UEFA Champions League Group G Preview - AC Milan vs. Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho makes a return to Milan, hoping to lead Real Madrid to their first ever victory at the San Siro. The Spanish giants are at the top of their UEFA Champions League group so far with nine points from their opening games.
In the first leg, Madrid managed to defeat the Italian side 2-0 at the Bernabeu and they are well aware that a win tonight will see them confirm their place in the knockout round.
This will be the first time Jose Mourinho returns to Milan after coaching AC Milan’s rivals Inter Milan to a treble. Mourinho will have history against him as Madrid have not won at San Siro in their 13 earlier visits. However,
Mourinho is known for making history and has an impressive record. All of this will make tonight’s game even more interesting.
Milan go into the European fixture against the Spanish giants having lost their first league game at home this season. They lost to Juventus 2-1, but are determined to return to winning ways starting with the home game against
Real Madrid. AC Milan manager, Massimiliano Allegri was confident as he spoke to reporters ahead of the match, saying that they had to keep Madrid under pressure.
He said, “Over there we many many mistakes in the first 15 minutes and conceded two soft goals but then we created some chances. In the second half until 20 minutes from the end we played really well. When we play these types of
games you can't afford to play badly technically but in Madrid we did. This time we must play with more passion.”
He added, admitting there was a possibility they could lose by a larger score, “In the away game, especially at the end of the first half when they had a couple of counters and at the beginning of the second half, this could have
happened. But tomorrow's game will be completely different and in our favor, although we still need to be careful because their attack is very good.”
Milan have everything to play for, along with Ajax they trail Real Madrid by five points in Group G (the group of death) and will play each other in the final game of the group. If Madrid continue their 100 percent record tonight,
Milan could fall three points behind Ajax, provided the Dutch side beat Auxerre. The two teams going forward from Group G will be decided as late as the last match of the group stages.
Tags: