Tottenham Hotspur host AC Milan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in second leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
Having lost the first leg by a 1-0 result, Tottenham must win by at least two goals to stand any chance of qualifying for the Quarter-Finals.
AC Milan meanwhile know that anything other than a defeat by two goals or more would see them advance, although the tie would go to extra-time and possibly penalties if lose by one goal in normal time.
Team News
Tottenham have no fresh injury concerns to report with Emerson Royal expected to return to the line-up, having failed to start in their defeat at Wolves last weekend.
Eric Dier will be suspended after he collected his third booking of this season’s Champions League in the first leg.
Hugo Lloris (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Rodrigo Bentancur (ACL) and Yves Bissouma (ankle) remain absent.
AC Milan could be without striker, Olivier Giroud due to illness.
Brahim Diaz (knee) is a doubt but goalkeeper, Mike Maignan (calf) is set to return in goal.
Alessandro Florenzi (hamstring) and Davide Calabria (hip) aren’t expected to be in contention as they near returns from injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Tottenham host AC Milan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday 8 March at 8pm GMT, live on BT Sport in UK.
Stat Attack
- Tottenham have lost just one of their last three Champions League meetings against AC Milan (W1, D1, L1).
- AC Milan drew 0-0 in their only previous Champions League visit to Tottenham, but have failed to win in two overall visits to Spurs in all competitions (D1, L1).
- Spurs have kept just two clean sheets in five previous meetings against AC Milan in all competitions (W2, D2, L1).
- Ivan Perisic and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have both produced two assists apiece for Tottenham at home in this season’s Champions League.
- AC Milan are winless in their last ten away matches against English opposition in all UEFA competitions (D4, L6)
Prediction
In need of at least two goals without conceding to qualify for the Quarter-Finals and with Antonio Conte back in the dugout, Tottenham’s confidence will be high but they will need the spirit of their last two home wins against West Ham and Chelsea respectively if want to get that win.
That latter result came just over a week ago and since that home game, Spurs have suffered two narrow away defeats in which they dominated, yet lacked much end product whilst too much space in defence also proved costly especially in the closing minutes.
AC Milan meanwhile have been poor themselves away from home with just two clean sheets in all competitions since November, but have this tie in their own hands with their one-goal lead courtesy of Diaz’s early goal at home before defending resiliently to the full-time whistle.
The first goal therefore feels crucial because if Tottenham can net early, I do expect them to go on and snatch a second goal but Milan’s defence will be crucial and they do possess goalscoring threats across the pitch despite their away woes.
Extra time on that note feels likely but Spurs should have enough in them to clinich the win if can perform as well as they did in their last two home matches, although their defending has to be more solid than it has been consistency wise in recent weeks.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 AC Milan (Tottenham to win on penalties)
Result: Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan (AC Milan win 1-0 on aggregate)
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