AC Milan vs Girona Prediction & Betting Tips (22 January)

AC Milan is currently 12th in this Champions League and is a small point behind 8th place. The Lombard team therefore hopes to secure their direct ticket for the round of 16. However, the campaign got off to a bad start for the Rossoneri who lost their first two matches against Liverpool 1-3 and Bayer Leverkusen 1-0. On the other hand, they subsequently had good results, dominating Club Brugge 3-1, Real Madrid 1-3, Slovan Bratislava 2-3 and Red Star Belgrade 2-1. On the national scene, AC Milan does not meet expectations and will have to work to get back into the Top 4, qualifying for the next C1. The checkered results led to the dismissal of coach Paulo Fonseca at the end of December. Under the orders of Sergio Conceiçao, Theo Hernandez's teammates got off to a good start by winning the Italian Super Cup thanks to successes against Juventus 2-1 and Inter 3-2. Subsequently, they failed to beat Cagliari in the league 1-1 before moving to the den of Juventus this coming last weekend.

Big surprise from the previous exercise on the other side of the Pyrenees, Girona has earned the right to rub shoulders with the European elite this season. Unfortunately, the Catalans are struggling to do well in the Champions League and today occupy 30th place in the standings with 5 points behind 24th place, the last qualifying seat for the play-offs. Victorious over Slovan Bratislava on the 3rd day 2-0, they were otherwise defeated by PSG 1-0, Feyenoord 2-3, PSV 4-0, Sturm Graz 1-0 and Liverpool 0-1. In the championship, Girona is currently 8th and remains in the race to win a European folding seat. After having played 3 matches without success, 1 draw and 2 defeats, Michel's protégés restarted the machine by beating Valladolid 3-0 and Alaves 0-1. Last weekend, they hosted Sevilla FC.

For AC Milan, we must mention the withdrawals of potential starters Loftus-Cheek and Chukwueze as well as replacement full-back Florenzi. However, no other absences are to be deplored. Sergio Conceiçao can thus rely on the attackers Pulisic (5 goals and 4 assists in SA, 3 goals in C1), Leao (3 goals and 4 assists in SA, 2 goals in C1) and Morata (5 goals in SA) who make up regularly the offensive trio. English striker Abraham (2 goals in SA, 2 goals in C1) is content with a replacement role. French internationals Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Fofana play a leading role for the Rossoneri. This is also the case for Dutch midfielder Reijnders (5 goals and 2 assists in SA, 3 goals in C1). On the Girona side, the important winger Asprilla, the potentially starting striker Miovski and the replacement Portu are missing, insufficiently recovered from their physical problems.

The excellent left back Gutierrez is, for his part, uncertain. Ukrainian international Tsygankov, however, recently returned to the field. To occupy the forefront of the attack, the Dutchman Danjuma (1 goal in La Liga) is applying as is the Spaniard Abel Ruiz (3 goals in La Liga). The two men have struggled to convince since their arrival at the club last summer. Little in offensive spirit, Girona has not scored in its last 3 Champions League matches. This winter, the Ukrainian hopeful international goalkeeper Krapyvtsov left his bags in Catalonia.