Football Results

As soon as the draw finished everyone agreed that this is the most attractive match of the Europa League round of 16 as multiple champions of Italy and England are about to meet each other. True, both teams have been waiting for long time to win titles in their respective national leagues; before the match Milan occupies the seventh place in the Italian Serie A table, while Arsenal is sixth in the Premier League. Let’s add that the two teams met the last time six years ago in the round of 16 of Champions League and then each team won at home, but Milan went further.

AC Milan

The Rossoneri won then at home by 4-0 and lost away by 4-0. Their fans are very much eager to see a good result of their team at the San Siro, especially as they are in the best shape since the season started. After arrival of charismatic manager Gattus, Milan plays more combatively and that proved to be the right move as they won 10 and drew three out of last 13 matches.

Among other things it qualified them for the final of the Coppa Italia and round of 16 of the Europa League. In previous round Milan effortlessly eliminated Bulgarian champion Ludogorets after winning it two times. In the championship it moved up to the seventh place in the table and has the same number of points like sixth-placed Sampdoria. Positions that lead to the Champions League are currently eight points higher. Let’s add that at the moment out of action are only injured defenders Conti and Antonelli.

Probable lineups AC Milan: G. Donnarumma – Calabria, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Rodriguez – Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura – Suso, Cutrone, Calhanoglu

Arsenal

Unlike for their next rival the first round of 16 leg of the Europa League comes for the guests from London in the worst possible moment, given they lost four out of last four matches. The home defeat by Swedish Ostersunds wasn’t too painful as Arsenal defeated them in previous round by higher goal difference and in that way has qualified for the next round. On the other hand, things are not developing well in the league where Arsenal lost three matches in a row, while in the final of the League Cup it lost to Manchester City 3-0.

Right because of all this the Europa League has remained their only hope to play in the Champions League next season given they occupy mere sixth place in the Premier League at the moment and have even 13 points fewer than 4th-placed Tottenham. How deep the crisis is can be best seen through defeat in the league by Brighton last Sunday. It should be add that besides injured defender Monreal, midfielder Cazorla and forward Lcazette, forward Aubameyang also cannot play against Milan.

Probable lineups Arsenal: Ospina – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolašinac – Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere – Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Ozil

Verdict:

Although current shape of the two teams suggest that the Rossoneri from Milan should be closer to victory, we should bear in mind that the Europa League is Arsenal’s only chance to reach the Champions League next season, which is why we have decided to play in this match on option with fewer goals.

Pick:  under 2.5 goals 1.96 - 96/100 @1XBet