The UEFA Champions League is nearing its final Group Stage fixtures in Matchday 6, with Newcastle United set to welcome AC Milan at St James’ Park for the conclusive Group F clash, on Wednesday.
In a must-win game, the Magpies need to overcome the Serie A side to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Despite being drawn into the toughest possible Group F, also dubbed the ‘group of death,’ Eddie Howe and the team have performed admirably in the competition. It’s worth emphasizing the fact that they have returned to the Champions League with a squad lacking European experience, and their further progression has been hampered by a depleted squad with over a dozen players injured.
Newcastle registered only one victory against heavyweights PSG and settled for two draws and two defeats in their five matches, so far this campaign. As a result, they currently stand in third place with 5 points on the Group F points table. On the other hand, Milan is tied with Newcastle with the same 5 points residing at the bottom.
Both sides share an identical record with the same number of wins, draws, and losses. Consequently, they have equal chances of advancing, and the winner of the upcoming game will keep their hopes alive for the knockout stage. Also, a third-place finish would secure a spot in the Europa League for the victorious team at least.
To secure advancement, Newcastle-Milan not only needs to secure three points but also relies on PSG losing their fixture against Dortmund. A defeat for the Parisians and a win for any of the teams would propel them to second place with 8 points, surpassing PSG. Therefore, much is at stake for all three sides – PSG, Milan, and Newcastle.
When and Where?
Where: St James Park, Newcastle
When: Wednesday 13 Dec, 2023
Time: 21:00 CET
Match Officials
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Assistant referees: Hessel Steegstra & Jan De Vries
Fourth official: Allard Lindhout
VAR: Rob Dieperink
Assistant VAR: Clay Ruperti
Team news
The hosts continue to suffer from a list of sidelined players due to injury concerns. The names include Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Matt Targett, and Javi Manquillo.
The visitors are also dealing with injuries and will feel the absence of Simon Kjaer, Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu, and Marco Pellegrino. Malick Thiaw remains out of the clash due to injury woes.
Match Analysis
Eddie Howe-led Magpies will look to bounce back from the 4-1 away loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage with a victory over the Italian opposition amid a turbulent campaign that has faced setbacks due to injuries.
Despite the defeat, a positive note was the return of Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff to the squad. Now, turning to the tactical aspect of the fixture, the hosts will maintain their 4-3-3 formation with a few changes to the starting eleven.
Dubravka is set to remain in goal in the absence of Nick Pope, with the back four retaining the lineup from the league outing: Trippier, wearing the captain’s armband, leading from the back alongside Lascelles, Schar, and Livramento on the other side of the defense.
In the midfield trio, the only change could be Longstaff replacing Willey to start the game alongside dependable partners Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes. Upfront, the attacking trinity consists of Antony Gordon and Almiron on the wings, with Aleksander Isak leading as the striker.
Nonetheless, the Serie A outfit is unlikely to be an easy opponent, especially in such a big game, where it guarantees to be an equally contested match. Milan has looked promising domestically, currently in the third position. However, they are also heading into St James’ Park coming off a defeat in their league outing.
Key Players
Antony Gordon
The Magpies will rely on their jersey number 10, the 22-year-old forward Antony Gordon, to deliver a stellar performance against the Italian rivals’ defense. Gordon, who has scored 6 goals in the Premier League so far this season, will be aiming to open his goal tally in Europe as well in the final do-or-die game. He is expected to play a key role against Milan.
Olivier Giroud
The visitors have one of the well-known former Premier League marksmen, Olivier Giroud, on their side who could prove to be the difference-maker. The French striker, who has played for Arsenal and Chelsea, will look to bring his experience into the game. He has scored 9 goals this season, including one in the UCL, and hopes to extend his tally.
Predicted Lineups
Newcastle Utd predicted XI vs AC Milan: Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Antony Gordon.
AC Milan predicted XI vs Newcastle United: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Musah; Chukwueze, Giroud, Rafeal Leao.
