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Match Highlights & Full Match – available after the game end
After a two-week break on Tuesday, the eighth finals rematch matches are returning and with them the excitement of the Champions League competition, so we begin our analysis with a match that is played in Madrid, where the home team, Atletico Madrid at their Estadio Vicente Calderón defends a 1-0 advantage from the first match against the Italian, AC Milan.
The Rossoneri had their chances in the first match, and on several occasion were closer to score a goal, but a Diego Costa header seven minutes from time at San Siro, continued struggling of the Italian side. Namely, the Italian giant, the whole season doesn’t play very good, and that was the reason that now their ex coach Allegri, was sent of, and the AC Milan star, Clarence Seedorf was pointed as the new coach, and sat on the “hot bench” without any coaching experience. Names like Honda,Adel Taarabt and Essien were brought to help the fallen giant to stand up, but the struggling continues.
AC Milan currently occupies the 10th place in the Italian Serie A and recently Udinese knocked them up from the Coppa Italia, meaning in Madrid the Rossoneri will be looking to save the season, against the superb Diego Simeone’s side, Atletico Madrid who is doing just fine this season, so the soccer betting odds are not in a favour of AC Milan. Namely, Simeone’s team is playing one of the best football in Europe, and currently the occupied the second position in domestic competition, having 3 points less than the leading Real Madrid and 1 point more than Barcelona FC.
Result which together with the Champions league run, Atletico Madrid did not have in many years, and when we said the Spanish club, still have to lose their first game in Champions league, then this proves the fact, how actually they are playing good. Led by Diego Costa, who netted 5 goals so far in Champions league, at home Atletico surely can seal their progress into the next round. The confidence is high in Madrid, especially after the latest 2-0 away win over Celta, thanks to David Villa’s double.
Diego Simeone will be without Tiago (knee) and Javier Manquillo (wrist) , while Seedorf will be without captain Riccardo Montolivo due to suspension, defensive duo Bonera and Silvestre, while Stephan El Shaarawy is missing this match t00.
Team Lineups
Probable starting lineup of Atletico Madrid: Courtois – Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe – Gabi, Suarez – Koke, Garcia, Turan – Diego Costa
Probable starting lineup of AC Milan: Abbiati – de Sciglio, Rami, Zapata, Emanuelson – de Jong, Muntari – Honda, Kaka, Taarabt – Balotelli
Team News and Interviews
Atletico prepare for second leg of Champions League clash with AC Milan
Atletico Madrid prepare to protect their one goal advantage over AC Milan from the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash.
Diego Godin said his side should not rely on their lead, but play to win the tie.
Atletico Madrid cautious of AC Milan ahead of Champions League clash
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has said that his side need to play well against AC Milan in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash, or face being punished.
Simeone says there is more to AC Milan than Balotelli
Diego Simeone has said that Atletico Madrid need to be aware of more than just the threat of Mario Balotelli when they face AC Milan in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
AC Milan look to overturn 1-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid
AC Milan, having lost the home leg, 1-0 face Atletico Madrid in the return encounter of their Champions League round-of-16 tie in the Spanish capital on Tuesday.
The Italians have endured a dismal domestic campaign and travel to the Vicente Calderon stadium on the back of Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Udinese.
Essien jokes Milan will be fine as long as Atletico fans stay off the pitch