KNOW YOUR ENEMY: AC MILAN
CURRENT FORM
AC Milan sit top of Serie A, having returned to the summit at the weekend with a 2-1 win at Udinese. Since the end of the Champions League group stage they have looked strong, winning eight and drawing two in 13 games, although they have lost two and won just one from their last four. They qualified from Group H behind holders Barcelona, whom they drew with in Spain and narrowly lost to in a five-goal thriller in Italy.
PEDIGREE
Seven-time European champions they may be, but the Rossoneri have struggled in continental competition of late – and thanks to English clubs. Their last three Champions League campaigns have ended at the last 16 and each time to Premier League opposition. Last season it was Tottenham, the year before Manchester United and in 2007-08 it was Arsenal.
REMEMBER WHEN
The Gunners’ 2-0 win at the San Siro in March 2008 was AC Milan’s first home defeat to an English side in their history. Arsenal’s victory was earned by a Cesc Fabregas long-range drive and Emmanuel Adebayor’s injury-time strike. The visitors’ starting line-up contained just one player likely to start tonight: Bacary Sagna.
THE BOSS
Massimiliano Allegri worked his way up from the third division for a shot at the big time – and delivered immediately, winning Serie A in his first season at AC Milan last term, the club’s first for seven years. Ironically, previous side Cagliari sacked him just weeks before he started at Milan.
DANGER MEN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may divide opinion in this country but he remains Milan’s spearhead, and the temperamental Swede has 17 goals in his last 19 games, including four in four in Europe, to back up that status. Robinho provides support but has managed just four goals all season, while youngster Stephan El Shaarawy has burst onto the scene with two in two.