AC Milan vs Club Brugge KV prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-21 16:45.
[p]Few would’ve guessed AC Milan would be the lowest placed of the five Italian clubs in this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) after two matchdays, but having started as underdogs in their two losses to Liverpool (3-1 home) and Leverkusen (1-0 away), perhaps their predicament should come as no surprise. UCL matchday three will now see them attempt to put poor starts to both Serie A and this competition behind them when they face Club Brugge for the first time since 2003. [/p]
[p]They were dumped out of the UCL group stage last season in part due to losing an alarming half of their eight UEFA games (Champions or Europa League) as favourites, so they’d be wise not to take the odds for granted here. When combined with their underwhelming competitive form this season (W4, D2, L4), they could well be on the verge of replicating the three consecutive losses with which they opened their unsuccessful UCL group stage campaign of 2021/22. [/p]
[p]All three Benelux clubs were holding onto their top-24 spots for dear life at the start of matchday three, and for Club Brugge it hasn’t been the easiest of seasons either. They defeated Sturm Graz as expected on matchday two, but manager Nicky Hayen declared his team are feeling “modest” ahead of this trip, claiming that “efficient” defending has underpinned their recent uptick in results.[/p]
[p]Such defending has seen them register a stunning four consecutive clean sheets in away UCL group/league stage football, including scoreless draws in the 2022/23 campaign against formidable opponents Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid. More recent travelling performances have been similarly encouraging, as not only did they win two out of three Conference League away games as outsiders on their way to the semi-finals last season, but following a league victory at the weekend, they have collected 13 of a possible 15 points from their last five away trips across all tournaments.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Samuel Chukwueze sparked a dramatic celebration from his coach with a crucial winner against Udinese at the weekend and will be hoping to match or exceed the two group stage goals he recorded last season. Brugge captain Hans Vanaken has now scored in three separate away matches this season, with his team taking points on every occasion (W2, D1). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Five of Milan’s last six UEFA home games produced over 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i]Â [/p]