Champions League fixtures: Newcastle United vs. AC Milan – prediction, team news, lineups
Newcastle fans are gearing up for the night of their lives as their clubs fan AC Milan in a showdown match at St James’ Park.
Both teams will be battling it out for a spot in the knockout rounds, with Newcastle having a slight advantage – on goal difference.
The teams are locked in a tight race in Group F – with five points each. But both teams still need favourable outcomes in tonight’s other matches to have hopes of moving forward.
Newcastle’s encounter with Paris Saint-Germain reopened the VAR debate two weeks ago. Despite Alexander Isak’s first-half goal putting the Magpies on the brink of a historic victory, a contentious decision in injury time awarded PSG a crucial penalty, converted by Kylian Mbappe to snatch victory from Newcastle in a cruel and controversial manner.
Yet, hope still lingers for the third-placed Magpies. Their superior head-to-head record against PSG, who are only two points ahead, means that a triumph on Wednesday, coupled with PSG failing to beat already-qualified Borussia Dortmund, would propel Eddie Howe’s team into the next stage.
However, any other scenario could relegate Newcastle to Europa League football or eliminate them from continental competition altogether. Despite valiantly navigating through a plethora of injuries, Newcastle’s recent Premier League defeats to Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, totalling 7-1, raise concerns. Nonetheless, their home form at St James’ Park, where they’ve won in eight of their last nine matches in all competitions, offers a glimmer of optimism.
Milan, under coach Stefano Pioli, also grapple with injuries but face a more complex path to the last 16. Their recent 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on home turf dampened their chances, leaving them at the bottom of the challenging Group F rankings. Milan needs a win at St James’ Park and hopes for a Dortmund victory over PSG to secure the second last-16 spot, as their head-to-head goal tally is inferior to PSG’s.
Both teams enter the decisive matchday after challenging away fixtures, with Milan succumbing to a late Luis Muriel strike against Atalanta BC. Despite their previous goalless draw at San Siro, a win is imperative for both Newcastle and Milan on Wednesday, making a repeat of scoreless encounters unlikely in this crucial showdown.
Newcastle vs. AC Milan – Team News
Despite the lingering disappointment of Newcastle’s recent loss to Tottenham, manager Eddie Howe can draw encouragement from a significant double injury comeback. Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff, both returning from respective layoffs, made impactful appearances off the bench.
However, the Magpies’ injury list remains extensive, with sidelined players including the banned former Rossoneri midfielder Sandro Tonali, along with Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Dan Burn (back), Elliot Anderson (back), Harvey Barnes (foot), Sven Botman (knee), Joe Willock (calf), Matt Targett (thigh), and Javi Manquillo (groin). Additionally, Martin Dubravka’s availability is uncertain due to a back concern, with 2018 finalist Loris Karius ready as a backup.
While Wilson’s return is unlikely to displace Alexander Isak from his striker position, Longstaff is poised for a comeback in the midfield, potentially replacing the 17-year-old Lewis Miley, who has shone in the absence of his teammates.
On the Milan side, their medical team has been grappling with several injuries, including defenders Malick Thiaw (hamstring) and Pierre Kalulu (tendon), both expected to be sidelined until 2024. Marco Pellegrino (heel) and Simon Kjaer (muscle) are also unavailable, leaving Fikayo Tomori as the sole fit central defender. Theo Hernandez is likely to provide emergency cover, with Alessandro Florenzi stepping in at left-back.
Goalkeeper Marco Sportiello (calf) adds to Milan’s injury concerns, but there is a significant boost with winger Rafael Leao, who is expected to be fit for the trip to England, likely relegating Christian Pulisic to the bench. Additionally, Noah Okafor is back but is expected to be among the substitutes.
Predicted starting lineups
Newcastle United’s possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
AC Milan’s possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Musah; Chukwueze, Giroud, Leao
Predictions
Newcastle 3-1 AC Milan
Newcastle vs. AC Milan – Expert Predictions
It’s been a tough time for Newcastle recently but in front of a pumped-up home crowd, we think Newcastle will find their rhythm and get back to their winning ways. It’s set to be a thrilling night and we expect a lot of goals on a wet and cold night in England.