Kalulu wins a timely free-kick in his own half under pressure from Soucek. Tatarusanu fires forward. Diaz is flagged offside but it doesn't matter. Milan have sealed the win!
90' +4
Milan immediately look to kill this game off once and for all. Kessie blazes high and wide from range after receiving a pass from Castillejo. They'll have to wait just a bit longer...
90' +2
There'll be five minutes of added time at the end of this game.
90'
Brahim Díaz enters the game and replaces J. Hauge.
Milan substitution. Hauge is replaced by Diaz. The Norwegian looks to have made the difference for Milan.
89'
Hauge cuts into the box to have another pop at goal but it's nothing Heca can't handle. Julis wins a free-kick in his own half after he's fouled by Conti. Lille are still losing. Milan are pretty much home and dry.
87'
Milan look to have got this game under control now thanks to their one-man advantage. The visitors force a corner off Lischka. It doesn't lead to much, but Milan don't need it to.
85'
Samu Castillejo gets yellow.
Castillejo is booked for his less than necessary reaction to Lischka's foul.
84'
To their credit Sparta are still huffing and puffing, although they're not creating much of note. Castillejo wins a free-kick as he's fouled by Lischka.
82'
L. Krejčí enters the game and replaces M. Sáček.
Sparta substitution. Sacek off. The elder Ladislav Krejci comes on. We'll call him Krejci I and the younger Krejci Krejci II.
79'
There's even better news for Milan from Glasgow - Celtic have retaken the lead against Lille. It's 3-2 there now. It very much looks like Milan will go on to top Group H.
Minute
Description
78'
F. Kessié enters the game and replaces D. Maldini.
Milan substitution. Maldini, who's been a bustling presence in the Italians' midfield, makes way for Kessie.
77'
D. Plechatý goes off after a red card!
M. Heča gets yellow.
Heca is booked in the aftermath of Plechaty's challenge for wading into the discussion unnecessarily. Sparta's chances of an equaliser may well have drastically lowered now they're down to 10 men. It's good news for Milan.
RED CARD FOR PLECHATY! Soucek is crowded out on the edge of Milan's box and Milan counter. Plechaty mistimes his tackle on Leao and brings the Brazilian down. It's from behind and it's not pretty. The referee doesn't hesitate to show the Sparta centre-back a straight red.
75'
Plechaty slides in to stop Maldini bursting down the right flank for Milan. Milan get the throw-in. Sparta soon get their own throw-in down the same side.
73'
Kalulu does well to prevent Sparta getting down their right. The hosts win a throw-in which Karlsson promptly wastes. Milan goal-kick.
71'
Lille have just equalised against Celtic - it's 2-2 in Glasgow now. Milan need to hold onto their lead if they want to stay top of this group.
69'
You can't blame Pioli for making a change and bringing Colombo off. Milan are starting to find themselves under increasing pressure.
67'
Rafael Leão enters the game and replaces Lorenzo Colombo.
Milan make a substitution. Leao comes on for the quiet Colombo.
65'
D. Moberg Karlsson enters the game and replaces S. Plavšić.
L. Juliš enters the game and replaces M. Minchev.
Sparta make a few changes. Plavsic also makes way. The Swedish midfielder Karlsson comes on.
Next, the hardworking Minchev is replaced by Julis, one of Sparta's first-choice forwards.
61'
The flag goes up against Plavsic. The Sparta man pulls up with what looks like cramp and goes off for some treatment. Play continues for now.
59'
We're getting a bit more action in this game now as Sparta clearly don't want to go down without a fight. Plechaty slides in on Castillejo and gives away the foul.
55'
Plavsic makes the most of a tackle from Conti and gets the free-kick. The Serbian sends the cross in and Hauge quickly gets rid of it.
54'
Wiesner leaves the pitch temporarily to tape up his feet. Sparta's right wing-back soon makes his way back onto the field.
53'
Sparta work the ball nicely down their left and Duarte comes across to punt away. Lischka retains possession for the hosts.
51'
Krejci goes up against Tatarusanu for a cross in the box but the Milan keeper is up for the test. Up the other end, Hauge rolls a tame shot straight at Heca from just inside the area.
49'
D. Maldini gets yellow.
Maldini is booked for that challenge. He's been tenacious in his interceptions so far in this game but will have to be a bit more cautious now.
48'
Soucek glides past a few Milan players on the edge of his own box but has to wait for further support. Sparta get a free-kick as Maldini catches Polidar with a high foot.
47'
There's a nasty-looking coming together between Lischka and Conti as Lischka slides in. Conti rightly protests his innocence but Lischka was within his rights to challenge for the ball. Thankfully both players are fine to continue. Milan get the free-kick.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: SPARTA PRAGUE 0-1 AC MILAN
Plavsic wins a free-kick down Sparta's left as Tonali rudely nudges him off the ball. The delivery comes in and Tonali clears. That'll be that for now.
45'
L. Krejčí enters the game and replaces A. Karabec.
There'll be one added minute in this first half.
The second half is starting. No more changes by either side at half-time.
Sparta make an early substitution as Karabec goes off. It's unclearly whether it's tactical or due to injury. The Czech winger Krejci - the younger of Sparta's two Krejcis - comes on.
44'
M. Polidar gets yellow.
Polidar is booked for barging in Conti well after the full-back had passed the ball on. It's an obvious yellow card.
43'
Kalulu is well-placed to prevent Wiesner's cross from becoming anything more dangerous. Sparta try to fling the ball into the box again and Kalulu wins the header to send Milan on their way.
39'
Dalot breaks through midfield and causes a little havoc among Sparta's defence. Milan can't do much with it this time but the left-back has shown plenty of energy so far.
37'
Milan go forward again. Castillejo slips Maldini in on the overlap and Maldini fires a low cross in. Sparta clear. Castillejo is penalised for a foul anyway.
35'
R. Krunić gets yellow.
Haueg tries to beat Wiesner again but this time finds his run blocked off. The referee waves play on. Sparta look to counter through Soucek and Krunic fouls him. Krunic receives a yellow card.
34'
Castillejo spots Maldini on the run into the box and takes a step inside onto his left foot to curl the ball in. Maldini stretches to reach it at the far post but it's just beyond the midfielder's reach.
32'
Krunic's pass forward is cut out but Kalulu picks up the pieces for Milan. The move ends in a Sparta free-kick.
28'
Wiesner gets free down the right and knocks a cross off Dalot for a Sparta corner. Milan see it out easily enough.
26'
Minchev feels the wrath of the offside flag after straying behind Milan's defensive line. Sparta's strikers are certainly making themselves useful.
24'
Milan looked buoyed by that goal and go back on the attack. It breaks down when Conti fouls Polidar in an aerial challenge.
23'
J. Hauge has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by Diogo Dalot.
Dalot's burst down the flank created that goal but the finish was all Hauge's. Milan have the lead after what has been a fairly even start to the half.
GOAL! SPARTA PRAGUE 0-1 AC MILAN! Hauge picks up the ball from Dalot's pass inside, skips past Wiesner to burst into the box and finds the bottom right corner with what looks like a slight deflection off Vitik. It's a lovely goal from the Norwegian.
21'
Milan have managed to get the ball again now. Dalot carries the ball down the left and...
19'
Sparta are still on top at the moment. Plavsic wriggles free in the box to flash the ball across goal but there's no one else in a red shirt there.
17'
Sparta are working hard to keep Milan pinned in their own defensive third without threatening them hugely. Conti hands the hosts another corner and Karabec has a shot blocked from the left of the box.
15'
M. Sáček gets yellow.
Sparta win a corner off Kalulu. Milan clear and Krunic starts to carry the ball forward before Sacek crudely brings him down. Sacek is booked. He'll miss his next European match, whenever that will be.
11'
Milan are starting to settle in possession. Maldini slips in Castillejo down the right channel. The flag goes up against Castillejo who's just strayed offside.
9'
Weisner clips Hauge to the left of Sparta's box, giving Milan a free-kick. Tonali lofts it in and Plechaty heads it out for a Milan corner. Sacek gives Milan a second corner from the first but Sparta hold firm each time.
7'
Conti gives Sparta their first corner of the game. It's clerared as far as Sacek who floats the ball back into the danger area. Polidar latches onto it and flicks a tame effort towards Milan's goal. Tatarusanu has it covered.
6'
Plavsic gets caught offside from Polidar's throughball. Sparta certainly look up for making this a competitive game.
2'
Sparta get an early chance on goal as Plavsic heads wide to the left from Wiesner's cross into the box. The hosts have little to play for but pride which could make them more dangerous.
1'
And we're underway here in Prague!
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this UEFA Europa League Group H match between Sparta Prague and AC Milan at Generali Arena.
Stefano Pioli's Milan might be forgiven for taking it easy in this game. Milan have already secured their qualification for the Europa League knockout phase and sit five points clear at the top of Serie A. With a busy festive period ahead, you couldn't blame them if they view this game as a formality.
SPARTA PRAGUE (3-5-2): Milan Heca (c); Martin Vitík, Dominik Plechaty, David Lischka; Tomas Wiesner, Michal Sacek, Filip Soucek, Adam Karabec, Matej Polidar; Martin Minchev, Srdan Plavsic.
However, Milan would be wrong to take this match lightly. While Sparta Prague are already out, top spot in Group H remains up for grabs with Lille currently a point ahead of Milan and visiting rock-bottom Celtic in their final grouip game. An easier ride awaits Milan in the round of 32 if results go their way. It's up to them to do their bit.
SUBS: Lukas Julis, Matej Rynes, Dominik Holec, Ladislav Krejci, Michal Travnik, Ladislav Krejci, Adam Gabriel, Matej Hanousek, Andreas Vindheim, Florin Nita, David Moberg Karlsson.
SUBS: Davide Calabria, Leonardo Moleri, Rafael Leao, Matteo Gabbia, Antonio Donnarumma, Theo Hernandez, Mateo Musacchio, Ante Rebic, Franck Kessie, Antonio Mionic, Brahim Diaz.
The two sides are out on the pitch in Prague. Sparta are wearing their home kit of red shirts and white shorts. Milan are wearing their away strip of white shirts and black shorts.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Ciprian Tatarusanu; Andrea Conti (c), Leo Duarte, Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa, Diogo Dalot; Daniel Maldini, Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunic; Samu Castillejo, Lorenzo Colombo, Jens Hauge.
Milan move on to the Europa League knockout phase safe in knowing they'll avoid the biggest Champions League cast-offs. If they do go on to win anything this season, they may well view this result as a key one. That's all for now. Goodbye!
Commentary
More…