Bayer Leverkusen take on the visitors AC Milan in the round 2 match of UEFA Champions League group stage. The match will be played on Tuesday, October 1st at BayArena (Leverkusen).
Repeating Bayer's magical second season will be difficult, but the black and reds have no intention of abandoning their ultra-aggressive style. The Europa League finalist, German champion, and domestic Super Cup holder has been conceding an alarming number of goals this year, despite the attack with Grimaldo, Wirtz, and Boniface being as effective as ever. Unfortunately, Leverkusen has been conceding goals even in simple situations. A 2-0 lead against RB can turn into a 2-3 loss, and they barely scraped by Wolfsburg (4-3). In the last Bundesliga match against Bayern (1-1), many said Leverkusen was lucky, as the opponent dominated most of the game. Regardless, their Champions League start was spectacular, demolishing Feyenoord 4-0 away. However, defensive issues remain, so they should be wary of Milan's counterattacks. Expect goals—Bayer games rarely see fewer than three goals this season (only twice in 8 matches).
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Paulo Fonseca’s Milan heads to Leverkusen on the back of three consecutive Serie A wins. The most impressive of these was a 2-1 victory over Inter in the derby, and in the most recent Serie A match, the Rossoneri thrashed Lecce 3-0, sealing the game just before halftime. After also dismantling Venezia 4-0, it's clear the team is gradually finding its rhythm after Pioli’s departure. Morata is settling in well as the focal point of the attack (having just scored the winning goal against Lecce). After a 1-3 loss to Liverpool in the first Champions League match, the red and blacks will be forced to take risks against their color counterparts. Milan’s defense will be weakened—Benasser, Thiaw, and Florenzi are unavailable—but expect an aggressive, high-pressing Milan, even away at the BayArena.
I see at least three goals in the match, considering both teams' aggressive styles, their goal-scoring ability this season, and their focus on attacking play and creativity. Moreover, Milan, already in a risky situation, has defensive issues, while Bayer plays a high and risky line, which could see them concede three goals like they did against Wolfsburg. This “super-intense” game doesn’t deserve to be low-scoring, and with the attacking talent on both sides, three goals should be the minimum expectation. Interestingly, this will be the first time these two teams face each other, and we are right to expect a goal-filled spectacle.
Prediction for the match: Over 2.5 scored goals.
