by PA Sport/Eurosport
Clarence Seedorf has named a 19-man squad. Keisuke Honda is cup-tied, while Adel Taarabt and Andrea Petagna are given their shots at a Champions League debut. Ricky Kaka and Ignazio Abate are included despite injury concerns, but Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristian Zapata, Valter Birsa and Bryan Cristante are on the treatment table. Riccardo Montolivo and Sulley Muntari are suspended. Milan squad for Atletico Madrid: Abbiati, Ameli, Coppola, Abate, Bonera, Constant, De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami, Zaccardo, De Jong, Emanuelson, Essien, Kakà, Poli, Balotelli, Pazzini, Petagna, Taarabt
Atletico Madrid to follow....
MANAGER QUOTES
Clarence Seedorf: "The team comes into this challenge well, against an opponent that is very well. There are further motivations, it is the Champions League, they are strong, in addition to it being a special evening at San Siro. But there will be so many opportunities in front of us to collect something. Atletico have to be respected greatly, they are a strong team, but they also have their weaknesses, which we will try to exploit. We will try to give our best, looking for the best result. The quality and the understanding will increase over time. The attitude has been the right one, except in the evening with Napoli (a 3-1 defeat). We must try to continue on our way, improving in all aspects. With great humility, the boys are trying to improve.”
Diego Simeone: "Tomorrow it will be an open game where anything could happen. I don’t want to make predictions, but this tie will be important ahead of the second leg. I expect to see a great Milan and above all I fear their history, which on nights like this can really count. We’ll be facing a great rival. We do not feel like the favourites and must prove our strength on the field. It won’t be easy, because the Italian teams always make the most of their scoring opportunities. We will need intensity and concentration.”
MATCH FACTS
This will be the first competitive meeting between these two sides.
AC Milan have been knocked out in each of their last four Champions League knockout ties against Spanish teams.
AC Milan have only won one of their last 13 Champions League games against Spanish teams (6 draws, 6 defeats), a 2-0 victory against Barcelona in February 2013.
Atletico Madrid have won their last three competitive encounters with Italian teams, in all competitions (8 goals for, 1 against).
AC Milan have been knocked out in the last 16 in four of their last five Champions League campaigns.
AC Milan have won only two of their last 12 Champions League knockout games (3 draws, 7 defeats).
AC Milan have averaged 38.6% of possession in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the 16 remaining teams in the competition.
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
Atletico Madrid have only conceded three goals in the Champions League this season, the best defensive tally alongside Chelsea and Manchester Utd.
Atletico Madrid are one of only three teams still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, alongside Manchester Utd and Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have completed 77.1% of their passes in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the last 16 teams remaining in the competition.
None of AC Milan’s last eight Champions League games at San Siro has produced more than two goals. Five of those have ended in draws.
Mario Balotelli has netted seven goals in 27 Champions League games, five of them coming from set-piece (3 penalties, 1 direct free-kick, 1 indirect free-kick).
Diego Costa has scored 4 goals in his last 3 Champions League games.
Raúl García has scored/assisted six of Atletico’s last 10 Champions League goals.
MATCH ODDS
AC Milan (14/5) Atletico Madrid (5/4) Draw (23/10)
Source:- http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/champions-league-matchpack-ac-milan-v-atletico-madrid-173309759--sow.html
Clarence Seedorf has named a 19-man squad. Keisuke Honda is cup-tied, while Adel Taarabt and Andrea Petagna are given their shots at a Champions League debut. Ricky Kaka and Ignazio Abate are included despite injury concerns, but Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristian Zapata, Valter Birsa and Bryan Cristante are on the treatment table. Riccardo Montolivo and Sulley Muntari are suspended. Milan squad for Atletico Madrid: Abbiati, Ameli, Coppola, Abate, Bonera, Constant, De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami, Zaccardo, De Jong, Emanuelson, Essien, Kakà, Poli, Balotelli, Pazzini, Petagna, Taarabt
Atletico Madrid to follow....
MANAGER QUOTES
Clarence Seedorf: "The team comes into this challenge well, against an opponent that is very well. There are further motivations, it is the Champions League, they are strong, in addition to it being a special evening at San Siro. But there will be so many opportunities in front of us to collect something. Atletico have to be respected greatly, they are a strong team, but they also have their weaknesses, which we will try to exploit. We will try to give our best, looking for the best result. The quality and the understanding will increase over time. The attitude has been the right one, except in the evening with Napoli (a 3-1 defeat). We must try to continue on our way, improving in all aspects. With great humility, the boys are trying to improve.”
Diego Simeone: "Tomorrow it will be an open game where anything could happen. I don’t want to make predictions, but this tie will be important ahead of the second leg. I expect to see a great Milan and above all I fear their history, which on nights like this can really count. We’ll be facing a great rival. We do not feel like the favourites and must prove our strength on the field. It won’t be easy, because the Italian teams always make the most of their scoring opportunities. We will need intensity and concentration.”
MATCH FACTS
This will be the first competitive meeting between these two sides.
AC Milan have been knocked out in each of their last four Champions League knockout ties against Spanish teams.
AC Milan have only won one of their last 13 Champions League games against Spanish teams (6 draws, 6 defeats), a 2-0 victory against Barcelona in February 2013.
Atletico Madrid have won their last three competitive encounters with Italian teams, in all competitions (8 goals for, 1 against).
AC Milan have been knocked out in the last 16 in four of their last five Champions League campaigns.
AC Milan have won only two of their last 12 Champions League knockout games (3 draws, 7 defeats).
AC Milan have averaged 38.6% of possession in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the 16 remaining teams in the competition.
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
Atletico Madrid have only conceded three goals in the Champions League this season, the best defensive tally alongside Chelsea and Manchester Utd.
Atletico Madrid are one of only three teams still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, alongside Manchester Utd and Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have completed 77.1% of their passes in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the last 16 teams remaining in the competition.
None of AC Milan’s last eight Champions League games at San Siro has produced more than two goals. Five of those have ended in draws.
Mario Balotelli has netted seven goals in 27 Champions League games, five of them coming from set-piece (3 penalties, 1 direct free-kick, 1 indirect free-kick).
Diego Costa has scored 4 goals in his last 3 Champions League games.
Raúl García has scored/assisted six of Atletico’s last 10 Champions League goals.
MATCH ODDS
AC Milan (14/5) Atletico Madrid (5/4) Draw (23/10)
Source:- http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/champions-league-matchpack-ac-milan-v-atletico-madrid-173309759--sow.html
