Currently Milan sit almost dead center in the Champions League table, 16th out of 36 with 9 points through 5 games. Of course the campaign started off with 2 losses but we knew those first 2 fixtures were gonna be really tough, home to Liverpool and away to Leverkusen, 1st and 2nd in table heading into this game. We followed that up with a nice win away to Brugge then of course the big surprise win away to Madrid. An uneven win away to Bratislava and now we are sitting pretty.
Funny, before the competition started many complained we got a brutal draw, but now the same people are saying we got an easy one? So which is it? No matter the draw you gotta play the games. That we have done and done well.
Before the competition we figured 12 points would probably be enough. As it is it looks like we should be in the 15-18 range. Our remaining 3 games are all very winnable which might just get us to 18 points and a bye in the following round. Not saying it will for sure happen but it’s possible. Getting a bye would go a long way towards giving us time to get our league position back in order.
LAST FIVE
MILAN: LWWWD
RED STAR BELGRADE: WWWWW
FORMATIONS
RED STAR BELGRADE (4-2-3-1) *Predicted*: Gutesa; Seol, Spajic, Djiga, Mimovic; Krunic, Elsnik; Ilic, Ivanic, Redonjic; Ndiaye
MILAN (4-2-3-1) *Predicted*: Maignan; Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernández (C); Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Reijnders, Leão; Morata
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 3pm EST/8pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano, Italy
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount + has your Champions League action in the US. Check your local listings.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
RED STAR BELGRADE
RED STAR BELGRADE
Red Star, or Crvena Zvezda, are currently on just 3 points in the Champions League. Their remaining games are Milan, PSV and Young Boys. Not EXACTLY murderers row but also probably no chance they make it through. They do however dominate their league (16 wins and a draw and 55 goals for with 9 against) and have a variety of guys that can score goals. They are a mostly veteran group that will come in to sit and frustrate. They also happen employ Mister Rade KING Krunic. If he starts you know he’s gonna shoot…or maybe get a red. Hard to say with the KING.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ATTACK
Finding stats on the Serbian league is tough but it looks like Cherif NDIAYE is the main guy up front, leading his team in goals with 9 in the Serbian league and 1 more in Champions League. Scoring is evened out behind him with Luke ILIC (9 goals), Bruno DUARTE (6), and Aleksandar KATAI (6 goals) all contributing. KING KRUNIC appears to have contributed 3 goals and 3 assists so far this season so LOOK OUT.
DEFENSE
Not much on the defense but they’ve given up 9 goals in 17 Serbian league games and 17 goals in 5 Champions League games. Something tells me the Serbian league isn’t loaded with talent. Who would’ve thought?!
MILAN
MILAN
Expect some heavy rotation here. That is completely to be expected. Fofana and Reijnders are playing nonstop. Pulisic pulled up with a calf problem so no need to hurry him. We have plenty of players in the attacking spots to spell him so that’s no problem.
The midfield is another story. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a primavera call up or possibly a Calabria cameo in the midfield. He has filled in there before and done quite well. Bennacer is back to training but I’d be surprised if he is back on the pitch so fast. I’d like to see the Gabbia-Thiaw tandem get more work in the back but expect some rotation there as well. Whoever Fonseca sends out there will feel a wonky and make some folks uncomfortable but I think it will work out just fine.
PREDICTION TIME
I imagine Milan come out fast and hope to get one early to erase any doubt. No matter the rotation in midfield and defense the attack will be STRONG. Fonseca will send out some combo of Leao, Morata, Abraham and Chukwueze. Maybe even all 4.
Red Star will hold tight and hope to weather the early barrage and strike on the counter. I’m sure they have been watching Bratislava tape to see how they got at us. My guess is we succeed in getting an early goal. I love Leão TSOA and Chukwueze to get at least one. Maybe even sprinkle a dollar on him getting a brace. At the end of the day Milan strolls through to the tune of a 3-1 win.
Forza Milan
Lisi