UEFA Champions League action returns this week in the San Siro, Milan. AC Milan will take on Atletico Madrid in the Group B clash. Both teams have failed to start their Champions League campaign with a win.
AC Milan are currently unbeaten in Serie A. They are placed 2nd in the league table, with five wins and one draw from six matches. The home side would be looking to replicate their league form in the Champions League.
The Italian giants have scored in all of their seven games this season. In their previous outing in the Champions League, they suffered a defeat at the hands of Liverpool. This match had no shortage of goals.
Despite heading into halftime with one goal lead, the visitors AC Milan were beaten 3-2. Stefano Pioli would be looking to make sure that his side takes all three points at home against Atletico Madrid. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to miss out as he is nursing an Achilles injury. Bakayoko, Florenzi and Krunic similarly will remain out of this fixture due to injuries. Brahim Diaz has been in excellent form for the Rossoneri this season, scoring four goals and adding an assist in seven matches. Daniel Maldini, son of legendary AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, a third generation of the Maldini family to play for the club scored a goal in his first Serie A start. He should be in contention for the fixture against AC Milan.
Despite suffering a defeat in their previous fixture against Liverpool, AC Milan were threatening from multiple areas of the pitch as indicated by the xT creation zones. They created high xT from both wings in the opponent half. Both Tomori and Theo Hernandez created high xT with their passing.
AC Milan are ranked fifth in terms of successive defensive duels and successive defensive duels per 90. This indicates that they have displayed defensive solidity in many areas of the pitch in their previous match.
Despite having incredible goal-scoring talent in their ranks Atletico have struggled to score goals in recent weeks. They currently sit fourth in La Liga table with four wins, two draws and one defeat to their name. They succumbed to Alaves in their recent away match in La Liga. In their previous fixture in the Champions League, they drew against Porto at home. The game remained goalless ending in both teams taking a point each. Atletico now have just one goal and one win from their last four games in all competitions. They would be looking to shake off their slump against the Rossoneri. With the attacking talents of Antoinne Griezmann, Joao Felix and Luis Suarez the visitors would be looking to take all three points at San Siro. Thomas Lemar is set to miss out on the fixture as he is injured, while Stefan Savic remains suspended.
Luis Suarez took the most shots in the match against Porto, while Yannick Carrasco made nine dribbles. Jose Gimenez won the highest number of aerial duels. Despite dominating possession and attacking metrics, Atletico failed to capitalize and could salvage only a draw.
Atletico had multiple players in the game with high xT from passes. Carrasco, Suarez and Griezmann were threatening with their dribbles.
Predicted XIs
AC Milan (4-4-2) Maignan; Hernandez, Tomori, Kjaer, Calabria; Bennacer, Kessie; Diaz, Saelemaekers, Rebic; Giroud
Atletico Madrid (3-5-2) Oblak; Gimenez, Felipe, Hermoso; Trippier, Carrasco, Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Felix, Suarez
AC Milan are in the better form out of the teams at the moment. Although breaching Atletico’s defence would be no easy feat to achieve. Both teams have excellent players in their ranks and would be looking to propel their teams to victory. In spite of all that a draw is a more reasonable prediction for this fixture.
