UEFA Champions League Preview: A.C Milan vs. BATE Borisov
Italian Champions, A.C Milan will host Belarusian Champions, BATE Borisov, in a UEFA Champions League encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011.
Milan atop the Group H with 4 points from their opening two games of the season thus far. On the other hand, BATE, have picked only one point from their two games.
A.C Milan
The Rossoneri come into this game with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Palermo on their backs over the weekend. Milan drew 2-2 in their opening game of the competition against Barcelona, while won 2-0 against Viktoria Plzen
in their previous game. The Italian Champions have the most successful tackling rate in the competition so far this season. However, their European record at San Siro has not been something the fans would be proud of, as they have won only twice in their last
10 games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be looking to carry the winning momentum and strengthen their case for a top spot finish.
BATE
The Belarusian side was slaughtered 5-0 by European Champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604, in their previous game at the City Stadium Borisov three weeks ago. The defeat against the Spanish Champions ended their 9 match unbeaten run in Europe.
Viktor Goncharenko’s men have the worst defensive record in the group stages as they have let in 6 goals in the two matches played thus far.
Milan and Bate last time faced each other in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup game and the Rossoneri won 6-0 on aggregate score.
Team News
A.C Milan
The Italian Champions will welcome back the influential striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Prince-Boateng-c20792
will fight it out with Robinho for the trequartista role. While, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Silva-c34903 are certain to be left out due to knee injuries picked up during the weekend.
Expected starting line-up: Abbiati,
Abate, Nesta, Bonera, Antonini, Nocerino, Van Bommel, Aquilani, Robinho,
Ibrahimovic, Pato
BATE
Alexsandr Pavlov, Aleksandr Yurevich, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitali-Rodionov-c36238 and Evgeni Kuntsevich remain long term absentees for the visitors. On the other hand, the Belarusian outfit will also miss the services of defender, Yegor Filipenko, who is
out with a back injury.
Expected Starting line-up: Gutor,
Baga, Simic, Radkov, Bordachev, Volodko, Bressan, Kontosevoi, Olekhnovich,
Rudik, Kezman
Players to Watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robinho-c31382 (A.C Milan)
The Brazilian marked his return from injury with a goal and an assist against Palermo over the weekend. The former Manchester City star was dearly missed by his team during his absence, as he has been one of their main players
since joining the club. Robinho has made the trequartista role his own and is a catalyst between the midfield and the strike force of Milan.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Renan-Bressan-c30813 (BATE Borisov)
The Brazilian has established himself one of the best midfielders in the league and remains his club’s highest goal-scorer in the 2011 Belarusian Premier League. The 22-year-old has attracted interest from host of Portuguese clubs
due to his wonderful performances for BATE. The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Gomel-c39117 star’s pace and strength might test the slow Milan midfield.
Prediction
Milan have started to find the rhythm and after having their star players back from injury, they are expected to cruise to an easy win in this game. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029, Pato and Robinho are expected to score.
Verdict: 3-0.
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