The iconic San Siro stadium in Milan is set to host a crucial UEFA Champions League encounter as AC Milan welcome Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening. The Rossoneri, seeking their fourth consecutive victory in the competition, aim to solidify their position in the top 16, while the Serbian champions look to build on their recent success.
After a rocky start to their Champions League campaign, AC Milan have found their footing with three straight wins. The Italian giants have been particularly impressive in front of goal, netting three times in each of their last three European outings – a feat not achieved by the club in 35 years.
Paulo Fonseca’s side currently sit just outside the automatic qualification spots for the round of 16. A win against Red Star could see them leapfrog into the coveted top eight positions, avoiding the need for a playoff.
Red Star Belgrade enter this fixture with renewed hope following their emphatic 5-1 victory over Stuttgart in their previous Champions League match. This win ended a dismal run of 14 games without a victory in the competition.
However, the Serbian side’s away form in Europe remains a significant concern. They have lost their last 10 away games in UEFA competitions, including a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Inter Milan earlier this season.
For Milan, the absence of Christian Pulisic due to injury is a blow, but Rafael Leao will be expected to step up. The Portuguese forward has been Milan’s most influential player in the Champions League since last season.
Tijjani Reijnders has been in scintillating form, already matching his personal best goal tally for a season. His ability to arrive late in the box could prove crucial against Red Star’s defense.
On the visitors’ side, Cherif Ndiaye leads the scoring charts in the Serbian SuperLiga with 10 goals. Silas, on loan from Stuttgart, has found the net in his last two Champions League appearances and will be eager to continue his scoring run.
Milan are likely to dominate possession and press high up the pitch. Fonseca’s side has shown defensive solidity at home this season, keeping clean sheets in five of their seven Serie A matches at San Siro.
Red Star, under coach Vladan Milojevic, will likely adopt a more cautious approach, looking to hit Milan on the counter-attack. Their recent domestic form, which includes five consecutive wins, should provide some confidence.
Team News
The Rossoneri will be missing several key players for this clash. Christian Pulisic is sidelined due to a calf injury sustained during a recent match against Atalanta. His absence is notable as he has been instrumental in Milan’s attacking play, contributing four goals and an assist in his last six European appearances. Alessandro Florenzi is out with a cruciate ligament injury, and Ismael Bennacer is unavailable due to an ankle injury. Luka Jovic is still recovering from a groin issue and is expected to be out until early January.
In light of these injuries, players like Rafael Leao, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders will need to step up. Reijnders has been in excellent form, already matching his best goal tally for a season with seven goals across all competitions.
The Serbian champions face their own injury challenges. Omri Glazer, their first-choice goalkeeper, is out with an adductor injury, and Ivan Gutesa is set to take his place between the posts. Peter Olayinka is sidelined due to an Achilles injury and will not return until mid-January.
Despite these setbacks, Red Star boasts a solid domestic record, having won all but one of their league games this season. They will rely on players like Cherif Ndiaye, who leads their scoring charts with ten goals in the league.
Expected Starting XIs
Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata
Red Star: Gutesa; Mimovic, Spajic, Djiga, Seol; Krunic, Elsnik; Silas, Maksimovic, Milson; Ndiaye
Match Prediction
Given Milan’s recent form in the Champions League and Red Star’s poor away record in Europe, the hosts are favored to secure a victory. The Rossoneri’s attacking prowess, combined with their improved defensive record at home, should be enough to overcome the Serbian champions.A 2-0 win for AC Milan seems a likely outcome, which would significantly boost their chances of automatic qualification for the knockout stages. Red Star, despite their recent upturn in form, may find the San Siro a bridge too far in their quest for European progression.
Prediction: Milan 2-0 Red Star
