UCL preview: Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan – Team news, opposition insight, stats and prediction

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·25 de noviembre de 2024

UCL preview: Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan – Team news, opposition insight, stats and prediction

AC Milan are back in Champions League action on Tuesday night in what will be their penultimate away game in the league phase against Slovan Bratislava.

Tensions are high at the moment after the team were jeered off the field following a boring 0-0 draw against Juventus on Saturday that leaves them 10 points off top. However, the switch to European competitions provides a chance to change focus.

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The target for Paulo Fonseca’s side has to be to win the remaining four games in the initial phase, which would likely be enough to get them a place in the top eight and thus direct access to the last 16.

Game date: Tuesday, November 26 Kick-off time: 18:45 (CET) Venue: Štadión Tehelné pole Referee: José María Sánchez Martinez (VAR: Del Cerro Grande)

Team news

Fonseca reiterated after the 0-0 draw against Juventus that he continues to believe in Milan’s chances of winning the Scudetto, but the table tells a different story.

All the team can realistically do is think about one game at a time and therefore focus only on the away match against Slovan, because the Champions League provides a chance to rediscover some form and confidence.

The Rossoneri started their European campaign with defeats against Liverpool and Leverkusen but have since won against Club Brugge and Real Madrid. With games against Red Star (home), Girona (home) and Dinamo Zagreb (away) to follow tomorrow’s, the top eight is a realistic aim.

In terms of team news, there are just the three known injury absences. Luka Jovic still has a back issue and was excluded from the UCL squad list anyway, while Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are still recovering from surgery.

There were some worries about Rafael Leao after he limped out of San Siro after the draw at the weekend but he is fine. Emerson Royal missed training on Monday with an ankle knock but should make the trip and be available.

The final bit of news is that Alvaro Morata has already reached the yellow card threshold and will have to serve a one-game suspension, meaning Tammy Abraham and Francesco Camarda are the two striker options.

Despite a poor result against Juventus, positives can be taken – notably the clean sheet that was kept. For this reason, any changes to the defence will have to be made with consideration, but it seems Fonseca is willing to make changes.

Mike Maignan will remain in goal as usual. Despite travelling with the squad, Emerson is likely to be dropped for Davide Calabria who played the final minutes of the clash against the Bianconeri, additionally, Fikayo Tomori is set to return to the starting side, and he should partner Malick Thiaw with Theo Hernandez remaining at left-back.

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

The midfield will not be changed, so Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders will be partnering once again, but they will see Christian Pulisic return in front of them after he was a substitute at the weekend.

Samuel Chukwueze should also return to the starting XI with Fonseca expected to attack this game, and Rafael Leao will start on the opposing wing. With Morata’s suspension, Abraham is expected to lead the line.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Abraham

The opponents

Slovan Bratislava are the most successful team in the history of Slovakian football, having won the league title 22 times and also the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1969. They have won the SuperLiga six times in a row and they are currently top.

The Belasí have amassed 35 points from their opening 14 matches domestically this season, scoring 29 goals and allowing 17, with a one-point gap over MSK Zilina in second but a game in hand.

In the Champions League, however, they have found things very difficult. They lost 5-1 to Celtic in the first round, then 4-0 to Manchester City, 2-0 to Girona and most recently 4-1 to Dinamo Zagreb, putting them bottom of the pile.

Their head coach Vladimir Weiss – who admitted in his press conference that Milan have weaknesses they can target – will get back a couple of players from injury.

The first is Kevin Wimmer, formerly of Spurs, who has recovered from a muscle injury. The other is Juraj Kucka, who Milan fans will remember well from his spell at the club from 2015 to 2017.

Due to injuries, Vladimir Weiss has been forced to use a 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks, but it seems he could shift back to a 3-4-2-1 against Milan with key players returning. Takac is expected to keep his place in the sticks, and Kenan Bajric remains the only consistent defender this season. Alongside him Wimmer and Kashia are expected to come into the starting side.

In midfield, Cesar Blackman should return, as should Savvidis. They will be joined by the everpresent Ignatenko and Mak to make up the bank of four.

Behind Strelec, who has contributed nine times so far this season in the Slovakian first division, should be Marko Tolic and the captain, Tigran Barseghyan.

Certainly, a more attacking lineup, and with Kucka admitting the Slovakian outfit were looking to punish the Rossoneri, Fonseca must not disrespect the hosts with his lineup choices.

Predicted Slovan Bratislava XI (3-4-2-1): Takac; Bajric, Kashia, Wimmer; Blackman, Ignatenko, Savvidis, Mak; Barseghyan, Tolic; Strelec.

Head to head

Milan have actually played against Slovan twice in their history already, and it was in the 1992-93 edition of the Champions League.

In the second round tie, the Rossoneri won 1-0 away from home with Paolo Maldini getting the only goal of the game. Back at San Siro, Zvonimir Boban, Frank Rijkaard, Marco Simone and Jean-Pierre Papin scored in a 4-0 rout.

The other Slovak team that Milan have faced is Lokomotiva Kosica, who they beat on penalties in the first round of the 1978-79 UEFA Cup after a 1-1 aggregate draw. Franco Baresi scored the winning spot kick.

Key facts and stats

➤ Slovan Bratislava have faced Milan on two previous occasions in Europe, with both of those ending in defeats in qualifying for the 1992-93 UEFA Champions League (0-1 at home and 0-4 away – second round qualifiers).

➤ This will be Slovan Bratislava’s first game against an Italian side in European competition since the 2014-15 campaign, when they lost home (0-2) and away (0-3) in the UEFA Europa League group stage against Napoli.

➤ Milan’s last game in major European competition against a Slovakian side dates back to the 1978-79 season – after two legs, the Italians needed a penalty shootout to progress past Lokomotiva Kosice in the first round of the UEFA Cup (1-1 on aggregate, won 7-6 on penalties).

➤ After victories over Club Brugge and Real Madrid, Milan are looking to win three consecutive matches in major European competition for the first time since February 2023. The last time they won three such matches in a row by 2+ goals was in April 2005 (3); a season in which they finished as UEFA Champions League runners-up.

➤ Slovan Bratislava have lost each of their last seven games in major European competition, while only once have they had a longer such losing streak (nine games between November 2011 and December 2014).

➤ Courtesy of 3-1 victories over both Club Brugge and Real Madrid in their last two UEFA Champions League games, Milan netted as many goals in those two as in their previous 10 games in the competition combined (6). The last time they scored 3+ goals in three consecutive European Cup/Champions League games was in September 1989 (3).

➤ Slovan Bratislava are one of five teams who are yet to win a single point in the UEFA Champions League this season (L4), while they have the worst goal difference (-13) of any side in 2024-25 (two goals, 15 conceded).

➤ Only 7.7% of the minutes Milan have handed out this season in the UEFA Champions League have been to Italian players. The only Italian side to award a lower percentage of minutes to Italians in a season is Internazionale in 2007-08 (3.2%) and 2009-10 (7.5%).

➤ Tijjani Reijnders is Milan’s top scorer in the UEFA Champions League this season (3). Excluding penalties, the last player to net more in a single campaign for the Italian side was Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2010-11 (4), while the last midfielder to do so was Kaká in 2006-07 (7).

➤ Milan’s Rafael Leão has completed more dribbles than any other player in the UEFA Champions League this season (20). Indeed, his 20 are the most by a Portuguese player through their first four appearances in a single campaign since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006-07 (22 for Manchester United).

Ones to watch

If the hosts are to have a successful evening, it will likely be as a result of Tigran Barseghyan’s influence, and Milan must show him the respect he deserves. The midfielder has made 14 contributions this season, and if allowed the space to dictate attacks, he could add to this season’s catalogue.

For the visitors, we must see something more from Tammy Abraham. This season has not been easy for the Englishman, and neither have recent years. However, elite football can be a ruthless business, and if the striker wants to extend his stay in Milano, goals and performances have to start coming. Tuesday could be a golden ticket, but it remains to see if he will cash it in.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Another player who has to show more is Davide Calabria. Minutes have been rare for the Italian, and with Emerson potentially being rested, it serves as a golden opportunity for him to perhaps find himself a place within the team.

Cliche, yes, but the biggest one to watch in this game is Fonseca. The pressure is undoubtedly building, and the Diavolo must be assertive in their performance. A win is necessary, but it cannot be a passable performance, the Portuguese head coach, and in fairness, the squad, must prove themselves.

Prediction

As previously stated, Milan have a job to do, and unfortunately for them, just doing it will not be enough. Fans are beginning to display their frustrations, and the Rossoneri cannot let this boil into something larger. For this reason, a dominant performance is a must, and failing to deliver that will only add fuel to the fire.

Slovan Bratislava 1-3 AC Milan