Champions League Playoff: AC Milan vs PSV Eindhoven

Seeded teams
England- Arsenal CC: 113.592
France- Lyon CC: 95.800
Italy- Milan CC: 93.829
Germany- Schalke 04 CC: 84.922
Russia- Zenit Saint Petersburg CC: 70.766

Unseeded teams
Netherlands- PSV Eindhoven CC: 64.945 or Belgium Zulte Waregem CC: 6.880
Ukraine- Metalist Kharkiv CC: 62.451
Turkey- Fenerbahçe CC: 46.400
Spain- Real Sociedad CC: 17.605
Portugal- Paços de Ferreira CC: 12.833

Long story short, we will be facing one of the unseeded teams, knowing our luck it's gonna be Sociedad probably.

Meh from what i've read Sociedad have became weaker in pre-season with sales/injuries.

I'd rather them than Fenerbahce tbh.

We're going to get La Real

Are Pacos any good? An usual team to make the CL spot don't you think

The worst thing is that if we make it into the CL we are going to be in Pot 2, and that means a possible group of death.

Metalist Kharkiv or Pacos pls.

M99 wrote:Zulte Waregem pls.

Fixed.

Highly unlikely Zulte will make it, they need to turn over a 2-0 deficit against PSV

When will our injured players be back? It won't be nice having Zaccardo and Silvestre go up against Griezmann and Xabi Prieto.

Silvestre has done well. He hasn't done anything to make me feel like he isn't ready to step in when needed.

I'm predicting Pacos but we shouldn't under-estimate any team though

So it's PSV.

Thoughts? A relatively tough draw but we should get through it.

PSV... not a good timing... especially the injured players we have....

and especially with Philip Cocu in helm.... he probably hasnt forgotten semi final 2005... he scored 2 goals like what 2 mins right until the end...

If our injured players make it back in time and we can field a strong starting XI, then I'm not worried. Abate, MDS, Balotelli, Mexes all need to be there. If we play the same defense we have been playing in our recent friendlies, I can see disaster coming.

How have PSV fared so far this pre-season after loosing most of their best players?

Are they a team in transaction or are they as strong as they were last season?

Il Diavolo wrote:If our injured players make it back in time and we can field a strong starting XI, then I'm not worried. Abate, MDS, Balotelli, Mexes all need to be there. If we play the same defense we have been playing in our recent friendlies, I can see disaster coming.

ye we really need those injured players badly.. If we can recover abate, mexes and balotelli in time, I will be confident in our progression

Also, there are rumuors floating around that honda might be joining on the 16th.. If that happens, it will be a big boost to our chances

Merge this with my thread, any mod.

BTW Balotelli is fit.

Il Diavolo wrote:If our injured players make it back in time and we can field a strong starting XI, then I'm not worried. Abate, MDS, Balotelli, Mexes all need to be there. If we play the same defense we have been playing in our recent friendlies, I can see disaster coming.

We havent played with our best fullbacks for 90 minutes so those friendlies have just been a poor test of our defensive depth. Nobody thought Emanuelson or Antonini could handle that responsibility against a good opponent.

uzonero wrote:How have PSV fared so far this pre-season after loosing most of their best players?

Are they a team in transaction or are they as strong as they were last season?

maybe some posters who watch dutch eredivise can enlighten about this...

but players like wijnaldum , adam maher will be the biggest threat for sure...

Whilst i would like to see Saponara as soon as possible, i share the same sentiment with uzonero. I don't think giving Riccardo a debut in the CL playoffs is wise, especially after just returning from injury.

Also, I feel as if Mark is torn between two worlds with this tie, i would love to hear what he has to say about us ( and PSV)

The return leg being played at the San Siro is a blessing, Balo would be able to make it in time and if we manage a tie, we can take the result back home

My only worry is if Allegri has mentally prepared his players, so far the pre season yielded some good results. The losses against Man City and Chelsea should not be read into too much. Both games had many new players adjusting and also old players returning from injury.

As for who should start, if we are to proceed with the 4-3-3 then something like this might work:

Abate---Mexespata-----MDS
---Poli------NDJ------Montolivo
-KPB--------Niang-----ES

If we are to go with the 4-3-1-2 :

Abate---Mexespata-----MDS
---Poli------NDJ------Montolivo
------------KPB
------Niang-----ES

This is under the assumption that we have NOT acquired any of our rumored targets

I just hope that we do not underestimate our opponents like we usually do

Forza Milan

Also, if Balotelli is able to make it for the 1st leg. Then just switch him with Niang

Balo is fit.

Good luck, Milan.