This season has offered genuine promise for Italian giants AC Milan. However, one part of their game that has fallen completely flat is their Champions League campaign. The Rossoneri head into Wednesday night’s crucial game against Porto in desperate need of a victory.
As impressive as Stefano Pioli’s team have been in Serie A, they have failed to pick up any points from their three games in Champions League this season.
Even the rain can't dampen our fiery spirit 🔥 Neanche la pioggia può spegnere il nostro spirito ardente 🔥 #SempreMilanPowered by @BitMEX pic.twitter.com/fEDozjgzr4— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 1, 2021
Even the rain can't dampen our fiery spirit 🔥 Neanche la pioggia può spegnere il nostro spirito ardente 🔥 #SempreMilanPowered by @BitMEX pic.twitter.com/fEDozjgzr4
The fact that Milan sit bottom of the standings is also a testament to the strength of their opponents in the group.
A defeat would mean that the Rossoneri would be confined to fourth place and unable to even qualify for the Europa League courtesy of finishing third-place in the group. Even with three games remaining it seems unlikely that the home side can salvage a place in the last-16 of the competition.
A 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture means that Milan have now suffered five straight defeats in the Champions League. However, two of those defeats came in their previous spell in the competition back in 2014.
Porto are still very much in contention for a place in the last-16 of the competition after that win last time out.
The visitors are equal on points with Atletico Madrid, who face a difficult trip to group leaders, Liverpool, in the other game in the group.
Sergio Conceicao’s team are in good form ahead of this potentially pivotal game, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions.
The Portuguese team have an inconsistent recent record in the Champions League, as the visitors have won just two of their previous six matches in European football’s elite competition.
Porto have a decent recent away record in the competition, as they have won three of their previous five Champions League games on their travels, having also kept clean sheets in four of their last five away games.
Forebet predicts that Milan will revive their Champions League campaign by recording a win in a relatively low-scoring encounter.