AC Milan Vs Sparta Prague
AC Milan Vs Sparta Prague Thursday 29th October 2020 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League Group H
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 3/4
Bookmaker: Unibet
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 27th October 2020)
Preview: Czech side Sparta Prague, who arrive at the San Siro having lost their previous five away matches in European competition, might have to pull a rabbit out of the hat in Italy. That is because the home side, AC Milan, have begun 2020-21 in sensational form, going unbeaten through their first nine matches of the campaign.
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Table of Contents
AC Milan Preview – Rossoneri refusing to dabble in losing?
Seven-time European champions AC Milan chalked up a 3-1 victory away to Celtic in their opening game of the group. Going in at the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead, after maiden strikes in Europe from Rade Krunic and Brahim Diaz, the Rossoneri had their lead cut in half fifteen minutes from time but wrapped up all three points when Norwegian attacker Jens Petter Hauge slotted home in stoppage-time.
It was an efficient performance at Celtic Park on Matchday 1, finding the net three times from chances equating to less than 1xG whilst limiting Celtic to 0.96. And after following it up with another three-goal haul – this time in Serie A action, drawing 3-3 at home to AS Roma on Monday – it meant AC Milan have not scored fewer than two goals in any of their nine competitive fixtures so far this season, notching 20 altogether.
This blistering momentum has been scuppered ever so slightly, then, with Milan winning all of their first four league games of the season prior to Monday’s chaotic encounter. Among them a 2-1 victory in the first Derby della Madonninia of 2020-21 versus Inter Milan. Clearly, therefore, confidence is high in the dressing room, one that hasn’t sustained a loss in any competition since March (W16 D6).
Sparta Prague Preview – Response needed after heavy Lille loss?
Last week Sparta Prague did this column, nor themselves, any favours by falling to a heavy home defeat. There were mitigating circumstances though. Reining in the current league leaders in France was never going to be a simple task, however, it essentially become a thankless task once last season’s Czech Cup winners were reduced to ten men, with the end result a resounding 4-1 defeat to Lille.
Furthermore, with no football played in the Czech Republic since the first week of October, there is also a case that their teams are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to match sharpness compared with their European counterparts. On Matchday 1, only Slovan Liberec – whom were 1-0 victors at home to Belgian side Gent – avoided defeat, with reigning champions Slavia Praha beaten in Israel.
The fortunes of a Sparta Prague team who haven’t played a competitive match for the best part of three weeks, but have, nonetheless, made a flawless start to the new domestic season with six wins from six, is unlikely to improve on Thursday. This is because of a lousy away record in European competition, losing each of the last five such matches and winning one of the past ten (W1 D1 L8).
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AC Milan Vs Sparta Prague Betting Advice
After featuring in a pulsating 3-3 draw with AS Roma three days earlier, a result which halted their 100% record domestically, it wouldn’t be a surprise – though not confirmed in any way – were AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli to rotate here. Zlatan Ibrahimovic played the full 90 minutes in that aforementioned encounter, scoring twice to take his tally for the campaign to seven in five games, but at 39 requires careful management.
AC Milan Vs Sparta Prague – Key Facts
- The Rossoneri may have been held last time out, in a 3-3 Serie A draw at home to AS Roma, but their long unbeaten run stretches on, now at 22 games (W16 D6) in all competitions.
- Sparta Prague had won all seven competitive matches in 2020-21 prior to their crushing 4-1 loss at home to Lille in their Group H opener.
- AC Milan have never lost to Sparta Prague in six previous meetings (W4 D2; W2 as home side) and boast five wins from five at home versus Czech opposition.
AC Milan have averaged 2.22 goals per game this season. Sparta Prague are not to be underestimated either, with their European pedigree renowned. The Czech side lost their way in their group opener, producing an erroneous display at the back after losing a man early doors, but did at least preserve their record of having scored in all eight competitive matches in 2020-21 despite playing with a man less.
Best Betting Odds – AC Milan Vs Sparta Prague
AC Milan – 4/11 (Bet365)
Draw – 9/2 (BetFred)
Sparta Prague – 15/2 (Unibet)
