Slovan Bratislava vs AC Milan prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-25 17:45.
[p]Slovan Bratislava are one of just five teams in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) yet to pick up a single point in the league phase, while their goal difference of -13 is the worst of any side in the competition so far. That, plus the fact they conceded four goals in their two most recent UCL home games against Manchester City and Dinamo Zagreb will surely see the locals arrive in a despondent mood. [/p]
[p]Slovan’s losing run actually extends to seven matches across all major European competitions, which is their longest such run since 2014. One positive for the hosts is their domestic league form, with no defeat in their past nine matches (W7, D2), so finding a way to translate some of that into continental action could result in some pride being restored here. [/p]
[p]AC Milan represent a big step up in terms of opposition, and the Italian side have the added motivation of trying to close a three-point gap between themselves and the top-eight ahead of the matchday. After a winless start (L2), they could secure a third successive win in the competition here, after they followed up a 3-1 win over Club Brugge with a memorable victory over Real Madrid by the same scoreline at the Santiago Bernabéu. [/p]
[p]It’s worth pointing out that the last time Milan won three UCL matches in a row by 2+ goal margin was in April 2005 (three) – a season they went all the way to the final. They could certainly do with another memorable campaign on the continent given their slow start in Serie A, with the most recent 0-0 draw with Juventus leaving them well off the pace in the title race. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: David Strelec looks most likely to be the dangerman given he’s scored three goals across his past two competitive home matches, with all three coming in the first half. Tijjani Reijnders is Milan’s top scorer in the UCL this season (G3), which means that excluding penalties, the last player to net more in a single campaign for the Italian side was Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2010/11. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: The designated home side has scored exactly once in five of AC Milan’s last six UCL games.[/p]
[p][i]Written by David HÂ [/i][/p]