AC Milan Face Bayer Leverkusen in Critical Champions League Clash

AC Milan will face Bayer Leverkusen in a crucial UEFA Champions League group stage match, scheduled to take place at the BayArena on Tuesday, October 1, at 21:00 CEST. This match is critical as both teams aim to strengthen their positions in the group following their respective performances in previous fixtures.

The Rossoneri are entering the match in fine domestic form, having secured nine points from recent Serie A victories against Venezia, Inter, and Lecce. These results have propelled them to third place in the league standings, just two points behind leaders Napoli. Head Coach Paulo Fonseca, speaking ahead of the match, emphasized the importance of solid defense and precision in attack, areas where they faltered in their previous Champions League outing against Liverpool. “We have to be continually solid in defense,” Fonseca remarked during a pre-match press conference. “We made a lot of errors against Liverpool, but I’m always confident.”

Despite their impressive form, AC Milan will field a slightly adjusted lineup due to injuries. Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Marco Sportiello are all sidelined, with Mike Maignan being selected as goalkeeper and a defensive line that includes Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori, and Theo Hernandez. The midfield will see Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders retained, while Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao provide width on the wings, and Tammy Abraham leads the attack. Alvaro Morata, nursing a knee injury, will begin on the bench.

On the other side of the pitch, Bayer Leverkusen, led by coach Xabi Alonso, have been in formidable form. Last season’s Bundesliga campaign was unbeaten, and although they fell short in the Europa League final, they have bounced back with strong performances this season, including a 4-0 thrashing of Feyenoord in their first Champions League match. Leverkusen earned a valuable point against Bayern Munich in a recent domestic fixture, showcasing their resilience and tactical prowess.

“AC Milan are historical in the Champions League,” acknowledged Leverkusen’s coach, Xabi Alonso. “They have a clear idea and system. Fonseca has done brilliantly with them. We aim to be protagonists and are prepared for a tough game.” Leverkusen’s likely lineup will feature Hradecky in goal, supported by a dynamic 3-4-2-1 formation that includes notable players such as Wirtz, Xhaka, and Grimaldo.

The match officiating team will be led by Swiss referee Sandro Schärer, who brings experience from having officiated the European Super Cup final last August. The linesmen for the evening will be De Almeida and Erni, with Tschudi serving as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) role will see assistance from Dutch official Boekel.

Fans around the world can tune in to watch the match, which is broadcasted in Italy by Sky and NOW. AC Milan supporters can catch live coverage on Milan TV, commencing at 8:00 PM with pre-match analysis and post-match interviews, including insights from coach Paulo Fonseca.