AC Milan have now performed 4 video games within the UEFA Champions League and it’s honest to say that issues are wanting a lot better than previous to the Actual Madrid fixture.
Wanting on the opening fixtures, Milan objectively had one of many hardest begins to the marketing campaign, and their outcomes matched this. A gap day loss to Liverpool was disappointing, and while the efficiency improved barely in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen, the frustration elevated.
Two video games, zero factors and a troublesome place to get out of. However, with wins in opposition to Membership Brugge and that on Tuesday, the Rossoneri discover themselves in a considerably higher place.
Reminder of the format
Historically, the Diavolo would now play the identical 4 groups in reverse order, beginning with a house leg in opposition to Actual Madrid. Nevertheless, the competitors not works in a gaggle format, however moderately a league one – which we earlier than the marketing campaign started.
UEFA determined to maneuver forward with this plan to make the opening stage extra aggressive and extra entertaining, and after Tuesday, maybe the Rossoneri are in favour of the brand new means of issues working.
Milan will now play 4 extra video games in opposition to Slovan Bratislava, Crvena Zvezda (Purple Star Belgrade), and Girona, earlier than travelling to Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 8. At current, solely the Croatian outfit sit above the Diavolo, however by the point they meet, Milan will hope to be in a a lot better place.
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Let’s take a look at the place they’re now, although.
The place Milan sit
Presently, the Rossoneri sit fairly gridlocked in twentieth place with three groups on both facet of them additionally on six factors. The three-1 victory on Tuesday has now put Paulo Fonseca’s facet onto a constructive purpose distinction as effectively, which could possibly be pivotal.
Solely three factors separate the Diavolo and a spot inside the high eight, a beneficial job contemplating their opponents (extra on that barely later). Nevertheless, ought to they not attain these automated development spots they’ll hope to complete between ninth and seventeenth to make sure a home-leg within the play-off locations.
Milan’s subsequent sport sees them journey to Slovakian outfit Slovan Bratislava – who at present sit backside of the league with a -13 purpose distinction. With solely two objectives (scored in opposition to Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb), the Rossoneri ought to have the ability to keep a give attention to the Juventus sport previous to that assembly.
Following this, the Rossoneri welcome Purple Star Belgrade to San Siro in the midst of December, and with the Serbian outfit having a equally miserable document to this point, one other victory will likely be anticipated. Once more, the European fixture follows a troublesome Serie A fixture (Atalanta on the Gewiss Stadium), so rotation could possibly be afforded.
The penultimate sport of the marketing campaign sees Girona journey to San Siro, and as soon as once more the Rossoneri will face Juventus earlier than, so Fonseca’s rotation will likely be scrutinised earlier than the fixture. At current, the Spanish outfit sit in twenty ninth, after solely recording one win in opposition to Bratislava.
Lastly, Fonseca’s facet will journey to Croatia to face Dinamo, every week after the fixture in opposition to Girona. As soon as once more, the squad should be thought-about, with the Derby della Madonnina happening on the next weekend.
All in all, Milan are in a reasonably good place to problem for the highest eight, and that would be the expectation from the membership, particularly contemplating a number of the different groups within the mixer.