Wednesday night sees Milan and Salzburg go head-to-head in a massive game in the Champions League Group E, with last-16 qualification on the line.
Milan form guideStefano Pioli’s team had been on a three-game winning streak in all competitions before a shock 2-1 defeat in Turin against Torino on Sunday.
Despite a relatively inconsistent record in Group E, Milan will still seal a place in the knockout stages with a draw. A 4-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb in their last European game will likely prove to be a key result. It was only the second win of their Champions League campaign.
Milan’s recent home record in the Champions League is a significant concern, as they have claimed just one win in their last eight games on home soil in the competition.
Salzburg form guideThe visitors know that only a win will be good enough to claim a spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League. They currently trail the home side by a point but are just two points ahead of fourth place Dinamo Zagreb. It seems unlikely that Dinamo will catch them, though, as the Croatian side faces Chelsea in their last group game.
Salzburg has won just two of their previous ten matches in the Champions League. On the flip side, they have also lost just once in Group E. Their achilles heel in the Champions League has been their away form, as they have won just twice in their last ten away games.
Latest team newsMilan will be without the injured Davide Calabria, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Saelemaekers, Mike Maignan and Alessandro Florenzi.
Salzburg have personnel issues of their own, as Nicolas Capaldo, Fernando, Oumar Solet, Sekou Koita and Oumar Diakite are all injured. Bryan Okoh, Samson Tijani and Mamady Diambou are also ineligible.
What am I backing?Milan have been overly convincing in recent weeks, while Salzburg is a tough team to beat. I am backing this game to end all square, which is a result that would send Milan through to the last 16 of the Champions League.