Milan vs Ajax preview

December 10, 2013
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Ajax vs MilanSerie A giants Milan go into the crucial Champions League clash against Ajax knowing that a win or draw would see them qualify, whereas the Amsterdammers will only go through if they win at San Siro.

The Rossoneri are going through another very difficult season, with the team currently occupying ninth place in the league.

A serious injury crisis clearly played a part in some under-par performances, and Milan have indeed been showing plenty of improvement of late.

It was the 3-0 away triumph over Celtic that seriously boosted their qualifying hopes, although things were complicated by Ajax’s unexpected victory over Barcelona.

Nonetheless, the Rossoneri still have matters in their own hands, and are now priced at 1.67 (2/3) to win their final group game.

After scoring a brace to salvage one point from Livorno, Mario Balotelli is 2.20 (6/5) with Betfred to score against Ajax as well.

The good news is Mattia De Sciglio has returned into action, but the likes of Abate, Robinho, Pazzini, Amelia, Silvestre and Birsa are all out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Abbiati – De Sciglio, Zapata, Mexes, Emanuelson – Montolivo, De Jong, Poli – Kaka – Balotelli, El Shaarawy.

Ajax had a pretty disappointing start to the new season, struggling on both domestic and European stage, but the team have done well to get their campaign back on track.

The four-match winning run in the league saw the Amsterdammers climb to second in Eredivisie, whereas they made quite a comeback in the Champions League as well.

Having picked up just one point from first three matches, Frank de Boer’s side produced two excellent performances to defeat Celtic and Barcelona, thus seriously improving their chances of reaching the knockout stages.

And with Ajax currently on a six-match winning run, they are no less than 6.00 (5/1) to record a victory that would see them qualify for the next phase.

The hosts have some selection problems at the moment as key players Siem de Jong and Joel Veltman miss out through injury and suspension respectively.

Nicolai Boilesen and Lerin Duarte are also out of contention, but the good news is striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson is set to return from an ankle problem.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Cillessen – van Rhijn, Moisander, Denswil, Blind – Klaasen, Poulsen, Serero – Schone, Sigthorsson, Fischer.

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