Always competitive in the Champions League

It is well known that Milan are a team made for the Champions League. Despite their woeful start to the Serie A campaign that sees the side languish in mid-table, Milan were able to turn on the style on matchday 1 against a formidable opponent in a hostile atmosphere. Thanks to a super display from SuperPippo, Milan claimed all three points but the question remains whether Milan continue their good start.

Given the numerous problems within the side and the club as a whole, it seems likely that eventually Milan’s performances in the Champions League will also worsen. Or will they?

For Milan it is the tale of two sides. They are one team in the Serie A and another one completely in the Champions League.To write Milan off in the Champions League is foolish and for this reason, against a less than formidable side in Zurich, expect to see the better Milan side show up.

I do believe that eventually, come the knockout rounds Milan will struggle but expect them to get out of the group stage with relative ease. Milan should claim all three points against Zurich. Playing at home, with the pressure to perform after some dismal Serie A performances and it seems likely they will.

The real problem for Milan at the moment is scoring goals. But, Serie A is notorious for making it tough for teams to score. It is the most difficult league for attackers in the world. So against Swiss opponents, FC Zurich, it will be not such a tough day out for our strikers. Therefore Milan should get the goals needed to claim victory.

The only real questions marks over the starting lineup is the starting formation that Leo will use. Will he give Huntelaar another chance or go for the experience of Pippo. And will Pato be included or is Ronaldinho to play as the second striker again. Given Pippo’s European pedigree, it seems likely that he will get the nod over Huntelaar with Ronaldinho playing as the second striker.

Team news

Milan are still without Abbiati, Thiago Silva, Borriello and Di Gennaro. But apart from Thiago Silva none of these players are any real great loss. Expect a similar lineup to the side that took on Bari at the weekend.

Expected lineup

Storari; Abate, Nesta, Kaladze, Zambrotta; Flamini, Gattuso, Pirlo; Seedorf; Ronaldinho, Inzaghi

acmilanblog.net prediction: Milan 2 Zurich 1