AC Milan vs Celtic 04/12/20

AC Milan will be looking to rediscover their mojo in the UEFA Europa League when they meet out-of-sorts Celtic at the Stadio San Siro.

After winning both of their opening group stage fixtures, the ‘Rossoneri’ have gone winless in two games (D1, L1), scoring under 1.5 goals in each. However, Milan must be confident of returning to winning ways here as they take on a side they’ve beaten in three of their four European home H2Hs as hosts (D1), keeping a clean sheet in all but one of those clashes. Indeed, a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park in the reverse fixture means the Italians have won each of their four previous UEFA H2Hs, with the last three of those successes coming by at least a two-goal margin. But, Stefano Pioli’s men have endured mixed fortunes in their four previous home matches in the Europa League, qualifying excluded (W2, L2). Each result (win/loss) during that four-game sequence saw the victor keep a clean sheet.

Meanwhile, it’s been an underwhelming start to their Europa League campaign for the visitors, who have lost three of their four group stage matches this season (D1). A lackadaisical defending has seen Celtic ship a total of 13 goals across those four games, conceding at least twice in each. Particularly vulnerable in the later stages of play, the ‘Bhoys’ let in over precisely two goals beyond the 60th minute in each of those four fixtures. Also, the ‘Hoops’ have not only netted just once in their last five European trips to Milan, but they have also won only seven of their 28 UEFA clashes versus Serie A clubs (D8, L13), scoring a miserly average of 0.89 goals across those meetings. Furthermore, Neil Lennon’s men have picked up only two wins in their last ten away matches in the Europa League, qualifying excluded (D3, L5).