Group E table after defeat in Zagreb and a home draw with Salzburg, the stakes are high and tension guaranteed. Kick off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!