AC MILAN v CRVENA ZVEZDA: OPPONENT REVIEW

AC Milan v Crvena zvezda is a fixture with a great past that now returns, after several years, for the sixth game of the new Champions League format. Both sides arrive at San Siro off the back of good results in Europe (the Serbs won their last game, the Rossoneri won their last three) but opposing runs of form in their respective domestic leagues. Fonseca’s team will be looking for redemption after the defeat in Bergamo, Milojević's side has only picked up wins in the Serbian SuperLiga since August. Belgrade’s Crveno-beli are flying in the league with 49 points from 17 games and a 12-point lead over Partizan in second place.

The situation is different in Europe: the big 5-1 win over Stuttgart at the Rajko Mitić secured them their first three points in the table after four defeats on the trot - at home against Benfica (1-2) and Barcelona (2-5), away to Inter (4-0) and Bayern Munich (5-1). To continue their pursuit of a comeback qualification, it will be fundamental for the Serbian side to aim to secure three points at San Siro and pick up a win on the road. In Italy, Crvena zvezda won the European Cup in 1990/91, in the final in Bari. However, they have only beaten an Italian side away from home once: against Chievo in the UEFA Cup 2002/03

A VULNERABLE BUT THREATENING TEAM. BEWARE OF THE BENCH
Only Slovan Bratislava have conceded more goals (18) in the first five games of the Champions League, Crvena zvezda have conceded 17. It has been a difficult 450 minutes for the Serbian champions in terms of defence, they have already fielded three goalkeepers this season in Europe: Glazer against Benfica and Inter (6 goals from passive play), Ilic against Monaco and Barcelona (10 goals conceded) and Guteša against Stuttgart. Continuous rotation for a team that, though having difficulty in defence, is not to be underestimated in attack. Crvena zvezda is in the Top 5 - in fourth place - both for free-kicks won and times fouled, a testament to their dedication and spirit of sacrifice in build-up play.

Milojević's side also stands out, in terms of statistics, for the high number of offsides (13) flagged against them, they tend to play centrally going forward. In four of the five fixtures so far, our next opposition has fielded a four-man backline, favouring a 4-2-3-1, mirroring the Rossoneri. Of note is the low number of successful crosses - just 17.3%, the third lowest figure in the competition - highlighting how carefully covering off all channels can be important in neutralising the Serbian play. Another important point regards the bench as five of the nine goals scored by Crvena zvezda have come from substitutes: so far, only Borussia Dortmund have done better with the substitutes also boasting a better scoring percentage than the starting line-up (38% v 33%).

SPOTLIGHT ON PREVIOUS PLAYERS
Having mentioned the rotation between the sticks, four players have been on the pitch for all 450 minutes of Crvena zvezda’s Champions League so far: the defensive midfield pairing Spajić-Djiga, the Korean full-back Seol and the Slovenian regista Elšnik. The most notable former player, Rade Krunić, has made five appearances so far but not for the full tally of minutes: between 2019 and 2023, he made 139 appearances for the Rossoneri and went to Belgrade in September from Fenerbahce, also bagging his first goal of the season in the 5-1 win over Stuttgart.

Another old acquaintance, this time from the Italian league, is former Torino player Nemanja Radonjić. The 1996-born player who bagged a brace in the last game returned to Crvena zvezda after the 2017/18 season (culminating in the domestic title win). If Radonjić moves mostly down the left, the right flank is the domain of Congolese player Silas Katompa-Mvumpa who has scored in the last two Champions League fixtures: should he get onto the scoresheet at San Siro as well, the former Paris FC and Stuttgart man would be the first Crveno-beli player to score in three consecutive matches in Europe's top competition since another former AC Milan and Crvena zvezda great, Dejan Savićević.

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