Wednesday Football Tips: Zlatan the man for Milan

It’s almost a tale of two seasons for AC Milan who are having a superb unbeaten campaign in Serie A but have yet to pick up a point in the Champions League so far.

On the home front, Stefano Pioli’s side have won 10 out of 11 games in Serie A, drawing the other against Juventus, and have scored 25 goals while conceding just 10.

Yet in Europe they’ve lost all three games so far, but they’ve been pretty unfortunate when you consider they led at Anfield before losing 3-2 and suffered late heartbreak against Atletico Madrid when conceding an 84th-minute equaliser and a 97th minute winner after playing an hour with 10 men.

The results mean the seven-time European champions really need a victory over Porto to keep their qualification hopes alive, although it won’t be easy against the Portuguese side who beat them 1-0 in the last round of fixtures.

Porto also got a 0-0 draw at Atletico so will be a tough nut to crack even for a Milan side who have won all five home games in the league this season.

Milan will have Zlatan Ibrahimovic available to start a Champions League game for the first time this season, which can only help in this must-win situation.

Zlatan has made only two starts this season due to injury, but has managed two goals, six shots and three on target in those two starts – and another at the San Siro will give him every chance of landing another couple of efforts on goal.

The legendary Swede was booked in the return fixture when coming on as a sub, and his presence also helps in the second part of our Bet Builder as Milan will have plenty enough fight in them to get threee cards against Porto.

Milan received seven bookings in the first game in Porto, and have followed that up with three cards in the next two games before another seven and a red against Roma last time out.

Milan also got six cards and a red against Atletico Madrid at the San Siro so another three here is easily doable.