The group of death is back again with another blockbuster clash. After facing Liverpool at Anfield on the first matchday, Milan welcome Diego Simeone’s Spanish champions to the San Siro.
The duo take on each other looking to win for the first time in the competition this season in the Group B encounter.
PREVIEW
Milan narrowly missed out on the opportunity to positively highlight their return to the Champions League, credit to a hungry Liverpool side backed by a roaring Anfield. The Rossoneri failed to match the Reds’ three goal tally in a 3-2 loss, which is their only defeat in the previous five matches.
Spezia were the last team to face Stefano Pioli’s men in Serie A, who narrowly won against the home side by a 2-1 scoreline.
The two have met only twice before, in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League – when the Italians lost both legs in the Round of 16 clash (1-0 at San Siro & 4-1 at Vicente Calderon) – which was also incidentally the Rossoneri’s last appearance in the tournament until now.
Atletico Madrid will be facing Italian opposition in an away match for the fifth time under Simeone in the Champions League, winning just once so far – a 1-0 victory against Milan in 2013/14. (W1, D2, L2).
Atletico’s last match was a 1-0 defeat to minnows Deportivo Alaves in La Liga. The Rojiblancos have endured a disappointing form in front of goal, scoring just four goals in the last five matches.
Their defence have conceded just three goals in the previous five matches but it will certainly be tougher to keep Pioli’s men at bay, who are on a decent goalscoring run.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Milan – W, L, D, W, W
Atletico – W, D, D, W, L
EXPECTED LINEUPS & TEAM NEWS
Milan
Both Olivier Giroud and Davide Calabria return from their respective injuries and Pioli is bound to utilize both in the game scheme. An attacking set-up has worked well so far for the side, with Giroud, Rebic and Brahim Diaz expected to lead the line.
Rade Krunic, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alessandro Florenzi will miss the game, as will Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is doubtful with his Achilles knock.
4-2-3-1 – Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Rebic; Giroud
Atletico
Diego Simeone will look to add more firepower to his side with the inclusion of Koke in midfield, in order to support to the attacking line of Yannick Carrasco, Luis Suarez and Joao Felix. Griezmann is set to be dropped.
Thomas Lemar is Atletico’s only absentee through injury.
4-4-2 – Oblak; Gimenez, Felipe, Hermoso; Trippier, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Carrasco; Suarez, Felix
Prediction: Milan 2-2 Atletico
Although Atletico have had attacking problems of their own, they are still one of the teams to beat with the impressive players in their roster.
Milan will undoubtedly score against a stern defence but could also concede heavily, as the match against Liverpool proved. A draw is on the books between the Italian and Spanish giants.