AC Milan host Dutch giants Ajax at the San Siro for this eagerly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash. The Rossoneri are aware that they only need one single point to qualify and secure their place in the last 16 of the tournament. Ajax however, must claim victory to ensure progression.
Ajax are three points off the top of the group but cannot climb to the top of the pile, ahead of Barcelona, because of the results that haven't gone their way. Ajax will be looking to not concede their 200th goal in the tournament tonight when they face AC Milan but Milan will be a big challenge to keep out after they have recently just beat Celtic in the tournament 3-0, arguably against a very poor performance from the Glasgow based side. The Dutch outfit have already came close to beating the Italian side earlier in the competition when Stefano Deswil put them ahead in the 90th minute before striker Mario Balotelli equalised from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time. De Boer's men haven't won away in the competition since they beat Dinamo Zagreb in October 2011, this was six away matches ago but a positive is they haven't been defeated in Italy in their last three trips to the country. Ajax have defeated Barcelona 2-1 already this season, in the UCL and this lead them to a winning streak of four in the Eridivisie.
The home side can qualify as top of the group if they beat Ajax tonight. They will climb above Barcelona if the Catalans fail to beat Celtic who are already eliminated from the competition. An awful start to the season for Massimilaino Allegri's men has seemed to brighten up as they are undefeated in their last four Serie A fixtures. Like stated earlier, the Italian side beat Celtic 3-0 last time out and this was a game where they bagged their 600th goal in the competition. That win ended a run of seven games without in a win in all competitions.
Team News -
Marco Amelia is expected to be out for Milan until the New Year with a knee injury. There is many injury doubts for Milan and Matteo Di Sciglio is one of them who has made only one appearance since August. Robinho is also expected to miss out and is expected to return at the end of the year.
Ajax will be missing Siem De Jong, their captain who has picked up a hamstring injury. Joel Veltman is suspended and Lerin Duarte has a ankle problem. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson has recovered from an ankle injury and is expected to return from the injury which he picked up on international duty.
Details -
Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT
Date: 11th December 2013
Venue: San Siro
Referee: Howard Webb
Head to Head -
Ajax 1-1 AC Milan - 1st October 2013 - UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 0-2 Ajax - 8th December 2010 - UEFA Champions League
Ajax 1-1 AC Milan 28 September 2010 - UEFA Champions League
Looking at the head to head, Ajax have had the better times in the last three meetings between the two with the only win out of those three.
Readers' Predictions -
Josh Lawless (@pjanicbutton) - AC Milan 2-1 Ajax
Arvin (@ronaldochop) - AC Milan 0-1 Ajax
Charley (@charleyarsenal) - AC Milan 2-0 Ajax
Josh (@vivajuanmata) - AC Milan 0-2 Ajax
Writer's Prediction -
AC Milan seem strong at the moment but so do Ajax, AC Milan will have the backing of the San Siro behind them though and that can be very influential to them and nerve racking to the opposition.
AC Milan 2-1 Ajax.