Sitting bottom of Group B after three winless matches, Milan will welcome the Portuguese giants with the aim of getting their first European win in nearly a decade, with the backing of the San Siro crowd.
Porto sit third in the standings, level on 4 points and behind second-placed Atletico Madrid on goal difference, knowing well that a draw won’t suffice in capturing a place in the Round of 16
Preview
Milan were narrowly edged out to a 1-0 loss at the Estadio do Dragao by Sergio Conceicao’s men, with their transfer target Luis Diaz doing the damage with the game’s only goal. They arrive into the match on the back of ousting Jose Mourinho’s Roma 2-1 but will by all means look to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in the group stages.
The Rossoneri are one of the four teams in the Champions League this season to have lost all their matches so far – the others being Malmo FF, Besiktas and RB Leipzig. They already have registered their worst and longest ever run of five consecutive defeats in the competition.
Porto on the other hand, have lost only one of their last five away games in the Champions League (W3, D1, L1), after losing their previous three away from home in a row. They also have lost just once in 15 away games across all competitions since March.
The Portuguese suffered a shock exit from the Taca da Liga against Santa Clara but then thumped Boavista 4-1 in the league few days back, and will look to continue that momentum in Italy.
Previous Results
Milan – W, L, W, W, W
Porto – W, W, W, L, W
Expected Lineups & Team News
Milan
Franck Kessie will return to the starting eleven after missing the last game against Porto due to a ban. There are only four absentees for Stefano Pioli currently – Mike Maignan, Alessandro FLorenzi, Samu Castillejo and Ante Rebic.
4-2-3-1 – Tatarusanu; Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
Porto
Mateus Uribe succumbed to an injury against Boavista and will miss the match, as will full-back Wendell. There are no other obvious absentees for the Portuguese.
4-2-3-1 – Marchesin; Corona, Pepe, Mbemba, Sanusi; Otavio, Oliveira, Grujic, Diaz; Evanilson, Taremi
Prediction: Milan 3-2 Porto
Anything less than a win for the Rossoneri will mean utter humiliation after literally handing over the game to Atletico Madrid at San Siro last time around. Porto have the teeth to do damage but backed by a daunting home support, Milan can narrowly edge out the visitors.