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November 4 2024, 19:04 · Alex Sarwar

Real Madrid vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

Real Madrid vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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With 22 European Cups between them, Champions League meetings don’t get much bigger than this one between current holders Real Madrid and AC Milan, both of whom have won this competition under the command Carlo Ancelotti.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday November 5th 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 4 / US – CBS Sports

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

REAL MADRID PREVIEW: OCCASION OVERSHADOWED AMID TRAGIC EVENTS IN SPAIN

What was supposed to be a special night for Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been put firmly to the side following the devastating flash floods over the past week that have killed over 200 people in the region of Valencia. ‘Los Blancos’ were scheduled to play Valencia this past weekend, a fixture understandably postponed, meaning Real’s last game was their El Clasico hammering at the hands of Barcelona.

It's hard to tell what frame of mind the Real Madrid players will be in when considering the awful events off the pitch, but there is no doubt that Ancelotti and his staff will be working hard to try and put them in the right space mentally ahead of this match.

AC MILAN PREVIEW: ROSSONERI HOPING BRUGGE WIN KICK-STARTS CAMPAIGN

Following defeats against both Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan have found themselves under pressure early on in the Champions League. However, a much-needed 3-1 victory over Club Brugge saw them earn their first points of the league phase and potentially serve as a platform for further success moving forward.

It’s been a tough run of fixtures for Paulo Fonseca’s side, having the current Premier League leaders and reigning German champions already, with the current La Liga and Champions League holders next up. However, following this match, their fixtures on paper are set to ease up.

REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: RODRYGO FACES LATE FITNESS TEST, WHILST THREE ARE CONFIRMED OUT

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is absent for Real Madrid due to injury, as are defenders David Alaba and Dani Carvajal. However, towering centre-back Antonio Rudiger should be fit to play and so could Rodrygo, subject to a late fitness check.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Lunin; Vasquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

UNAVAILABLE: Alaba (Injured), Carvajal (Injured), Courtois (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Rodrygo (Injured), Rudiger (Fitness)

AC MILAN TEAM NEWS: CALABRIA BACK, BUT BENNACER AND FLORENZI REMAIN OUT

Milan Captain Davide Calabria is expected to start at right-back, having come off the bench against Monza at the weekend. However, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are both long-term absentees.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata

UNAVAILABLE: Bennacer (Injured), Florenzi (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Gabbia (Injured)

KEY STATS

  • Real Madrid have won five of their previous seven UEFA competition matches at home against Milan (D1 L1).
  • Real Madrid have won their last 11 UEFA competition matches against Italian teams. Since a 3-1 home defeat by Juventus in the 2017/18 quarter-final second leg. Going further back, they have won 17 of their last 18 such fixtures aside from that loss.
  • Real Madrid have lost only one of their last 17 UEFA competition matches (W12 D4).
  • Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 15 UEFA Champions League home matches (W12 D3).
  • Real Madrid have won their last ten UEFA Champions League group/league phase home games.
  • Kylian Mbappe needs one goal to become the ninth player to reach the total of 50 goals scored in the UEFA Champions League competition proper.
  • AC Milan have won only two of their last ten matches away from home in the UEFA Champions League competition proper (W4 D4).
  • AC Milan have scored in only one of their last five matches away from home in the UEFA Champions League competition proper.
  • Christian Pulisic has scored in three of Milan’s last four UEFA Champions League matches.

REAL MADRID VS AC MILAN PREDICTION

Despite Real Madrid having been far from at their best across the season so far, they’ve still found ways to be successful at home in the Champions League. There never-say-die spirit was exemplified by their dramatic comeback against Borussia Dortmund, recovering from 0-2 down to win 5-2 following a second-half blitz, led by Vinicius Junior’s memorable hat-trick.

Whilst AC Milan will no doubt compete well, it’s difficult to see them being able to keep out this Real Madrid offence for very long and if Real Madrid are on their game, they should prove too good for the Rossoneri, as was the case with both Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen. Back a home victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s current side over his former club. 

REAL MADRID VS AC MILAN TIP: REAL MADRID TO WIN