Champions League: Both Spurs and Milan in Need of a Boost

Tottenham Hotspur vs AC Milan

Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan come face to face on Wednesday in a winner-takes-all clash, the second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie.  

A seventh-minute goal from Brahim Diaz gave the Italians a first-leg advantage and that puts Milan I Rossoneri in the box seat when they head to North London. Neither Tottenham nor Milan is in the top eight favourites to win the tournament with the SBOTOP odds offering 35.00 on the Whites and 46.00 on I Rossoneri.

But one of them is going to make the quarter-finals.

And it would be a timely boost for the victor of this tieas both clubs come into the game on the back of a potentially damaging loss in their domestic leagues. Tottenham lost 1-0 to Wolves on Saturday, and Liverpool’s 7-0 dismantling of Manchester United means that Antonio Conte’s men have only a three-point cushion to protect their Champions League spot, and fifth-placed Liverpool have a game in hand.

Meanwhile, Stefano Pioli’s Milan have a similar problem. Having lost 2-1 away to Fiorentina at the weekend I Rossoneri dropped to fifth in the Serie A table when Roma beat Juventus 1-0 to go fourth.

The Champions League 2023 odds reckon it will be the Italians who are celebrating on Wednesday night, pricing them at 1.60 to make it through while their hosts are out at 2.33.       

Talking Points

Both teams wary of old enemies  

Spurs fans will be painfully aware that Olivier Giroud has been on great form with Milan, particularly in this competition where he has scored four goals and made two assists. The France star is his country’s all-time top scorer with 53 goals and, while Tottenham have been in a trophy desert for decades, Giroud was merrily picking up silverware for two of Spurs’ biggest rivals. As an Arsenal player he won three FA Cups and then with Chelsea he won the Champions League, the Europa League and another FA Cup.

I wonder why Giroud never went to Tottenham?! 

Of course Spurs do have a serial trophy winner in Croatian winger Ivan Perisic, a man Rossoneri fans know well as a Scudetto winner with Inter Milan. He also has Champions League and Bundesliga medals on his mantelpiece and he’s Spurs most decorated player. He’s also their most creative in this competition, with three assists.        

Can Kane and Son re-ignite their partnership?

Defeat to Wolves followed a disappointing exit from the FA Cup for Spurs when they lost 1-0 to Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United. They won their previous two games, home London derbies against West Ham and Chelsea, both by 2-0.

After struggling for much of this season, Heung-Min Son has been showing signs of his past form in recent weeks. He has two goals in this competition and was unlucky not to score against Wolves when his shot hit the woodwork.

Son’s partnership with Harry Kane has been the most prolific in the Premier League in recent years and, if they can click again then Tottenham’s season might still come to something. Kane has 18 goals in 26 league games and he is a key man in this fixture.

Conte will be without long-term absentees Hugo Lloris, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ryan Sessegnon.     

Diaz doubtful for Milan

A 2-1 loss to La Viola was a blow to Milan after they have been on a run of four consecutive victories, particularly when Roma claimed that priceless fourth place when they beat the Old Lady. And Pioli had another piece of band news when attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz picked up an injury and he is unlikely to start against Spurs.

But that’s the Rossoneri boss’s only concern and he has plenty of firepower at his disposal with Portuguese star Rafael Leao in fine form alongside Giroud. Leao has made 15 goals contributions in the Serie A this season and, while he has only scored one goal in seven appearances, he will be a constant threat to produce Champions League 2023 highlights on Wednesday.    

History

Tottenham have had the better of the head to-head results with three wins to one and there has been one draw.

Of course Milan won the most recent meeting and their recent form is better, with four wins and two losses from the last six while Spurs have suffered four defeats and won the other two.

But the Whites have won the last three games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and that gives them the edge in this second leg. But will it be enough?

Betting Tip

At 1.96 to win the Whites are marginally odds on with Milan at 3.21 and the draw at 3.30, but I’m not convinced the hosts will take advantage.    

Under 2.50 goals at a price of 1.85 caught my eye, but I think we may get to three goals as a draw is no good for Spurs, and I can’t see the hosts keeping out the Rossoneri attack.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.