Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

This is a fixture between two in-form sides and should be a tightly contested game. However, we are backing the hosts to come away with a narrow win to make it two wins from two in the competition. Leverkusen have been in impressive home form, with just one loss in their previous ten competitive home fixtures. The Germans have also won three of their previous four games.

Milan have also enjoyed success lately, winning three of their last five. However, dating back further they have won just three of eight and began the season with one win in five. Goals should be expected in this game, as over 2.5 goals have been scored in six of the previous eight involving Leverkusen, and the last nine involving Milan. Look for Leverkusen to get off to a quick start, as they have scored first in seven of their previous eight. – Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 AC Milan

Matchday two of the Champions League sees Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen host Italian giants AC Milan, looking to make it two wins from two.

Date: 01/10/24

Kick-off time: 20:00

Venue: BayArena

Bayer Leverkusen enjoyed a historic unbeaten league season, winning the Bundesliga and securing their place in this year’s Champions League. However, despite their success, they fell short of winning the Europa League, as they were defeated in the final by Atalanta. This season, Xabi Alonso’s side have started strong once more, but have already fallen to a loss. They are currently in third place with 10 points after five games.

The Germans are competing in Europe’s premier competition for the second time in the last three seasons. Their greatest finish in the tournament was runners-up in 2002. With the new format, they will be hopeful of going deep into the knockout stages. A win on matchday one against Feyenoord meant they made the perfect start, though a tougher test awaits in AC Milan.

After starting the season slowly, Milan have since played themselves into form with three league wins in a row. This includes a victory over rivals Inter Milan. This places them second in Serie A early on in the campaign. Unlike their opponents, Milan lost their first Champions League game. They faced difficult opposition in Liverpool, but despite taking an early lead they could not come away with a positive result. This places slightly more pressure on the Italians to pick up some points in this one. Goals should not be hard to come by in this fixture, with both sides involved in high-scoring games so far. Whilst the hosts are very talented going forward, they appear vulnerable at the back. In their five league games so far, they have yet to keep a clean sheet, conceding 10 in total. This could give the visitors confidence in creating chances.

One player who is in excellent form for Milan is Christian Pulisic. The American scored their opening goal against Liverpool, and has been involved in six league goals. He has plenty of talent alongside him to trouble the Leverkusen defence in Rafa Leao, Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham.

Milan boss Paulo Fonseca will have to be wary of the home attack, as they have also had plenty of joy in front of goal. They have netted four goals in three of their last four games in all competitions. Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface have already scored seven goals between them in the league.

This will be the first ever meeting between these two sides. Leverkusen do not have a good record against Italian opposition, winning just six of 28 games. Milan have a better record with 17 wins in 39 games against German sides.

Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan will be available to watch on TNT Sports 5.

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen have no new injury concerns and should have a fully fit squad to choose from.

AC Milan

AC Milan welcomed back Noah Okafor and Davide Calabria to full training after short absences. They should be available for this game. Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are longer term absentees.

Bayer Leverkusen:

In their last five games, Bayer Leverkusen have won three, drawn one and lost one. It has been a strong start to the season for the Bundesliga champions, but after winning the league unbeaten last year, they have already lost once. This came at the beginning of this run, when they were defeated 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig. They actually took a 2-0 lead with goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, but their opponents turned it around, scoring an 80th minute winner.

Leverkusen responded well with a 4-1 away win at Hoffenheim. Martin Terrier put them in front, before Victor Boniface doubled the lead. Their advantage was halved, but they came through with further strikes from Florian Wirtz and Boniface. Attention shifted to Champions League action, and they won their first game 4-0 against Feyenoord. Wirtz scored a brace, whilst Grimaldo was also on the scoresheet. An own goal completed the scoring.

Wolfsburg were the next opponents, and Xabi Alonso’s side won 4-3 in a thriller. Leverkusen took the lead twice but were pegged back each time. Wolfsburg took their first lead on the stroke of half-time, but Piero Hincapie levelled it for his side almost immediately after the restart. Boniface stole all three points for his side in the 93rd minute. Last time out, they travelled to title rivals Bayern Munich. They came away with a 1-1 draw after Aleksandar Pavlovic cancelled out Robert Andrich’s opener.

AC Milan:

In their last five games, AC Milan have won three, drawn one and lost one. It has been an impressive stretch for Milan, as they picked up some huge points in the league. However, this run started with dropped points away at Lazio. Strahinja Pavlovic gave them the lead, but Lazio turned it around in four second half minutes. Rafael Leao scored an equaliser shortly after.

They responded well with a dominant 4-0 win at home to Venezia. Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham were all on the scoresheet. Their first Champions League action followed, but they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, despite taking a very early lead through Pulisic.

The biggest result of this stretch came against rivals Inter Milan. They were 2-1 winners against the Serie A champions thanks to an 89th minute Matteo Gabbia winner. Pulisic had put them in front, though this was cancelled out by Federico Dimarco. In their most recent game, they won 3-0 against Lecce. Alvaro Morata scored the first, followed by strikes from Hernandez and Pulisic. Davide Bartesaghi was sent off late, but the game was already out of reach.

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