AC Milan vs Slavia Prague Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 07/03/2024, 06:48  by Ian John in Europa League Predictions

AC Milan host Slavia Prague in their Europa League Round of 16 first leg tie. The Italian giants came through a goal-packed two legged tie with Rennes in the playoffs, winning 3-0 at home before losing 3-2 in France to progress 5-3 on aggregate. Since that defeat in France, the Rossonieri were held 1-1 at the San Siro by Atalanta but then travelled to Rome where they faced Lazio and took full advantage of Lazio's indiscipline to secure a late 1-0 win, after the Italians were reduced to 10 men after Luca Pellegrini was sent off on 57 minutes, and he was followed by Adam Marusic and Matteo Guendouzi in added time, leaving the home side with just 8 men for the finish. The Rossonieri have lost just two home games in Serie A this season, but did lose to Dortmund in the Champions League group stages, drawing with Newcastle and impressively beating Paris St Germain. 

Slavia Prague are unbeaten in their last ten league games in the Czechia First League, but they have tasted defeat recently in the Czech Cup to city rivals Sparta Prague. A 0-0 draw at the same opponents at the weekend means that Slavia remain second in the division, four points behind their city rivals after 23 games, having lost just once in the league this season. In Europe, they topped their group with 15 points, beating AS Roma to top spot in the Europa League Group Stages, so they will not be overawed heading to Milan for this first leg. That said, the gulf in class between the two teams when you evaluate their squad strength is clear and with home advantage, that should be a big factor in this interesting first leg tie.