Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Following a thrilling 4-0 win over Dinamo in Zagreb, Milan will look to seal their spot in the Champions League last 16 when they face Salzburg in the decider. The Rossoneri did well to make amends for back-to-back losses to Chelsea, with the team regaining a much-needed confidence, and they must be high on spirits ahead of the visit of Salzburg. Fikayo Tomori is back from suspension, while all Calabria, Florenzi, Ibrahimovic, and Saelemaekers remain in the treatment room.
The Red Bulls, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Chelsea, but beating Stefano Pioli’s troops at “San Siro” is easier said than done. In their last meeting at the venue, back on September 1994, Milan recorded a routine 3-0 win over Salzburg, and we predict that the history is going to repeat itself. All Capaldo, Fernando, Koita, Okoh, Omoregie, Solet, and Tijani have been struggling with injuries of late, speaking of the away team.
Highlighted Player (Andrea Ranocchia):
Andrea Ranocchia is an Italian football player born on the 16th of February 1988 in Assisi. Ranocchia started his football career playing in the youth of Perugia and Arezzo. After making his debut for the first team in 2006/2007 Ranocchia played for Genoa and Bari before Inter Milan showed their interest and transferred him to Milan as a part of a trade for Destro.
Ranocchia plays for the Italian national team as well where he made his debut in November 2010. Unfortunately Ranocchia was not selected for the national team to play in the World Cup in 2014.
With a length of 195cm Ranocchia is a tall strong central defender. Ranocchia is known for his tactical defensive vision. Despite his age Ranocchia played for a lot of difference football clubs, which made him, mature in his playing style. Ranocchia was part of the Bari squad that won the Serie B in 2008/2009. On the highest Italian level Ranocchia won the Coppa Italia in 2010/2011 with Inter Milan.
Highlighted Team (Salzburg):
Salzburg are a professional football club that compete in Austrian Bundesliga. The club’s main sponsors are Red Bull and, as a result, they are well known under the name of the Red Bulls. The club was founded on 13 September, 1933 and they won their first Austrian Bundesliga trophy in 1994.
Salzburg quickly established themselves as the dominant force in the national championship and they are the most successful Austrian club in the 21st century. It has to be noted that they won their tenth Austrian Premier League trophy in 2016, finishing the season nine points clear of second-placed Rapid Wien.
The Red Bulls welcome their rivals at Red Bull Arena, the stadium that was opened on 8 March, 2008. The capacity of the venue is 31 895. Salzburg participated in the 1993/1994 UEFA Cup final, but Italian side proved to be a big catch for the Austrian outfit. Inter recorded a 2-0 win over Salzburg in the final (on aggregate).