Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
AC Milan approach their encounter with Red Star Belgrade following a challenging Serie A match, where they were defeated by Atalanta (1:2). Under Paulo Fonseca's management, the team's domestic inconsistency has been a topic of discussion, yet the Italians display more convincing performances on the European stage. Meanwhile, Red Star Belgrade, after thrashing Stuttgart, will play without the support of their home fans on the road.
AC Milan
In recent Champions League outings, Milan have been in excellent form, winning three consecutive matches and scoring three goals in each. However, despite their attacking progress, their defence remains a weak point. They have conceded in every Champions League match, indicating persistent defensive vulnerabilities. Additionally, it's worth noting that only once in their Champions League games have fewer than three goals been scored—a loss to Bayer Leverkusen (0:1), though both teams combined for an xG of 2.82.
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade caused an upset in the last round by dominating Stuttgart (5:1). The Serbian side boast a potent attack and have scored in four of their five fixtures. However, their defence is poor, with an average of 3.4 goals conceded per game. Red Star Belgrade enjoy high-scoring matches, having seen three or more goals in all their Champions League encounters.
AC Milan vs Red Star Belgrade Prediction
The match is likely to feature numerous chances at both ends. Red Star Belgrade could exploit AC Milan’s defensive issues and net at least once. Nevertheless, the Italian side's superior squad and home advantage make them favourites in this tie. Given the teams' scoring tendencies in the Champions League, we expect a total over 2.5.
