A solid defensive display must be top of Neil Lennon's wish list this evening - and there's every chance his defenders will be kept busy.

The players might be feeling a bit sorry for themselves but should be energised by the opportunity to play at one of the game's great cathedrals, even if the San Siro is a bit tatty round the edges these days.

Celtic need to "find that little extra zest and zing", said Lennon yesterday.

A win would lift some of the gloom but that sounds like a very tall order. One suspects Lennon will be happy with a respectable showing and something to build on for Sunday's league game against St Johnstone.

Dreadful defending has been something of a theme for Celtic during this slump.

The Scottish champions have conceded 23 goals in their past 10 outings.

In their 30 league matches last season, they let in just 19.

These two met in the opening Group H match at Celtic Park back in October and the Italians eased to a 3-1 win, taking advantage of some slipshod defending.

Goals from Rade Krunic and Brahim Diaz gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Celtic improved after the break, with a header from Mohamed Elyounoussi reducing the deficit, but Jens Petter Hauge scored from a late breakaway.

Image source, SNS

The hosts sit proudly at the top of Serie A, with a five-point lead over city rivals Inter.

The Rossoneri have lost just once all season, a surprise 3-0 home defeat to Lille in this competition. They drew in France last week, with those two looking odds on to reach the round of 32.

Lille entertain Sparta Prague this evening and a brace of home victories will see the top two home and dry with a game to spare.

Image source, BBC Sport

This looks like a game Celtic could really do without. Hopes of progress from the group were snuffed out last week as they suffered a second 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague.

Further calamity followed at the weekend, with a home defeat to Ross County, ending a run of 35 successive domestic cup wins. That led to a group of angry fans ignoring all advice on social distancing to gather outside the ground to call for the manager's head.

Neil Lennon remains in his post but must be worried that a run of just two wins in 10 games is about to get worse against the Serie A leaders.

AC Milan: Donnarumma, Dalot, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez, Krunic, Kessie, Calhanoglu, Castillejo, Rebic, Hauge.

Substitutes: Tatarusanu, Calabria, Bennacer, Tonali, Romagnoli, Kalulu, Diaz, Maldini, Colombo, Leo Duarte, Saelemaekers.

Celtic: Barkas, Elhamed, Bitton, Ajer, Frimpong, Brown, McGregor, Laxalt, Rogic, Christie, Edouard.

Substitutes: Bain, Hazard, Jullien, Taylor, Ajeti, Klimala, Soro, Ntcham, Henderson, Welsh.

Manager Neil Lennon makes two changes following Sunday's shock League Cup loss to Ross County.

In come Callum McGregor and Jeremie Frimpong, with Albian Ajeti and Christopher Jullien dropping to the bench.

Greetings. We have another Europa League double bill for you this evening. Celtic are already out of the running, without a win in four group matches, while Rangers, yet to lose this season, are within touching distance of the knockout phase.

The pressure on Celtic boss Neil Lennon is intense after a dreadful sequence of results, so a trip to AC Milan looks almost cruel.

Rangers will make sure of their passage to the round of 32 if they manage a home win against Standard Liege.

Image source, Getty Images