Preview: AC Milan vs. Chelsea – prediction, team news, lineups

Chelsea will want to complete a quick double against AC Milan when they visit San Siro in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Blues defeated the Serie A giants 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last week, moving them into the second position in Group E, equal on points with third-placed Milan, while Red Bull Salzburg leads the group.

Preview of the game

Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Reece James scored for Chelsea in a 3-0 win against Milan last week.

Stefano Pioli’s squad opened Group E with a 1-1 draw against Salzburg before beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-1.

The loss against Chelsea dropped them to third, but just two points separate fourth-place Dinamo Zagreb and first-place Salzburg.

[irp]

Milan hasn’t reached the Champions League knockout round since 2013-14, despite having won the trophy seven times, second only to Real Madrid, who won their 14th trophy last season.

The Red and Blacks are coming off a morale-boosting Serie A victory over Juventus on Saturday night. Fikayo Tomori and Brahim Diaz scored against a wretched Old Lady, putting them in fourth position, one point behind leaders Atalanta BC.

[irp]

Chelsea were in a tight position in the group before last week’s match against Milan, but the victory pushed them to second place and improved their chances of advancing.

The Blues lost their first competitive encounter, 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, before tying 1-1 with Salzburg and beating Milan 3-1.

Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, and Armando Broja scored in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Chelsea is fourth in the rankings and looks to be on the right track under Potter, who replaced Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues won the Champions League in 2020-21, beating Manchester City in the final. However, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Real Madrid previous season and are no longer favorites.

AC Milan’s Champions League standings:

DWL

AC Milan’s current form (in all competitions):

WWLWLW

Chelsea’s Champions League standings:

LDW

Chelsea’s current form (in all competitions):

WLDWWW

Team Updates

Mike Maignan, Alessandro Florenzi, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Junior Messias, Simon Kjaer, Davide Calabria, and Alexis Saelemaekers are all injured for Milan.

However, the return of Theo Hernandez from injury against Juventus buoyed the hosts, and the France international will start at left back on Tuesday night.

[irp]

Olivier Giroud will spearhead Milan’s attack with Diaz and Rafael Leao, while Tommaso Pobega may drop out of the centre to allow Rade Krunic to play further forward.

N’Golo Kante is out with a hamstring injury, while Wesley Fofana is out with a knee injury.

[irp]

Hakim Ziyech has also been left out of the London club’s squad owing to fitness concerns.

Mateo Kovacic, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Ben Chilwell are all likely to return for Potter’s club.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek should keep his central midfield spot, while Kepa Arrizabalaga should start in goal.

AC Milan’s possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Dest, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Tonali; Krunic, Diaz, Leao; Giroud

Chelsea’s possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Chalobah, T Silva, Koulibaly; James, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Chilwell; Sterling, Aubameyang, Mount