AC Milan goes into the important Champions League game against Dortmund with major injury concerns. A defeat could mean the end for last season’s semi-finalists.
Francesco Camarda has already secured his place in the history books. At 15 years, eight months and 15 days, the AC Milan striker became the youngest player in the history of the Italian Serie A on Saturday (November 25th, 2023). In his team’s 1-0 win against AC Fiorentina, Camarda was injured in the 83rd minute Substituted in minute. With his short stint, he replaced defender Wisdom Amey from FC Bologna, who played in Serie A in 2021 at the age of 15 years and 274 days. The operation was only possible thanks to an exemption from the Italian Football Association. Because Milan coach Stefano Pioli simply ran out of players.
Nine players injured or suspended
Also with the one that is so important for the AC Champions League-Home game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday (from 9 p.m. in the audio live stream and in the live ticker on sportschau.de) Piolo will have to do without nine injured or suspended players. Among other things, the two central defenders Simon Kjaer and Marco Pellegrini are not there, and the two strikers Noah Okafor and Rafael Leão are also missing. At least French center forward Olivier Giroud is returning to the squad. There is therefore no more room for Camarda there. In any case, another exception would have been required for its use.
Defeat could mean exit from the Champions League
Milan are doomed to win against Dortmund. In the tight Group F, the team is currently only in third place with five points. Although the gap to leaders Dortmund is only two points, a defeat against BVB would be the same if Paris were successful Saint Germain against Newcastle United mean the end of the Champions League. And that would be bitter, because AC made it to the semi-finals of the premier class last season.
Dortmund, on the other hand, has… Giuseppe Meazza-Stadium match ball. With a win against the 19-time Italian champions, coach Edin Terzic’s team would follow Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig into the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Losing Leão was a bitter loss
The AC particularly failed in the “first half of the season” in the group phase. After two zero numbers in Dortmund and against Newcastle, there was a 3-0 defeat against Paris. Only because the Italians hit back 2-1 in the second leg are they still in the running in the “group of death”. However, Rafael Leão was one of the best against PSG, but he is out for the game against Dortmund.
Without Leão, the Milan game is suffering. The left winger is not the top scorer “Rossoneri”, but he has a huge influence on the overall statics of the team. The 24-year-old has been playing for AC since 2019. In his 179 competitive games he has “only” scored 47 goals, but he has also prepared 40.
Because of Piolo Training control in criticism
The Portuguese is suffering from a hamstring injury. The 58-year-old trainer Pioli is already being criticized in Milan because of his training management. Of the 28 players in his squad, 17 have been sidelined this season alone due to a muscular injury.
Things haven’t been going well in the domestic Serie A recently either. After a good start to the season, there have recently been four games without a win and the Lombards have slipped to third place in the table behind city rivals Inter and Juventus. Only the win against Florence on Saturday stopped the winless streak.
Giroud should aim it against Dortmund
Defender Theo Hernández scored the decisive goal with a penalty – which brings us back to the striker’s misery. Hopes rest on Giroud against Dortmund. While the second center forward, Luka Jovic, who is still healthy, is not hitting the goal at all, he has already scored eight goals in 15 competitive games this season.