The five key battles that could win or lose the game for Milan against Slovan Bratislava | OneFootball

AC Milan’s European campaign continues tonight in the Slovakian capital as they take on Slovan Bratislava at the Štadión Tehelné pole.

The mood surrounding Milan is once again on a bit of a knife edge given they were jeered off the field following a dreadful 0-0 draw against Juventus on Saturday, one that leaves them 10 points off top spot in Serie A.

The Champions League is a different competition though, and the aim has to be for Paulo Fonseca’s side to win the remaining four games in the league phase. That would likely be enough to get them a place in the top eight and thus direct access to the last 16.

The key battles

They cannot underestimate tonight’s opponents, even if they have lost all four games so far with 15 goals conceded, because their domestic form means they will always be full of confidence.

If the hosts are to have a successful evening, it will likely be as a result of Tigran Barseghyan’s influence. The winger has 14 goal contributions this season, and if allowed the space to dictate attacks, he could add to this season’s catalogue.

Given that he likes to take up a more central role, it is likely that Fikayo Tomori will be the man tasked with limiting Barseghyan’s impact on the game. The Englishman remained on the bench for the Juve game implying he has dropped to the bottom of the centre-back hierarchies, but this is a chance to shine.

More Stories / The Match

Slovan Bratislava 2-3 AC Milan Primavera: Late nerves in Young Rossoneri’s first Youth League win

26 November 2024, 15:45

A third meeting with the side in bottom: All the key stats ahead of Slovan Bratislava-Milan

26 November 2024, 15:20

CM: ‘There were negotiations with Milan’ – Rossoneri to watch Marcelli up close

26 November 2024, 14:05

Slovan’s back four is expected to be led by the veteran central defender Guram Kashia, who is now 37 years of age and has been at the club for over three seasons now. His opponent for the evening – given the absence of Alvaro Morata – should be Tammy Abraham.

The Englishman has not started since October 6 against Fiorentina when he was in the headlines for the wrong reasons after taking a penalty that he shouldn’t have and failing to convert it. Thus, this is a big chance for him, especially with the doubts about his future beyond this season.

Speaking of big chances, it is being widely reported that Noah Okafor will start on the left wing for the Rossoneri given that Rafael Leao limped out of San Siro after the Juventus game (he should be on the bench).

Okafor hasn’t scored a goal since the first game of the Serie A season, and his target will be to get the better of Slovan right-back César Blackman, a Panama international who joined the club one year ago and has become a mainstay.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

In midfield, a fascinating duel will take place between the past and present (plus future) of Milan’s midfield. Juraj Kucka has already had some lovely things to say about the fact he will face his former club, who he represented from 2015 to 2017, though he has just returned from injury and will look to showcase his importance.

Tijjani Reijnders is the man he will be tasked with limiting. Juventus did a good job of limiting his influence at the weekend, yet in the last UCL outing he lit up the Bernabeu with an outstanding performance against the European champions. More of the same please, Tijj.

Finally, we circle back to the other end of the field to Slovan’s other big threat: David Strelec. The 23-year-old striker has already scored eight league goals this season, making 44 for the club in total since joining. Given his past at Spezia and Reggina, he knows Italian football well.

It is expected that Matteo Gabbia will partner Tomori at the back, and the Italian will look to build on a solid showing against the Bianconeri three days ago after returning from a calf injury, though he faces a tricky customer.