Newcastle make their long-awaited return to the Champion League this evening when they take on AC Milan at the San Siro.
The last time Newcastle were in Europe’s premier club competition was back in 2002-03, when they reached the second group stage under Sir Bobby Robson.
That campaign saw them secure a famous 1-0 victory over a Juventus side that included the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon, and Newcastle will be hoping for similar success against Italian opposition today.
They could hardly have been given a tougher draw, with PSG and Borussia Dortmund making up the remainder of Group F, so even a point away from home could be vital in Newcastle’s quest to reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time ever.
What time is AC Milan vs Newcastle?
AC Milan vs Newcastle will kick off at 5.45pm BST from Milan’s San Siro.
The Newcastle squad arrived in Milan later than planned on Monday due to bad weather, but manager Eddie Howe insisted it will not derail his side’s preparations.
“It’s just part and parcel of the job that we do,” he said. “It’s not out of the normal that that can happen. This was a weather problem, but we’ve been in similar situations.
“It’s something we’re used to, although it’s a slightly later arrival time than we would have liked for the players. It’s no big deal though.”
How can I watch AC Milan vs Newcastle?
AC Milan vs Newcastle will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage starting at 5pm.
Subscribers can also watch a live stream on the Discovery+ app and website.
What should we expect from the game?
Milan welcome Newcastle to the San Siro having lost just one of their last 13 home games. However, they were thrashed 5-1 by rivals Inter on Saturday.
Newcastle lost three on the bounce after starting the season with a 5-1 win over Aston Villa, but managed to steady the ship with a 1-0 win over Brentford at the weekend.
For Howe, this will be the first Champions League game he has even attended, but he knows that this will be an enormous fixture for everyone connected with the city, not just himself.
“I’ve always been too busy working to take one in. But it’s not something I’ve given any thought to. It’s a game of football,” he said.
“Yes, it will be a very proud moment for me. I think it will be a very proud moment for everyone connected with Newcastle to be back in the Champions League after a long period away.”
The club’s last fixture in the competition, a 2-0 home defeat by Barcelona in March 2003, saw the likes of Shay Given, Kieron Dyer and Alan Shearer go up against Frank de Boer, Xavi and Patrick Kluivert.
This time around £53m summer signing Sandro Tonali, a semi-finalist with Milan last season, will be part of a new generation trying to write a new chapter in the club’s history.
The Italy international said: “It will be the most thrilling feeling to come out into the stadium packed with people again.
“They let me live my dream here at AC Milan, but now I come back as a rival. I will have a lot of feelings tomorrow.
“Everything happened so fast with the transfer, I was overwhelmed at first, but I have come across a wonderful team, wonderful staff and play for people who love football. The people of Newcastle will help anyone.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/uBvgL5M
Post a Comment