Champions League playoffs: a test for Milan and an opportunity for Trubin and his team.
Champion presents all the playoff matches of the main European cup that will take place on the field this evening.
Benfica – Monaco
A week ago, Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin from the Lisbon team kept his goal untouched, while his teammates managed to score a goal and achieve a crucial away victory.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored the winning goal right at the beginning of the second half, in the 48th minute, making his team the favorite for the return match. However, "Benfica" is a conditional favorite; no one dismisses the score of the Monégasques, who are fully capable of achieving even a minimal victory (which would lead to extra time and possibly a penalty shootout) or winning by a margin of two goals or more.
Even in the absence of left midfielder Ali Al-Moatasembella, who was sent off in the first match against "Benfica." He only joined the team during the winter transfer window, played in two matches in Ligue 1 with "Monaco," but has not yet become a player on whom the entire team's performance critically depends.
For his part, the author of the winning goal, Pavlidis, notes:
Recently, the "Eagles" achieved a victory in the Portuguese league against "Santa Clara" (1:0) and continue their pursuit of "Sporting" in the league table, trailing the table leader by 2 points.
"Monaco" crushed "Nantes" (7:1) in Ligue 1 and continues its back-and-forth battle with "Nice" for 3rd place and a spot in the Champions League next season, with both teams having 40 points.
Both teams have added injured players – "Monaco's" midfielder Golovin suffered an injury in the first match, while Lisbon's midfielder Florentino was injured on Sunday during a match in the Portuguese league.
Injuries
Benfica: Ángel Di María, Renato Sanches, Arthur Cabral, Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, Florentino.
Monaco: Folarin Balogun, George Ilenikhena, Wilfried Singo, Alexander Golovin.
Bookmakers' Predictions
- Benfica win – 1.81;
- Draw – 4.11;
- Monaco win – 3.97.
Milan – Feyenoord
This match likely generates the most intrigue in today's European cup competitions.
Can the "Rossoneri" defeat an opponent that was considered the underdog in this matchup? A week ago, bookmakers who offered 3.26 on "Feyenoord" winning, and many experts, were mistaken. The Rotterdam team managed to neutralize the attacking efforts of the guests, with the only goal in that match scored by Brazilian forward Igor Paishan in the 3rd minute – 1:0.
On the other hand, "Milan," with 7 European Champions League trophies, has only reached the Round of 16 once in the last 10 years. The group stage has been somewhat cursed for the team during this time. Will they be able to overcome it this time? We will find out the answer to this question this evening.
Milan defender Kyle Walker noted before the return match:
Last Saturday, "Milan" defeated "Verona" (1:0) and currently sits in 7th place in the Serie A table. Meanwhile, "Feyenoord" shared points with "Breda" (0:0) and is in 4th place in the current Eredivisie table.
Following the first match against "Milan," "Feyenoord" has added injuries to Quentin Timber and Ayase Ueda. However, "Milan" has managed to avoid player injuries in recent days.
Injuries
Milan: Alessandro Florenzi, Emerson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Warren Bondo
Feyenoord: Jordan Lotomba, Justin Bailow, Chris-Kevin Nade, Rami Zerrouki, Kelvin Stengs, Bart Nieuwkoop, In Beom Hwan, Gernot Trauner, Quentin Timber, Ayase Ueda.
Bookmakers' Predictions
- Milan win – 1.43;
- Draw – 4.81;
- Feyenoord win – 7.22.
Bayern – Celtic
In this pairing, after the away victory of the Munich team, the outcome of the confrontation is practically decided. Bayern is just too strong compared to the "Celtics." This was demonstrated in the middle of the first match when they scored twice at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half. Goals by Olise and Kane provided the guests with a significant and comfortable advantage. Only a response goal from Maeda revived some semblance of intrigue.
At the same time, "Celtic" applied pressure towards the end, but the renowned opponent withstood the pressure and maintained their away victory. Considering that the return match will take place in Munich, "Celtic's" chances of making a comeback are minimal, if not nonexistent.
The team may shine at home, in their legendary "Celtic Park," with more than a century of victorious history. However, away, especially in European cups, the "green and white" often turn into an average team that is not even worth a tenth of their home potential.
However, "Celtic" coach Brendan Rodgers remains optimistic about the return match. The Northern Irish specialist was pleased with how his team pressured the opponent in their half of the field in the last minutes.
Bayern defender Eric Dyer expressed satisfaction with the team's reliable defensive actions and, in the case of Michael Olise's goal, the spectacle of his team's play.
Over the weekend, "Celtic" thrashed "Dundee United" (3:0) and continues to confidently lead the Premiership table (13 points ahead of "Rangers").
Bayern shared points with "Bayer" (0:0) in the Bundesliga leaders' match, maintaining an 8-point lead over their main competitor in the table.
Hiroki Ito has been removed from the injury list for "Bayern," while "Celtic" continues to have an empty injury room.
Injuries
Bayern: Daniel Peretz, Alphonso Davies, Joao Palhinha.
Celtic: no injuries.
Bookmakers' Predictions
- Bayern – 1.15;
- Draw – 8.92;
- Celtic – 16.06;
Atalanta – Brugge
In the match between "Atalanta" and "Brugge," there is sheer intrigue.
The Belgian team won at home with a narrow score of 1:0 and will now do everything possible to maintain this lead and advance to the Round of 16.
Brugge opened the scoring on the 15th minute when Ferran Jutgla struck accurately. And if at the end of the first half Mario Pasalic managed to equalize, then in the second half, Brugge's persistent pressure on the opponents' goal led to a penalty awarded in the 90+4 minute, which Nilsson converted.
Can Atalanta take revenge?
Undoubtedly, the potential of the Serie A representative is much higher. However, this "Brugge" was just too good for "Atalanta" in the first match just a week ago.
In the interval between the two encounters