If AC Milan are to perform a miracle and reach the last 16 of the Champions League, they will have to do something that they have only done once before: win in England.
The game against Newcastle will say a lot about Milan’s direction this season, even if getting second spot in the group feels a tall order. The Rossoneri not only need to beat Newcastle but they must hope that Borussia Dortmund – who have already secured top spot – do them a favour and win against PSG.
If it feels like winning against a Premier League opponent feels like something that Milan do not do very much, that’s because that is the case. The Diavolo have won just one of their 21 away major European matches in England (D7 L13): a 1-0 win at Man Utd in February 2005.
They are winless against nine other teams – Ipswich Town, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Manchester City, Leeds United, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Liverpool, plus of course Newcastle whom they drew 0-0 against in the reverse game.
It’s a crazy statistic. We’ve struggled in England even in our best eras. If we qualify for the knockouts it will be against all final matchday odds.
I will probably be 2 – 0 to Newcastle. I will be happiest to be wrong on this!!