Newcastle vs AC Milan: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :December 11, 2023 at 1:38 PM

Modified at :December 14, 2023 at 10:33 AM

It is all down to Matchday 6 in UCL Group F

Before this ongoing season, Newcastle United last played in the UEFA Champions League back in the 2002-03 season. The UCL Group F is still wide open with only Borussia Dortmund securing their qualification from the group stages. The Magpies’ 1-1 draw on matchday 5 against Paris Saint-Germain means they now need a win and will hope PSG loses at Signal Iduna Park.

For the visitors AC Milan, St James’ Park is expected to be a hostile environment given Newcastle are on the brink of Champions League exit. It took the Magpies 20 years to be back in the competition after their last appearance in the 2002-03 season. The Rossoneri suffered a 3-1 defeat to Dortmund on matchday 5 which made their UCL next-round fortunes similar to that of Newcastle.

Kick-Off:

Wednesday, 13 December 2023 at 8:00 PM UK

Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 1:30 AM IST

Location: St James’ Park

Form

Newcastle (in all competitions): L-L-W-D-W

Milan (in all competitions): L-W-L-W-D

Players to Watch

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

Anthony Gordon who wears the number 10 jersey for Newcastle United could be the one to watch. The left winger has only missed one game in the Premier League so far having made 15 appearances. 6 goals and 5 assists is not a bad return. Gordon will be eager to bring his PL flair to UCL matchday 6 as his 5 games in Europe didn’t record a single goal or assist yet.

Rafael Leão (Milan)

Rafael Leão is expected to be in the starting lineup. Reportedly Leão has fully recovered from the thigh injury and also played in a friendly match behind closed doors. The 24-year-old Portuguese winger had scored a goal while making 4 UCL appearances this season. The player also has 3 goals and 4 assists from 12 Serie A games.

Match Facts

The reverse fixture concluded as a 0-0 draw on matchday 1 at the San Siro stadium
If either Newcastle or Milan wants to play the next rounds of UCL, they will need a win and hope PSG loses to Dortmund
A draw will mean the Magpies drop to the UEFA Europa League knockout stages while Milan’s European journey ends for the season

Injury & Team News

The Magpies will field their team without full-backs Javier Manquillo, Matt Targett and Daniel Burn. Midfielder Elliot Anderson is out with a back injury alongside another midfielder Joseph Willock. Nick Pope’s dislocated shoulder injury means Martin Dúbravka will stand in between the goalposts. Wingers Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy are out of the fixture as well. Sandro Tonali remains suspended.

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli will be positive with the fact that Rafael Leão is back in training. There are a few absentees for the matchday 6 fixture as well. Quite a few centre-backs are down with injuries – Mattia Caldara, Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu and Simon Kjær. Goalkeeper Marco Sportiello has a calf injury and striker Noah Okafor has a thigh injury as well.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 1

Newcastle wins – 0

Milan wins – 0

Draws – 1

Predicted Lineup

Newcastle predicted lineup (4-3-3):

Dúbravka (GK); Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon

Milan predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Maignan (GK); Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Reijnders, Musah; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud

Match Prediction for Newcastle vs AC Milan

The Milan side have had a hard time netting a goal in the Champions League group stages and even are tied with PSG in conceding the highest goals in Group F. Stefano Pioli’s Milan is already burdened with a shortage of central defensive players and using Lucas Hernández as a makeshift centre-back could come and haunt them. The Magpies playing at home will try and make the most of it. After coming back from a 20-year absence in Europe, Newcastle will do everything in their power to remain in European competition.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Milan

Telecast for Newcastle vs AC Milan

India – Sony Sports Network

UK – TNT Sports

US – CBS, TUDN

Nigeria – Supersport

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