AC Milan welcome Chelsea to San Siro in a crunch Group E clash in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see AC Milan go top if Red Bull Salzburg fail to win elsewhere, whilst Chelsea likewise can also go top with a win depending on the result of Salzburg’s clash against Dinamo Zagreb.
Team News
Charles De Ketelaere is ruled out for AC Milan with a muscle injury.
Mike Maignan (calf), Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer (both hamstring), Alessandro Florenzi, Junior Messias (both muscle), Alexis Saelemaekers (knee) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) remain ruled out.
Chelsea will welcome Thiago Silva back into contention after he missed Saturday’s Premier Leaguw win over Wolves with a common cold.
N’Golo Kante (hamstring) won’t be risked unless he is match-fit but Wesley Fofana (knee) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- AC Milan are yet to beat Chelsea in three previous Champions League meetings (D2, L1).
- Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw in their only previous Champions League away trip to AC Milan in October 1999.
- Both teams have scored in all three meetings in all UEFA competitions at San Siro Stadium, with AC Milan scoring four goals to Chelsea’s three goals.
- AC Milan are looking to avoid consecutive Champions League defeats against same opposition in back-to-back matches for the first time since losing to Atletico Madrid in both legs of their Round of 16 tie in 2013-14 season.
- Chelsea are looking to avoid consecutive away defeats during Group Stage of Champions League for first time since 2012-13 season, when they lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus who both qualified for the knockouts at the Blues’ expense that campaign.
Prediction
Following last week’s disappointing performance where they were totally outclassed by a clinical Chelsea attack, AC Milan now have to take the attacking positives of Saturday’s win over Juventus and show better defensive quality than they did at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea meanwhile absolutely dominated Wolves at the weekend with clinical finishing proving crucial amidst several wasted chances, yet they probably won’t be able to control this game like they did at home nor against Wolves so patience will be vital.
With that in mind, I do expect a tough battle given the tightness of this group but if Chelsea can replicate their last two performances, albeit this time away from home then I can see another comfortable Blues win but AC Milan should be better than they were in London and possibly snatch a draw.
Prediction: AC Milan 1-1 Chelsea
Result: AC Milan 0-2 Chelsea
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