AC Milan might welcome a swift return to action after Saturday’s 5-1 defeat to Inter, their heaviest derby defeat since August 2009, when they take on Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). The seven-time European champions are in a tricky group alongside PSG and Borussia Dortmund, so they’ll look to use the positive experience of last term’s run to the semi-finals as inspiration.
Ahead of their first meeting with Newcastle, they don’t have an inspiring recent record against English clubs, winning just one of their last 11 matches (D2, L8), although that victory was in the round of 16 against Tottenham here in February. The San Siro remains a tricky place for visitors to excel as the Rossoneri have only lost one of their last five UCL games here against non-Milan sides (W4).
That defeat coming against Chelsea could give Newcastle some hope as they return to the UCL after 20 years and they travel on a high after ending a three-game losing run by beating Brentford 1-0 on Saturday. For what it’s worth, Newcastle have lost just one of their last four games against Italian opposition (W2, D1), but this is new territory not only for many of their players but for their manager Eddie Howe.
Howe wasn’t sure if Milan’s derby defeat was “a good thing for us or not” but Magpies fans who were around for their last UCL campaign will have happy memories of the San Siro where they drew 2-2 with Inter in March 2003. That remains Newcastle’s only ever UCL draw (W8, L7) but as they’re chasing their first competitive away win since late April (D2, L2), they’d probably settle for a repeat.
Players to watch: Rafael Leão netted between half-time and the 60th minute in both of Milan’s last two fixtures and his only UCL goal last term – against Dinamo Zagreb – also came during that period. Having just signed a new contract, Callum Wilson is poised for his UCL debut and could have the last word, as none of his last six goals for club and country came before the 60th minute.
Hot streak: Each of Milan’s last five home UCL games saw the side scoring first win ‘to nil’ (Milan: W3, L2).
