UEFA Champions League – Match Preview: A.C Milan versus Auxerre
Milan take on Auxerre in their UEFA Champions League’s first group stage game of the 2010-2011 season. It will be a new beginning for A.C Milan who exited last year’s competition at the round of sixteen stage after a humiliating defeat to Manchester United in both home and away legs of the tie. In the summer of 2010, Milan made full use of the funds and the summer transfer window available to them.
They have successfully signed up several key superstar players that are sure to strengthen their bid for an eighth UEFA Champions League tie.
Milan are the second most successful club after Real Madrid in the history of the UEFA Champions League, as the Italian giants have won a total number of seven European Cups. Such a record is highly regarded amongst the European elite and Milan will be looking to take advantage of such a reputation as they take on the in-experienced Auxerre.
The new arrivals are Milan include the former Inter Milan and Barcelona player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, albeit on loan from the Spanish champions, Zlatan’s arrival has given the Rossoneri fans an obvious boost they needed for the 2010-2011 club football season.
Robinho has been another high profile signing made by the Italian club, the Brazilian arrived at San Siro after falling out of favour at Manchester City. Under their new coach Massimiliano Allegri, Milan have won one and lost one of their opening two encounters of the Serie A.
In their first match of the Italian football league season, Milan ended up as winners by four goals to nil, however over the recently concluded weekend, the men in red saw their first defeat of the season as Cesena overpowered the Milan side to a two goals to nil victory.
Therefore Milan have already been warned about under-estimating their opponents as Luca Antonini, the club’s first choice left back came out and said that Auxerre are a clever team who put pressure on the ball.
He told Milan’s official T.V channel that, the former European champions need to make a good impact on the game and do well against the French club side. For a club which is of tremendous European pedigree, Milan haven’t won at San Siro for around about two years now and that means six matches in total. Something that is clearly not acceptable for the Milanese faithful.
Last time, Milan faced Auxerre was around about twenty five years ago, back then the Italians came out on top after securing a six goals to one victory on aggregate. Milan’s opponents, Auxerre should not be underestimated though. They came through to the group stages after defeating Zenit in the qualification stages of the UEFA Champions League.
They have been put in a group unfortunately which includes the likes of Madrid and Ajax along with Milan, which makes the French club, clear underdogs as far as progression to the next stage is concerned. Auxerre will be looking to battle out a result at San Siro but the fashionable cast at Milan will have prepared to show the minnows how the big boys play in the UEFA Champions League.
Auxerre’s player, the Polish international striker Ireneusz Jelen has already played down his sides chances of qualification for the round of sixteen. He admitted that his team were in the group of death and therefore they had a low chance of success. He went onto add that Madrid, Milan and Ajax are the teams which one dreams of playing against, so even if Auxerre fail to quality for the next stage, they will be happy with their participation.
Milan are set to start with all their stars as Ronaldinho, Robinho, Pato and Ibrahimovic are all boasting full fitness levels. The Rossoneri are obvious favourites to get the win at their home ground, anything less certainly be branded as an upset.
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