AC Milan aims to rejuvenate their struggling Champions League campaign when they host Club Brugge at San Siro on Tuesday. Having lost their first two matches, the seven-time European champions are desperate to secure their first points of the group stage. In contrast, Club Brugge enters the match with confidence after securing a hard-fought victory over Sturm Graz earlier this month.
Milan’s Challenges
The Rossoneri, managed by Paulo Fonseca, began their Champions League journey with a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Premier League contenders Liverpool. Following that setback, they suffered another loss, falling 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, with Victor Boniface’s second-half goal sealing Milan’s fate and leaving them with no points from their opening matches. Historically, Milan has struggled in European competitions, winning only nine of their last 33 games at this elite level. A defeat against Brugge would mark the first time in their history that they lose their first three Champions League matches.
Despite their European woes, Milan found some solace in Serie A, narrowly beating Udinese 1-0 last weekend thanks to an early goal from Samuel Chukwueze, despite playing with 10 men for over an hour following Tijjani Reijnders’ red card. This win keeps the Rossoneri undefeated at home in the league this season, having won three consecutive matches without conceding a goal.
Brugge’s Form
Meanwhile, Club Brugge has a positive momentum heading into the match. They registered a crucial 1-0 victory over Sturm Graz, which followed a loss to Borussia Dortmund in their opening Champions League match. The Belgian champions have shown resilience on the road, going unbeaten in their last four away games in all competitions, keeping clean sheets in each of those matches. They have fond memories of San Siro, where they claimed a famous 1-0 victory in the Champions League 21 years ago, and they will aim to replicate that success this week.
In their most recent outing, Brugge defeated Westerlo 2-1, lifting them to fourth place in the Belgian Pro League, four points adrift of the leaders, Genk. With a busy schedule ahead, including a clash against Anderlecht following the Milan match, Brugge is looking to build on their recent form.
Team News
Milan’s coach Paulo Fonseca is expected to make several changes following their win against Udinese. French full-back Theo Hernandez returns after serving a suspension. Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Davide Calabria are confirmed absentees due to injury, while Matteo Gabbia is hopeful of overcoming a minor muscular issue. The attacking lineup could see competition between Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham, alongside potential starts for Rafael Leao, Samu Chukwueze, Noah Okafor, and Christian Pulisic.
Club Brugge may be without Denmark international Andreas Skov Olsen, who is nursing a calf injury. Gustaf Nilsson and Casper Nielsen are also doubtful for the encounter. Bjorn Meijer is back in training after a lengthy injury layoff but isn’t expected to feature yet. Maxim De Cuyper, who recently shone for Belgium, is likely to start on the left side of the defense, with experienced goalkeeper Simon Mignolet behind him.
Possible Lineups
AC Milan:
Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Morata
Club Brugge:
Mignolet; Seys, Spileers, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Onyedika; Skoras, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
While AC Milan typically performs better at home, their recent inconsistencies raise concerns. Club Brugge’s solid away record suggests this matchup could be tightly contested, with both teams vying for crucial points in the Champions League.
