Newcastle-Milan is a match valid for the sixth day of the Champions League group stage and is played Wednesday at 9 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
AC Milan are in danger of having permanently missed the train leading to the Champions League round of 16 after the home defeat they suffered two weeks ago against Borussia Dortmund. The bad night at the San Siro, with the Rossoneri defeated 3-1 by the Germans, complicates the European path of Stefano Pioli’s team, which in a vibrant final day of the group stage will not be masters of its own destiny.
The ranking of the so-called “iron group” currently sees Borussia ahead of everyone with 10 points and qualification already in the bag.In the penultimate round, no other verdicts were sanctioned and both Psg (7 points), AC Milan and Newcastle (stopped at 5) are still not sure to take part in the knockout phase. A win, therefore, will not be enough to reach the round of 16 goal: the Diavolo, in addition to having to make a full haul at St. James’ Park, must hope that Borussia Dortmund gets the better of Mbappé and co. If Milan and Psg were to finish on equal points it would be the Rossoneri who would have the worst of it because of the worst goal difference in direct clashes (3-0 at the Parc des Princes and 2-1 at San Siro).
It is a different matter for Newcastle, which has the advantage against the French champions in direct clashes. It is therefore impossible to make calculations, without forgetting that at stake is also the “parachute” of the Europa League, reserved only for those who will finish in third place.
A draw serves no one
A crucial match, in short, for Pioli and his men, who in one night play everything. And the coach himself, who is increasingly on the gridiron, is also playing a lot.
(Almiron IlVeggente.it (Ansa)
Accordingly, last Saturday Milan also returned to losing in the league after three consecutive useful results by surrendering in their direct clash to Gasperini’s Atalanta. The Rossoneri had managed to retake the Dea in the final thanks to a goal by Jovic, but Muriel’s last-gasp goal (3-2) gave the Bergamaschi three platinum points, making the Diavolo plummet to -9 from leading Inter Milan and -7 from second-placed Juventus. It is not an easy time for Newcastle either, which is proving ineffective away: in the Premier League, the Magpies have suffered two ugly defeats away from St. James’ Park, cashing in a total of seven goals between Everton and Tottenham, while scoring only one.
The Bianconeri for now have to settle for seventh place but the points to make up on fourth are starting to become several (-7). Among the causes of this too erratic pace are too many absences, including that of former Tonali, disqualified for the betting affair. Pioli, on the other hand, has his men counted in defense (out are Kjaer, Kalulu, and Thiaw) and will have to once again adapt Theo Hernandez in the central defensive role.
The Prediction
Woe to trust Newcastle, especially when they play in front of their home crowd (although in the cup the record is one win and one loss). The feeling is that a perfect Milan will be needed to take away the three points from the English trip, with the knowledge that beating the Magpies might not be enough. Pioli’s team will have to be more concrete in front of goal: it was neither against Newcastle in the first leg nor in the two challenges with Borussia Dortmund complicating their lives. In any case we assume a match of at least one goal on each side at St. James’ Park. It is likely to be more prolific in the second half than in the first.
The probable lineups of Newcastle-Milan
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Dúbravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Livramento; Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton; Almirón, Isak, Gordon.
MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernández, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Reijnders; Leão, Giroud, Pulišić.
