Champions League: AC Milan to edge past Anderlecht

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is already under pressure

AC Milan have not started the season well, but Christian Crowther expects the Rossoneri to kick-start their campaign by edging past Anderlecht...

Milan v Anderlecht, Tuesday 19:45, Sky Sports 4, Match Odds: Milan 1.558/15, Anderlecht 8.07/1, The Draw 4.3100/30

Milan have endured a torrid start to the Serie A campaign, losing both their opening home matches 1-0. It was Atalanta's turn on Saturday as they produced the same shock result which Sampdoria achieved three weekends before, leading some Rossoneri fans to call for coach Massimiliano Allegri's head already.

This season was always going to a difficult one for Milan after losing prize assets Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to the lure of Paris St Germain's riches, however, a cursed pitch was something that they couldn't have bargained for.

After much criticism of the San Siro turf last season, notably from Arsene Wenger, the Italian ground staff clearly heeded the friendly advice and undertook to lay a new pitch this summer. Unfortunately, this appears to have had an alarmingly detrimental effect for both of the ground's incumbents.

In five competitive games on the fresh part-synthetic grass this season, neither AC Milan nor Inter have managed to record a win. The Nerazzurri themselves succumbed to a heavy 3-1 defeat to Roma and suffered a loss and a draw in their Europa League home ties.

Allegri will be praying a change of competition can break the hoodoo for his side and will take some semblance of optimism from a recent 3-1 away win at Bologna courtesy of a Giampaolo Pazzini hat-trick.

AC Milan to win to nil

As Opta inform us, the stats are still heavily weighted in the Rossoneri's favour against their Belgian visitors.

Milan are unbeaten against Anderlecht in the Champions League, recording two wins and two draws. Furthermore, the Belgian side have never won a Champions League game in Italy, losing three and drawing two games.

Luckily for Milan, Anderlecht are probably the perfect visitors to ease their pains and apply the defibrillators to their season with a win, having only scored once against the Rossoneri in four encounters.

Over/under 1.5 goals

Most clashes between these sides in this competition will not have lingered long in the memory of either set of supporters. Three out of four have produced under 1.5 goals with two of those proving stalemates.

As AC Milan have recorded the most goalless draws in Champions League history, backing under 1.5 is an attractive option, especially in light of their last two home results.

Best Bet: Back AC Milan to win to nil 2.588/5
Other Recommended bet: Back under 1.5 goals @ 3.814/5