Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Buoyed by a 3-2 win over Inter, Milan will look to kick-off their Champions League campaign in style when they take on Salzburg on Tuesday evening. The Rossoneri proved their worth in the Milano derby, and they are seen as favourites to beat Salzburg at Red Bull Arena as well. A man to watch in the away side will be Rafael Leao, who scored a brace at the weekend, while all Rade Krunic, Alessandro Florenzi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain on the sidelines with injuries. Ante Rebic is a major doubt.
The Red Bulls, on the other hand, head into Tuesday’s clash with a severely-weakened squad, with all Okoh, Piatkowski, Tijani, Omoregie, Koita, Van der Brempt, Sucic, and Diambou missing out with injury. Given Milan’s fine form, we predict that the visitors are going to pick up all three points from the Group G derby.
Highlighted Player (Zlatko Junuzovic):
Born in Serbia on 26 September 1987, Zlatko Junuzovic moved to Austria at the age of five and he eventually decided to represent his adopted country at international level. The central midfielder made a name for himself playing for Grazer AK, Austria Karnten and Austria Wien, but it was a move to Werder Bremen that earned him worldwide recognition.
Ever since 2012, Junuzovic has been one of Bundesliga’s leading midfielders, scoring a number of goals from set pieces and producing countless assists for his teammates, and it is a real wonder how he hasn’t joined a bigger club.
Capable of operating as a defensive midfielder, but much more dangerous as an attacking midfielder, Junuzovic has been a key player for Austria for several years now and he was in fine form as Das Team secured their place at the Euro 2016 finals. The highly rated midfielder has been a member of the national team for over ten years and chances are he will not be retiring any time soon.
Highlighted Team (Milan):
AC Milan are regarded as one of the biggest club in Italy. The Rossoneri compete in the Italian Serie A and they have won 18 domestic trophies. Speaking of the club’s European success, Milan have clinched seven Champions League (European Cup) trophies.
Milan were on the verge of beating Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final, but the Premier League outfit came from three goals behind and eventually won the prestigious trophy on penalties. The Rossoneri play their home games at Stadio San Siro (80,018), the stadium that was opened in 1926. It is well known that Milan’s bitterest rivals are Inter and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals face each other in the Derby della Madonnina.
Milan were founded in 1899 by a lace-maker from England named Herbert Kilpin and a businessman Alfred Edwards. Milan’s home kits are red and black and that is why the team’s nickname is Rossoneri (The Red and Blacks).
The likes of Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Donadoni, Dejan Savicevic, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Andrea Pirlo are the most famous footballers who have represented the San Siro outfit.