AC Milan vs. Feyenoord - Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 - 18:45 (CET) - Champions League, First Play-off Round, Second Leg

danilo1899

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We put ourselves in a position where every game is season defining, make or brake, but this one truly is do or die. Luckily, no away goal rule anymore, so no excuses for not tearing a new one to this, objectively speaking, not so good Fayenoord side.

Then again, objectively speaking, we are not so good also unfortunately.

Streams:

The following preview is an article from sempremilan, written by the man itself: Ollie Fisher.

AC Milan are in need of a second leg comeback when they welcome Feyenoord to San Siro for their Champions League play-off round tie.

In the first leg back at De Kuip, the only goal of the game came in the opening three minutes through Igor Paixao and it means that Milan will need to come from behind to progress for the first time since 2007.

The Rossoneri were simply not at the races in Rotterdam and failed to break down their resilient hosts, something that Zlatan Ibrahimovic – standing in for Sergio Conceicao – insisted must change in the second leg during his pre-match press conference.


Game date: Tuesday, February 18
Kick-off time: 18:45 (CET)
Venue: San Siro
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (VAR: Dingert)


Team news​

It has been a strange past couple of days for Sergio Conceicao, who was able to celebrate the 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona at San Siro only briefly before learning of some very sad news.

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa – the legendary president of FC Porto and someone Conceicao knew incredibly closely – passed away on Saturday at the age of 87 after a battle with cancer.

The Portuguese coach jetted back to his home country for the funeral on Sunday and then returned to take training today, but it must have had an impact on both his mindset and the preparations for the game.

Conceicao still has some selection problems, but not as many as there were for the first leg when eight players were unavailable. As a reminder, UEFA regulations capping new signings being named in the squad at three mean Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil were not included. Alex Jimenez and Luka Jovic remain out too.

rafael leao


In terms of injured players Alessandro Florenzi is on his way back but will not be ready any time soon, Emerson Royal will be out for two months at least and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s return date continues to be pushed back.

The good news is that compared to the first leg Yunus Musah is back from suspension, so there will be the decision regarding whether to launch the ‘fab four’ of Santiago Gimenez, Joao Felix, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao from minute one again or whether to use Musah instead of one of them for balance.

At present, the lineup is difficult to predict, and there has often been late changes to what has been predicted. However, it seems that there is going to be a middle ground attempted by Conceicao.

The defence stays unchanged from Conceicao’s favourites: Mike Maignan, Kyle Walker, Strahinja Pavlovic, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez.

Then in midfield, it is again much of the same, however, in the 4-4-2 shape. Yunus Musah starts on the right, allowing some more flexibility formationally, with Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders in the middle. On the left, Rafael Leao will return from the start.

Leading the line, we will again see Joao Felix and Gimenez. The change in shape definitely leaves a lot to the wire, so it is possible we see the ‘fab four’ or just three of them once again.

Predicted Milan XI (4-4-2): Maignan; Walker, Pavlovic, Tomori, Theo; Musah, Fofana, Reijners, Leao; Gimenez, Felix.


The opponents​

In our preview of the first leg we recapped the summer business that Feyenoord did to try and launch the post-Arne Slot era in the right way, and why it has not exactly gone to plan up to this point.

Brian Priske was sacked at the beginning of last week with Feyenoord sitting fifth in the league table, not only behind the runaway title challengers Ajax and PSV Eindhoven but also below FC Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar too.

The Dutch side confirmed on Tuesday that Pascal Bosschaart would ‘temporarily take over’ from Priske’s duties as the first team head coach, and his first game was the 1-0 win over Milan, Feyenoord’s first home Champions League knockout win since 1974.

Bosschaart has announced the list of players called up for the match at San Siro and the positive news is that Calvin Stengs – a player who was out of the previous game – is back training with the squad and is available.

That’s where the good news stops, though, because Quinten Timber, Facundo Gonzalez, Gernot Trauner, Ramiz Zerrouki, Inbeom Hwang, Ayase Ueda, Jordan Lotomba, Justin Bijlow, Bart Nieuwkoop and Chris-Kevin Nadje will not travel to Milan with the team.

Feyenoord ac milan


Finally, Quilindschy Hartman, Oussama Targhalline and Stéphano Carrilo are not in the UEFA squad list so will also be unable to make the trip, leaving Bosschaart with quite a limited squad to choose from.

From the first game,there are expected to be no changes in defence, which will please Leao as he will have another chance to test Read. This means Wellenreuther, Smal, Beelen and Hancko should once again start too.

Timber’s absence means Ivanusec should come into the lineup for the second leg in the captain’s place, though Milambo and Moder should remain. Leading the line, there will again just be one change, Carranza for Ueda – he will play through the middle with Paixao and Moussa on either side of him.

Predicted Feyenoord XI (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Milambo, Moder, Ivanusec; Moussa, Carranza, Paixao.
 

danilo1899

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Head to head​

AC Milan and Feyenoord will meet for just the fourth time in a competitive game, and prior to the first leg it had been over 55 years since the last time the sides met.

In the 1969-70 edition of the European Cup it was Nestor Combin’s goal at San Siro that gave Milan a first leg lead, but then Wim Jansen and Willem van Hanegem netted back at De Kuip to give the Dutchman a 2-1 aggregate win.

More generally speaking, Milan have played 28 times against teams from the Netherlands, with just 12 wins in that time, plus seven draws and nine losses.


Key facts and stats​

➤ Milan have lost two of their three meetings with Feyenoord in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, although both of those defeats have come away. Their only home game against them was a 1-0 victory in November 1969 (first leg of a last 16 tie).

➤ Feyenoord have lost five of their six away games against Italian sides in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, only managing to avoid defeat in February 2000 v Lazio (a 2-1 win). Indeed, the only one of those six games to take place in the knockout stages was a 0-1 defeat to Milan in the 1969-70 campaign.

➤ Milan have failed to progress from five of their six UEFA Champions League ties when losing the first leg, with their only such progression coming in 2006-07 versus Manchester United (lost 2-3 in the first leg, won 3-0 in the second leg of the semi-finals).

➤ Feyenoord are looking to qualify for the last 16 in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign for the first time since 1974-75, which was also the last season in which they managed to win both legs of a knockout tie in such competitions (7-0 and 4-1 v Coleraine in the first round).

➤ Milan have won each of their last three home games in the UEFA Champions League. The last time they won four in a row in the competition was in December 2007 (4), while the last time they won four in a row within the same Champions League campaign was in 2004-05 when they were runners-up (a run of six).

➤ Feyenoord have only won three of their last 17 away games in the UEFA Champions League (D3 L11), although two of those victories have arrived this season (3-2 v Girona and 3-1 v Benfica). Indeed, their only away defeat in the competition so far this term came away at Lille (P4 W2 D1 L1).

➤ The first leg between Feyenoord and Milan produced just 1.06 expected goals between the two sides; the second-lowest total in a UEFA Champions League match this season. It was also one of only two games this term to see neither side create a big chance, along with Internazionale v Sparta Prague in January.

➤ Feyenoord’s Igor Paixão has been involved in eight goal-ending sequences of play in the UEFA Champions League this season, with Raphinha (13) being the only winger who has taken part in more in 2024-25.

➤ Since making his UEFA Champions League debut in September 2021, Milan winger Rafael Leão is one of only two players to complete 100+ dribbles in the competition (100), along with Vinícius Júnior (137). He also leads all players in the 2024-25 edition (33), with three of those coming in the first leg between Feyenoord and Milan last week (3).

➤ Feyenoord defender Givairo Read made eight tackles in the first leg against Milan; the most by a teenager in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage match since FC Schalke 04’s Joël Matip in April 2011 (eight v Internazionale in a quarter-final game).


Ones to watch​

Igor Paixao is, without a doubt, the main player to watch in this game, and it is a reason why Musah on the right is not too far-fetched of an idea. The winger dominated last time out, and he will do the same if given a chance.

David Hancko could also be really problematic again, and this is a worry. The central defender toyed with Gimenez last week, and if he is allowed to do the same at San Siro, it could be a long night.

Gimenez Milan


We start just there for Milan. Gimenez was left frustrated by his performance in Europe last week, and he must show better in this game. His record in Serie A so far is certainly positive, but the best players prove their worth on the biggest stages and the Rossoneri will hope the Mexican’s time in the limelight is tomorrow.

In addition to this, Rafael Leao needs to show more in this game. In the past few games, he has been left out for tactical reasons, so he needs to earn a spot moving forward. The left winger in a 4-4-2 could be the key player in this game, and the Portuguese must prove this much.


Prediction

Tomorrow has the marks to be a special night at San Siro, and Zlatan has already stated how much impact the fans will have on this game. However, the Dutch outfit will not make things easy, and it could be a struggle.

Whilst we think the Rossoneri could progress, it may not be in normal time and this is certainly a concern.

AC Milan 2-1 Feyenoord
 

kevin_dk

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My friend Danilo leaves it to fate to decide the final result with his prediction.

Two things to take note:

#1 No, we do not have 90 minutes. We only have 45 minutes left to play. We never play in the first half, we only react in the second half.

#2 Serve the ball to Gimenez. We have a useful CF, make good use of him. Crosses, vertical line-breaking passes, through balls, corners etc. Just get him into scoring positions and stop confusing ourselves with all the other stuff.
 

danilo1899

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I want our cl experience to go forward. At this point I am just hoping for a W for the sake of @danilo1899

Man is putting enormous amount of work of passion.

I lived through 1996/1997 CL, where we needed a point against Rosenborg at San Siro to go through... Boban scored (one of only 2 headers I remember him score, the other one was against Lazio at the turn of the century)... Then Iversen happened.

So many disappointments since then... But this sort of passion can not be taken away, nor do I want it to be!
 

Ludwig

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Leao needs to play simple. Know when to shoot, dribble, or pass. It requires 100% focus. Dreaming of advancing to the next round and reach CL final certainly helps.
 

Raghav

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I 'm ok if Leao starts from the bench today.

Having him come on at 55' vs a somewhat tired defense will be too OP - by then they will have less dangerous counters aswell.

He has been the match winner for us in two games when he came on from the bench ..

Let's go boys !! we need to bring this one home..
 

Raghav

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If we get through you guys would rather draw Arsenal or Inter?

Arsenal for me - otherwise looks like we could have 4 derbies next month - 2 in Coppa and 2 in champions league Ro16

First things first though - lets get the win..

We need to be more balanced today - cannot afford to give them so many chances like the last game ..

Expecting Felix + Santi/Tammy + one of Puli/Leao today

Musah is clutch for balance so fully expecting him Tijjani and Fofana to start in midfield...

I hope we start Thiaw - Pavlovic .. Thiaw's passing will be crucial today
 

forward

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There wasn't a single "easy game" this season that indeed resulted in an easy game. :proud:
I expect a world cup final level of drama. :lol:
 

Shiby

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If we get through you guys would rather draw Arsenal or Inter?

Arsenal for me - otherwise looks like we could have 4 derbies next month - 2 in Coppa and 2 in champions league Ro16

First things first though - lets get the win..

We need to be more balanced today - cannot afford to give them so many chances like the last game ..

Expecting Felix + Santi/Tammy + one of Puli/Leao today

Musah is clutch for balance so fully expecting him Tijjani and Fofana to start in midfield...

I hope we start Thiaw - Pavlovic .. Thiaw's passing will be crucial today
Lets win first. Just fucking win somehow


But as far as Inter and Arsenal are concerned...a month ago Id say Arsenal is the easy choice. They arent anything to be afraid of and Inter are a much better coached team with a squad that functions like clockwork.

But NOW I dont know. Inter looks tired.

Both teams are beatable and we are our own worst enemy anyway.

But I guess Im choosing Arsenal. Just for the sole reason that I've had it with the derbies. They are so emotionaly draining.
 

Bringfriends

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As long as the Ronaldo regen kid on the left wing doesn't have again the game of his life, we win this
#easygame :D
 

MRAMG7

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Lets win first. Just fucking win somehow


But as far as Inter and Arsenal are concerned...a month ago Id say Arsenal is the easy choice. They arent anything to be afraid of and Inter are a much better coached team with a squad that functions like clockwork.

But NOW I dont know. Inter looks tired.

Both teams are beatable and we are our own worst enemy anyway.

But I guess Im choosing Arsenal. Just for the sole reason that I've had it with the derbies. They are so emotionaly draining.
Agree, derbies are too stressful especially in CL lol. Pioli era derbies were less stressful because I expected us to lose. Expecting to beat this inter though makes it 10x more stressful because tbh even when we dominate play we still don't dominate the score line with those lucky bastards.

inter and arsenal already played each other.. arsenal completely utterly dominated that game but inter somehow won 1-0.

Feyenoord game first though before we talk about arsenal or inter next. Let's go boys hoping we score early because that will set a whole new tone

Forza Milan :flame:
 
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fray

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Should've never been in this position, starting from the Dinamo game. But hey, at least we can mount an incredible comeback here.
 

Milaniscool

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This match is earlier than I thought it would be. Might as well get it done with and learn our fate.
 

Fabio

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This place will be very interesting to watch after tonight
 

Myalon

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Once again the match does not pass on one of the chains I have. I missed a lot of matches this season because of their countless paid channels.

I do not know how it is with you but in France they fuck us hard with their multiple paid channels.
 

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