AC Milan v Club Brugge

AC Milan Host Club Brugge at the San Siro hoping to avoid a third consecutive home defeat in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. 

Points-wise it’s Club Brugge who top Milan having won their clash with SK Sturm Graz whilst the Italian giants are yet to get off the starting block having lost to both Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, despite playing pretty well in the latter.

⭐ AC Milan v Club Brugge Best Bets

Milan have forced 4+ saves in four of their last five matches, with their opposition goalkeepers averaging 4.60 saves per game across this period. Over the entire season that average has been 3.9, despite their opposition generally being superior to Club Brugge - who have struggled in the significantly weaker Belgian Pro League.

Club Brugge’s last clash saw Mignolet forced into making four saves against Westerlo in a repeat of what has also occurred in league games against Genk, Dender and Charleroi. 

This selection was a winner in five out of six group matches involving Club Brugge in their last Champions League campaign, over which period they averaged five saves per game. 

👕 AC Milan v Club Brugge Predicted XI

🔍 AC Milan v Club Brugge Players to Watch

🔴 Rafael Leao

Rafael Leao is averaging an impressive 1.75 shots on target per 90 in the league this term, making it a real surprise he’s been priced as generously as this.

He’s tested the keeper at least once in six out of seven in the league, including each of the last five, despite playing just 21 minutes in one of those clashes, against Lazio. The Portuguese winger was also one of only two Milan players who managed a shot on goal at Anfield in their first Champions League clash.

🔴 Christian Pulisic

Pulisic is the only player in Serie A to have 10+ goals (17) and 10+ assists (11) since the start of last season. The ex-Chelsea man has registered at least one goal contribution in eight of his last nine games for Milan.

Club Brugge have kept just one clean sheet in their last six, conceding three to Dortmund and four to Gent in their only relatively tough games over the period.

📂 AC Milan v Club Brugge Cheat Sheet

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Not only that, but we also have a selection of both teams to score tips, along with player prop market predictions to fold into bet builders, like our card betting tips, player shots on target tips, fouls betting tips, and anytime goalscorer tips.

💻 AC Milan v Club Brugge Form and Tactics

Under Fonseca, Milan generally line up in a 4-2-3-1, with a tactical emphasis in the build-up on exploiting spaces between the lines. Milan typically look to create overloads in central areas, often by pushing Theo Hernandez higher up the pitch to support the midfield.

Loftus-Cheek is the main man responsible for progressing the ball from defence into attack, utilising his ability to carry the ball forward quickly in transition. Alongside him will be Tijjani Reijnders whose passing and recycling of possession is also integral in Milan’s buildup.

Up front, Leao is given plenty of creative freedom as he over and underlaps with Theo Hernandez to create width before cutting in to shoot. He’s quite happy to do this from range when necessary, with over a third of his 23 league shots coming from outside the box.

That said, given the likely gulf in quality between the sides, Milan are more likely to attempt to break Club Brugge down. This could prove tricky given Nicky Hayen tends to set Club Brugge up in, and maintain a rigid 4-2-3-1 or sometimes 4-1-4-1. They strike a fine balance between maintaining excellent defensive shape and operating a very aggressive press, which could hurt Milan.

In all probability, most of their chances are likely to come from forcing defensive errors through this press, or opportunities on the counter. Emerson and Tomori respectively are likely to be targeted in each of those phases of play with Emerson seemingly struggling to retain composure under pressure and Tomori’s areal ability a clear Achilles heel for the Rossonerri.

🏁 AC Milan v Club Brugge Ref Watch

• Referee: Felix Zwayer
• Felix Zwayer takes charge of his second Champions League clash of the season, having previously handled Inter Milan’s clash with Red Star Belgrade.
• On that occasion he awarded Inter a penalty which has been a recurring theme in his Champions League games, occurring an average of 0.55 times per match (sample size of 31 games).
• Over the course of his career, the German referee has awarded an average of 27.25 fouls, 0.29 penalties and 4.15 yellow cards per 90.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.