Celtic vs AC Milan Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 18/10/2020, 10:42  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 18/10/2020 at 14:05 in Europa League Predictions

Celtic are back in the Europa League after a disastrous Champions League campaign. They were knocked out by Ferencvaros, losing 2-1 at home. Celtic have a good home record but that’s the second straight season they have been knocked out of the Champions League via a home defeat. Transferred into the Europa League, Celtic won two away qualifiers in Riga and Sarajevo, both 1-0. They won their Europa League group last season but then lost to Copenhagen in the last 32. They drew the away leg but that home fragility in European competition struck again, losing 3-1 to the Danes at Celtic Park. Only two of their last five home games in this competition have been won. They need to bounce back from another home loss, this time a vital 2-0 defeat by Rangers.

AC Milan nearly didn’t make it into the group stages. They had to take on Rio Ave from Portugal in the play-off round and needed a 122nd minute penalty to get a 2-2 draw. The game went to a penalty shoot-out and the Italians won that 9-8. Milan finished sixth in Serie A last season but have made a good start to their new league campaign. They have won all four of their games in Serie A this season to top the table. Their most recent game saw them win 2-1 at Inter with Ibrahimovic scoring twice. Nine goals have been scored in their four league fixtures and the goal scored by Lukaku against them at the weekend was the first conceded. Their good run has taken them to 19 league and cup games unbeaten with no loss since March 8. Milan could do with a good run in Europe after all the success they've had in the past. Not since 2012 have they made it to the quarter final of a European competition. Milan's away form is solid with just one defeat this year in 15 games and that was to Inter.  Just one of their last six away matches in this competition has ended in defeat.