UEFA Champions League: Celtic v AC Milan

Monday, 19 February 2007

Glasgow, Scotland’s very own Celtic FC +190 will host AC Milan +130 on Tuesday February 20th, 2007 at Celtic Park for the first leg of the knock out stage for the UEFA Champions League.

Celtic FC has reached the UEFA Champions League knockout phase for the first time and their expectations of advancing further seem to dwell on earning a positive result in their first leg against AC Milan.

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The Scottish champs haven’t won on the road in the UEFA Champions League but a recent record of nine wins in twelve home matches makes it look like they won’t be short of confidence at Celtic Park, even against opponents with the European pedigree of six time winners AC Milan.

Celtic finished runners up in Group F in order to get to the UEFA Champions League's last 16 on their fourth attempt having a cushion enough to lose their last group match on December 6th, 2006 against FC København 3-1 when Ji?í Jarošík hit a late relief to win the match.

Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick earned the 1-0 win over Manchester United FC on Match day 5 that qualified Celtic. Their earlier fixtures obtained home victories against København (1-0) and Benfica (3-0) and road losses to United (2-3) and Benfica (0-3).

Milan was also defeated in their final group match 2-0 at home by lowly LOSC Lille Métropole, which earned them a tied up first place in Group H. Manager Carlo Ancelotti's men had formerly gained victories against AEK Athens FC (3-0) and RSC Anderlecht.

Milan also beat RSC 1-0 away and 4-1 at home while they drew at Lille (0-0) and lost at AEK (0-1). Kaká was their star player with five goals which placed him joint top of the tournament's goal chart.

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Between the two teams, Milan won the first game in the 1968/69 European Champion Clubs' Cup quarter-finals. After a scoreless draw at the San Siro, Piero Prati's 12th minute goal in Glasgow earned a 1-0 aggregate triumph that led Milan to lift the trophy.

AC Milan also eliminated Celtic FC on their way to the finals in 2004/05. Late goals by Filippo Inzaghi (89th minute) and Andrea Pirlo (1 past regulation) earned the Rossoneri a 3-1 home win in the group stage in September 2004. A scoreless tie followed at Celtic on the last match day consigning the hosts to fourth place in the section with Milan as the leader.

In general AC Milan has won six and drawn twice in ten games against Scottish sides in spite of the fact that their record in Scotland is mixed with two wins, one draw and two loses.

Celtic's most unforgettable meetings with Italian opponents have come against Milan's neighbors, FC Internazionale Milano. Jock Stein's team defeated Inter 2-1 in the 1966/67 European Cup final but in 1971/72 suffered semi final heartache by losing 5-4 on penalty kicks at Celtic Park following two 0-0 draws. Overall Celtic's home record against Italian sides is strong with four wins, two draws and the one loss to Milan in 1968/69.

Sportbet.com has Celtic FC at +190 underdog with AC Milan at +130. The Draw is +200 and my selection for this game is the Draw at +200. Celtic +190 is tempting to take since they are at home.