Borussia Dortmund-Milan is a match from the second day of the Champions League group stage and is played on Wednesday at 21:00: TV, predictions.
That it wasn’t going to be easy was already clear when the draw was made, which was anything but benevolent towards AC Milan. The Rossoneri, it is true, started in the third group, but after Psg and Borussia Dortmund they could have caught a decidedly ‘softer’ team.
And instead here came Newcastle of the rich Saudis, the worst the Rossoneri could have drawn from the number four ballot box. It was the former Tonali’s ambitious Magpies who were the first opponent for Stefano Pioli’s men: despite an almost total domination, AC Milan wasted a lot under the goal – the goal wasted by Leao was clamorous – and had to settle for a draw (0-0) that left a bitter taste in the mouth and a lot of regret. Qualification is already on the up, then, for the Devil, who has probably already wasted a first ‘bonus’. Now it will be fundamental to avoid at least the defeat in the infernal bowl of Borussia Dortmund, in front of the so-called ‘yellow wall’ of the Signal Iduna Park. Milan arrives to the delicate appointment in the best possible conditions: the trauma left by the epochal defeat (5-1) in the derby against Inter seems now overcome. Since that game, in addition to the aforementioned draw with Newcastle, three consecutive victories (Verona, Cagliari and Lazio) and just as many convincing performances have come from Theo Hernandez and his team-mates, back on top of the Serie A standings, arm in arm with their Nerazzurri cousins.
A delicate match
In the provisional Champions League group last place are the Germans, who lost 2-0 at the Parc des Princes to Luis Enrique’s Psg in their opener.
Kobel, Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper
After a decent first half, Dortmund collapsed in the second half: the Parisians struck straight away with a penalty from Mbappé, but not even ten minutes later former Inter Milan player Hakimi scored the doubling goal. It was a defeat that forced the Giallorossi to give their all against AC Milan, in what could already be an in-or-out clash in light of the highly competitive Group F. That defeat against PGS is the only setback for Edin Terzic’s men, who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga despite losing a few too many points along the way (the two draws in a row against Bochum and Heidenheim). However, Borussia also present themselves to the challenge with the Rossoneri in good shape, both psychologically and physically. Last Friday they secured their third victory in a row, going on to win at home against hostile Hoffenheim (1-3) despite being outnumbered from the middle of the second half. Terzic will have to do without Sabitzer but the main doubt is in attack, where Fullkrug and Haller will compete for a shirt. On the other side, Pioli is without Loftus-Cheek: Adli will be confirmed as director, Musah will also have a chance.
The prediction
Both will be playing with a lot of pressure on their shoulders: after the 0-0 a fortnight ago against Newcastle, AC Milan cannot afford to play a wait-and-see game, because a point might not be enough. Difficult, in any case, to imagine a feat on the part of the Rossoneri in a very hot stadium and against Borussia, who are unbeaten in front of their own public this season. We expect great balance, with both teams scoring on at least one occasion.
Borussia Dortmund-Milan likely line-up
- BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Özcan, Nmecha; Brandt, Reus, Malen; Füllkrug.
- MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernández; Musah, Adli, Reijnders; Leão, Giroud, Pulišić.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
