Milan vs Club Brugge
UEFA Champions League, KO: 17:45 Oct 22, 2024, San Siro
AC Milan go head-to-head against Club Brugge on Monday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Udinese, Milan will look to give fans yet another reason to celebrate when they take on Club Brugge in the Champions League round 3. The Rossoneri are eyeing their first win of the process and they have no other option but to go all guns blazing at the Belgian champions. Tammy Abraham is unlikely to be risked after limping off with injury in the last Serie A game, while the likes of Bennacer, Calabria, Florenzi, and Sportiello remain on the sidelines with injuries.
Club Brugge, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-1 win over Westerlo, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against AC Milan, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home. As Paulo Fonseca’s troops have been impressive at their San Siro this term, home win should be considered. Dutch defender Bjorn Meijer should be the only absentee in the away team.
How the bookies view it: Milan on the money
AC Milan have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies and are priced at 4/9 by JLPH to claim the win. A victory for Club Brugge is valued at 11/2 by WK777, who is also offering odds of 100/30 for a draw.
Highlighted Player (Christian Pulisic):
Christian Pulisic is an American professional footballer who plays in the English Premier League with Chelsea. Born in Pennsylvania on the 18th of September, 1998, the talented midfielder joined Brackley Town’s youth setup in 2005. He then went on to feature for Michigan Rush and PA classics before being recruited by Bundesliga outfit Borrusia Dortmund in February 2015.
Impressed with the rate of his progression at their academy, BVB integrated the teenager into their first team over the winter break. On the 30th of January, 2015, Pulisic made his professional debut at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute in Dortmund’s 2-0 home win against Ingolstadt in the league. He then went on to score his first professional goal three months later in a 3-0 league win over Hamburger SV. Before joining English club Chelsea in 2018, Pulisic played a total of 4 seasons at Dortmund, three of which were as a full-time player and the last one on loan from the Blues.
The 21-year-old is now back at Chelsea for the 19/20 season and is currently on a contract that expires in 2024. Pulisic’s club career honors include winning the 16/17 DFB Pokal with Dortmund. Additionally, Pulisic initially represented the USA at the under-15 and under-17 level before getting called up to the senior squad. He made his senior debut on the 29th of March,2016, as a substitute in USA’s 4-0 thumping of Guatemala in the CONCACAF World cup qualifiers.
Head to head: Shared spoils
AC Milan and Club Brugge met during the group stage of the Champions League back in the 2003-04 season, with each team claiming a 1-0 win in the away leg.
Highlighted Team (Club Brugge):
Founded in 1891, Belgium giants Club Brugge are one of the most decorated football clubs in the country. Also known as Blauw-Zwart due to their Blue and Black colours, Club Brugge have been crown champions of Belgium on 14 occasions which is second to Anderlecht.
Through their long-lasting history Club Brugge have enjoyed fair amount of European success.to this day in football history Club Brugge holds the European record number of consecutive participation in the UEFA Europa league – 20. The Blauw-Zwart have reached two European finals and two semi-finals so far. What is more, Club Brugge are the only Belgian side ever to play in the final of the European Cup so far, losing to Liverpool in the 1978 season.
Players to watch: Pulisic in the mix
Christian Pulisic was not on target last weekend but does not go too long without finding the net. The forward has six goals in the last eight matches across all competitions and is priced at 21/10 by WIN96 to find the net on Tuesday.
Andreas Skov Olsen often features in attack for Brugge and could be worth keeping an eye on. The forward has four goals this season and is priced at 18/5 by BW777 to get on the score sheet.
Probable line-ups
Tammy Abraham picked up an injury in the win over Udinese and is ruled out for AC Milan on Tuesday. The likes of Rafael Leao and Fikayo Tomori could be set to play from the beginning after starting from the bench last weekend.
Ferran Jugtla and Skov Olsen could return to the team for Club Brugge having started on the bench on Saturday. Tzolis should continue in midfield while Brandon Mechele is set to retain his place at the back.
AC Milan: Maignan, Hernandez, Thiaw, Tomori, Royal, Reijnders, Fofana, Leao, Pulisic, Chukwueze, Morata
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Spileers, Mechele, De Cuypers, Onyedika, Jashiri, Skov Olsen, Vanakin, Tzolis, Jugtla
