AC Milan Vs Red Star Belgrade
Thursday 25th February 2021 – 20:00
UEFA Europa League, Round of 32
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 22nd February 2021)
Preview: Ahead of the return leg at the San Siro, this tie between AC Milan and Red Star Belgrade remains in the balance following a 2-2 draw in last week’s contest in the Serbian capital where the Italian side twice failed to build on slender leads.
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Table of Contents
AC Milan – Pioli to unleash his big hitters?
The seven-time European champions have work to do in this return leg after contriving to surrender two separate leads over in Serbia. Stefano Pioli made a host of changes with key attackers Hakan Calhanoglu, Rafael Leao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all named on the bench. The former wouldn’t even make the action, despite all five subs being deployed, however, the Swede will likely start now that the tie is finely poised.
Milan would follow up last week’s 2-2 draw in Belgrade by losing Saturday’s Derby della Madonnia 3-0 to Inter Milan, the latter moving four points clear of their fierce rival at the Serie A summit as a result. That a third successive winless game (D1 L2) for Pioli’s men, who would concede on at least two occasions in all three, having now lost four of their last seven competitive matches since the middle of January.
The return of several important first-team personnel should suffice in ensuring the Rossoneri avoid a shock upset here. Yet confidence is undoubtedly low right now, while the performance last week against the ten men of Red Star Belgrade was concerning. Milan do boast a positive record at home in this season’s competition, though, with wins over Sparta Prague (3-0) and Celtic (4-2) offsetting a 3-0 defeat to Lille.
Red Star Belgrade – Serbians up for the fight?
A man down and trailing 2-1, last week’s battling draw in the opening leg with Italian giants AC Milan will go down as one of this club’s most memorable results in modern times. The 30-time champions of Serbia are also firmly in this tie heading to Italy, owing largely to striker Milan Pavkov’s late headed effort from a corner that looped over a despairing Gianluigi Donnarumma in the visiting goal.
It also kept alive this team’s lengthy unbeaten run, winning fourteen and drawing five of nineteen competitive games since losing their opening fixture in Group L 2-0 in Germany to Hoffenheim. Thereafter the Serbian side would claim 11 of 15 points, although only four would come on the road (W1 D1 L1); beating Belgian side Gent 2-0 and mustering a goalless draw with Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic.
Red Star would also defy a losing deficit over the weekend as well, fighting back from 1-0 down to record a narrow win over sixth-placed Sp. Subotica on Sunday. It bodes well should they encounter adversity inside the San Siro, as they did in Belgrade seven days prior. Meanwhile, four of their past six matches featured three or more goals, having netted at least once in all-but one of the last eleven.
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AC Milan Vs Red Star Belgrade Betting Advice
Expect a stronger line-up from Stefano Piolo to the one named last time around, when his AC Milan side came a cropper in Belgrade as they relinquished two separate leads to draw 2-2. Red Star Belgrade will have been the happier, not least because of the manner of the result – netting an equaliser three minutes into time added on of the second half – but also because they were down to ten men for the closing stages.
AC Milan Vs Red Star Belgrade – Key Facts:
- Group H winners AC Milan (W4 D1 L1) are still firm favourites to progress against Group L runners-up Red Star Belgrade (W3 D2 L1), despite conceding two leads in Serbia in the first leg.
- None of Red Star Belgrade‘s three away group games produced three or more goals (1.33 avg), but all three home games for AC Milan did (4 avg).
- AC Milan are without a win in their past three fixtures – the latest a Milan derby defeat – whereas Red Star Belgrade are currently unbeaten in nineteen (W14 D5).
In home Europa League games, AC Milan boast an imposing record (W10 D1 L3 when including qualifiers). Provided their big hitters start, progress should be achieved – but it may not be entirely straightforward. Red Star showcased their grit and never-say-die attitude in the first leg and will like their chances of causing problem in Italy against an opponent leaking goals of late.
Best Betting Odds – AC Milan Vs Red Star Belgrade
AC Milan – 2/5 (Bet365)
Draw – 4/1 (Betfair)
Red Star Belgrade – 7/1 (Betway)