DINAMO ZAGREB v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan is set to face Dinamo Zagreb in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2024/2025. The match will take place on Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 21:00 CET at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb. The team led by Sérgio Conceição is ready to challenge the side coached by Fabio Cannavaro in a match that could be decisive for advancing to the Round of 16. With both teams seeking valuable points, the match promises to be a thrilling one. We approach kick-off with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan comes into this clash with an important Champions League victory - the fifth in a row - against Girona, winning 1-0, showcasing solidity and determination. In Serie A, the Rossoneri recently overcame Parma with a hard-fought 3-2, demonstrating good overall form. Conceição's team has shown they have what it takes to face European challenges with confidence, with the aim of continuing to grow and improve. Not much choice in some parts of the formation, starting with right-back: Emerson Royal and Walker will be unavailable, Calabria disqualified; the favourite for the starting role seems to be Terracciano. For the rest, there will be a battle for a starting position in the defence (where one of Gabbia, Pavlović and Tomori should be sitting out) and in midfield, where the duel is likely to be between Bennacer and Musah. Chukwueze, Fofana and Hernández are cautioned.

Mister Conceição said on the eve of the match: "We want to finish this phase in the best possible way; we have the responsibility of representing a club like AC Milan, and this is the most important thing. We are focused on this match. There are moments when we do well and others when we can improve: we work on the details. I see a very good group of people, and I am happy with them. The important thing is Dinamo - we will think about the derby on Thursday when we fly home."

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LATEST FROM DINAMO ZAGREB
The Croatians enters this match following a Champions League defeat to Arsenal, losing 3-0. However, in their domestic league, the team secured a convincing 3-1 victory against Istra 1961, showing resilience. Cannavaro's side is determined to bounce back in Europe, aiming to leverage home advantage for a positive result which could see the team progressing to the knock-out phase. The team has shown good adaptability and will be ready to give their all against the Rossoneri. For some time Dinamo have had to reckon with two important absences, both Croatian nationals: Bruno Petković - an old acquaintance from our league - and centre-back Petar Sučić, who scored twice already in this year's Champions League. In their last match, Cannavaro used a 4-1-4-1 with former Juventus player Pjaca also starring, while in London the team went with a 5-4-1. Among the few constances are the Moroccan centre-back Mmaee, the winger Stojković and the centre-forward Kulenović, decisive in the European victories against Salzburg and Slovan Bratislava.

"With Conceição, I have the feeling that AC Milan are expecting more and have real bite; I like that he has communicated to the players never to give up," Fabio Cannavaro said in the conference. "We will have to suffer, because the difference is there, but also need to take advantage of the situations that will arise. AC Milan have written football history, which makes us proud. We believe in qualification, and it is right that we play for it."

DINAMO ZAGREB v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

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PRE-MATCH STATS

• AC Milan have won all six matches against Dinamo Zagreb, the longest winning streak for the club against a single opponent in European competition; the Rossoneri have also scored at least three goals in each of their three away games against the Croatian side (the last of which was a 4-0 win in the 2022/23 season).
• Following victories over Real Madrid (3-1) and Slovan Bratislava (3-2), AC Milan could win three consecutive away Champions League matches for the first time since September-December 2000 (three), under Alberto Zaccheroni.
• AC Milan have won the last group stage match in each of the previous two Champions League editions (4-0 against Salzburg in 2022/23 and 2-1 against Newcastle in 2023/24), after failing to do so in the six previous editions (3D, 3L) – starting from 2009/10.
• Christian Pulisic has been directly involved in five goals in his last six starts for AC Milan in the Champions League (four goals, one assist). If he contributes to a goal, our No.11 would set a new season record for active participations in a single edition of the tournament – currently four: three goals and one assist.
• Rafael Leão has completed 26 dribbles in this Champions League, a tournament-high shared with Morgan Rogers. The Portuguese has also scored three goals in the 24/25 competition, matching the total goals scored in the 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24 editions combined (three).

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WHERE TO WATCH DINAMO ZAGREB v AC MILAN ON TV
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by Sky and NOW. To watch it in another country, you can check the "Where to Watch Milan on TV" section under "Abroad." On the Rossoneri channels, the Matchday show will air on Milan TV: live coverage starts at 20:00 CET leading up to kick-off, followed by interviews and Coach Conceição's press conference. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, our official social media channels, and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
French referee for the match at Maksimir: the match director will be 35-year-old François Letexier, in his fourth match in this Champions League but his first with AC Milan (three previous matches with our opponents, with the last one dating back to the 2022/23 season). Letexier has already refereed two Italian teams this season: Leipzig 2-3 Juventus in the Champions League, and APOEL 2-1 Fiorentina in the Conference League. Assistant referees will be Mugnier and Rahmouni, fourth official Pignard, and VAR will be Delajod and Dechepy.

Matchweek 8 will close the league phase of the new Champions League, with all matches to be played simultaneously at 21:00 on Wednesday, 29 January. Here is the full schedule: Sporting CP v Bologna, PSV v Liverpool, Young Boys v Red Star, Stuttgart v PSG, Sturm Graz v Leipzig, Manchester City v Club Brugge, Bayern Munich v Slovan Bratislava, Inter v Monaco, Borussia Dortmund v Shakhtar Donetsk, Barcelona v Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen v Sparta Praha, Juventus v Benfica, Dinamo Zagreb v AC Milan, Salzburg v Atlético Madrid, Lille v Feyenoord, Aston Villa v Celtic, Girona v Arsenal and Brest v Real Madrid.

The standings: Liverpool 21; Barcelona 18; Arsenal and Inter 16; Atlético Madrid and AC Milan 15; Atalanta 14; Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille and Brest 13; Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and Celtic 12; PSV and Club Brugge 11; Benfica, PSG, Sporting CP and Stuttgart 10; Manchester City and Dinamo Zagreb 8; Shakhtar Donetsk 7; Bologna 5; Sparta Praha 4; Leipzig, Girona, Red Star, Sturm Graz and Salzburg 3; Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys 0. 
Liverpool and Barcelona already in the Round of 16: the top 8 qualify.
Teams from Arsenal to Celtic (included) are guaranteed progression to the knockout phase: 9th to 24th qualify for the play-offs.

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