AC Milan vs Newcastle Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is AC Milan vs Newcastle on and what time does it start? AC Milan vs Newcastle will take place on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 – 17:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for AC Milan vs Newcastle? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is AC Milan vs Newcastle on in the UK? AC Milan vs Newcastle will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream AC Milan vs Newcastle in the UK? AC Milan vs Newcastle can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
AC MILAN
Stefano Pioli will no doubt demand a strong response from his side after going down in embarrassing fashion to bitter rivals Inter Milan this past weekend, ending their unbeaten record this season. Losing any Milan derby is painful, but to lose by five goals to one is unacceptable and has piled the pressure on Pioli going into this season’s Champions League.
Notable former player Zlatan Ibrahimovich was present at training leading up to this match, no doubt in a bid to fire up the AC Milan players moving forward. But last year’s Champions League semi-finalists will need to be at their best to defeat Newcastle, when considering the quality of personnel within the Premier League outfit’s squad.
NEWCASTLE
The last time Newcastle United competed in the Champions League was all the way back in 2003 under the late, great Sir Bobby Robson. Fast forward over 20 years and the Magpies are back in European football’s elite club competition, after a brilliant 2022-23 campaign under Eddie Howe, which saw them finish fourth-place in the Premier League. However, to get beyond the group stage, they’ll need to survive the ‘Group of Death’.
A trip to the San Siro represents a glamorous, but daunting welcome back party for Newcastle in the Champions League, but they come into the game on the back of a much-needed 1-0 victory over Brentford in the Premier League, ending a run of three consecutive defeats. With PSG awaiting in the second round of group games, getting at least a point in Milan would be priceless.
THE TEAM NEWS
AC MILAN
The AC Milan defence no doubt missed the presence of suspended centre-back Fikayo Tomori at the weekend and he’ll slot straight back into the starting line-up, most likely at the expense of Simon Kjaer. Pierre Kalulu is unlikely to recover in time from a thigh injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maigman; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Giroud
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Kalulu (Injured)
NEWCASTLE
The hard-working Joelinton’s absence will be a big blow for the Magpies, the Brazilian missing due to a knee injury, whilst Joe Willock is also out. Sandro Tonali is expected to start against his former club, whilst the searing pace of Alexander Isak on the counter-attack may see him preferred to Callum Wilson up top.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Pope; Tripper, Schar, Botman, Burn; S, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali; Almiron, Isak, Barnes
UNAVAILABLE: Joelinton (Injured), Willock (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
AC Milan on their own patch will be expected to impose themselves on this contest and look to take the game to Newcastle, especially when considering how fired-up the hosts are likely to be after the events of this past Saturday. But whilst scoring goals has rarely been an issue for Milan, keeping them out at the other end is a different story. They are without a clean sheet in their last three matches and the speed within Newcastle’s frontline could cause Pioli’s men a serious problem. With that in mind, back both teams to score in what should be an entertaining contest, regardless of which way it falls.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
