Preview: AC Milan vs. Club Brugge – prediction, team news, lineups

The poor Champions League campaign that AC Milan have so far witnessed will see the latter try to wake up from their sleep as Club Brugge visits San Siro on Tuesday.

This is as the seven-time European champions are yet to gain a point in this season’s group stage while their visiting Belgian opponents gained a hard-won victory against Sturm Graz earlier this month.

Match Preview:

AC Milan woes in this season’s Champions League started with a home defeat to Liverpool 3-1, then finally fell to a second-half goal by Victor Boniface against Bayer Leverkusen 1-0. With both results, Milan sit at the bottom of the table, putting pressure on coach Paulo Fonseca to secure a much-needed win.

Milan have been underwhelming in Europe for years-just nine wins in their last 33 games at this level. A third successive defeat this week would be only the second time Milan have lost their first three matches in a Champions League campaign.

Even the coach, Fonseca, hasn’t fared well in Europe, winning only one of his last nine Champions League games for the three clubs he has managed. A win on Tuesday means a lot to his team and also to his reputation at San Siro.

Milan promptly replied domestically after the international break with a narrow 1-0 win against Udinese courtesy of an early strike by Samu Chukwueze. The Rossenari were forced to play much of that game against the Zebrette with 10 men after Tijjani Reijnders was sent off. This extended Milan’s unbeaten run at home in Serie A to four matches.

Club Brugge’s Form:

Club Brugge head to Milan with their heads high after the win in the last Champions League match 1-0 against Sturm Graz. The Belgian team has been performing well away from home in the European arena, which saw them go unbeaten in the last four outings away from home with a clean sheet.

Their history in Milan is also encouraging, having managed a 0-0 draw in the 1990 European Cup and famously won 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League 21 years ago. Brugge will hope their fortunes go similarly this time around.

Nicky Hayen’s side began their Champions League campaign with defeat at Borussia Dortmund but managed to bounce back in Austria courtesy of a Christos Tzolis goal. Brugge’s domestic form has also been decent, the 2-1 victory over Westerlo hoisting them up to fourth in the Belgian Pro League.

Team News:

AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca made full use of the rotation for the weekend’s win over Udinese, and several changes may be made ahead of this clash with Brugge. French full-back Theo Hernandez will return following his domestic suspension; meanwhile, Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Davide Calabria remain absent with injury. Matteo Gabbia is hopeful of returning from a muscular problem in time.

Tammy Abraham will be challenging Alvaro Morata for a spot up front, but they could both start too. Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are also vying to make an attacking start.

Denmark forward Andreas Skov Olsen is a doubt for Club Brugge due to a calf injury. Also battling for fitness are Gustaf Nilsson and Casper Nielsen. Dutch full-back Bjorn Meijer only recently resumed training after surgery on his knee and will not be match fit. Fresh from scoring against Italy in the UEFA Nations League, Belgium international Maxim De Cuyper is expected to start.

Possible Starting Line-ups

AC Milan: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Morata.
Club Brugge: Mignolet; Seys, Spileers, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Onyedika; Skoras, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla