AC Milan V Anderlecht – Tuesday, 18 September 2012 (Kick-Off: 19:45)
Betting Selection: AC Milan NOT to keep a clean sheet @ 4/5 (Betfair)
Value Punt: Lay of AC Milan @ 1.57 on Betfair
You’d be mad to get on the hosts at the odds currently available, which at the time of writing were as short as 4/9 in places. AC Milan may well be seven-time European champions. However, in many circles they are no longer considered to be a continental powerhouse; since they were last crowned champions of Europe, in 2006/07, the Rossoneri have failed to progress any further than the last-eight. Moreover, more and more of their stellar names are being allowed to depart for seemingly bigger and better things elsewhere, with the Milanese giants offloading both Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the summer. The effects of which have already been evident this season.
The domestic campaign remains in the embryonic stage, however Milan already find themselves as many as six points adrift of the title protagonists in Serie A after suffering two defeats in their opening three league fixtures, the latest of which occurring at the weekend to newly-promoted Sampdoria. What is truly galling for fans is that both reverses came at home, at the San Siro, a venue some will argue is no longer viewed as a fortress. CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor recorded impressive victories there in last season’s Champions League group stage, albeit over AC’s fierce rivals Inter, but the former were hardly convincing in their 2-0 triumphs over lowly Bate Borisov (Belarus) and Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic). Plus, neither Milanese club has registered a win at home, domestically, so far this season.
There is no question, though, that AC Milan’s talent in the personnel stakes outweighs that of their opponents Anderlecht, who should be respected as the current Belgian champions, but, nevertheless, the visitors should not be overawed by the occasion on Tuesday. This is a club who have enjoyed many campaigns in European competitions, in both the Champions League and Europa League in recent times, meaning they have strutted their stuff at some of the most revered and notorious venues around. And in last term’s Europa League, the Belgian side blitzed their group by winning all six matches – including away triumphs in Austria (beating Sturm Graz 2-0), Greece (beating AEK Athens 2-1) and even Russia (beating Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0) – finishing as the most prolific qualifiers with 18 goals scored and just 5 conceded.
So there is plenty of evidence available to us to suggest AC Milan – who will be without midfielder Ricardo Montolivo, and are low on ammunition up top due to the absences of Brazilian duo Alex Pato and Robinho – are there to be opposed. What is also very encouraging, from a visiting perspective, is this Anderlecht side – one sat second in the new Belgian Pro League, having made an unbeaten seven-game start – bears a strong resemblance to last season’s which was so impressive on all fronts, particularly in Europe, where they were eventually edged out in the EL Round of 32 by AZ Alkmaar.
Laying the hosts won’t set you back much – AC Milan can be layed at 1.57 on Betfair – although a better bet could be Anderlecht netting at least once, with the same firm offering fixed odds of 4/5 on AC Milan NOT keeping a clean sheet. Strikers Mbokani and Kanu will pose a threat throughout in attack, both in the air (both are 6ft+) and on the deck, while 31-year-old Milan Jovanovic’s guile and nous slightly deeper could also aid their cause.
However, the player to watch could be wide man Guillame Gillet – the Belgian international is renowned for his marauding runs forward and any amount of success the visitors may enjoy in the Italian capital could depend on the quality of his service. The 28-year-old should have the beating of Milan left-back Luca Antonini all night long.
