Celtic v AC Milan Betting Tips [22 October 2020]

Old foes Celtic and AC Milan meet for the first time in the Europa League, as they start Group ‘H’ action of the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League. With Lille and Sparta Prague being the other teams in the group, this is widely regarded as the ‘group of death’ this season making every match vital in the final analysis. Serial Scottish champions Celtic will look to start their Europa League campaign with a win, but they will have to quickly come out of their weekend loss.

Celtic were beaten 2-0 in the ‘Old Firm derby’ by Rangers with an insipid display that erased the positive start they had for the season. Celtic have won eight of their previous nine matches and six of those wins have come with a clean sheet. Looking at their Europa League pattern, Celtic will have hopes of erasing the pains of that derby loss. The hosts have won six of their last nine Europa League matches, losing two. Further, Celtic have won eight of their last 11 Europa League home games and will be keen to replicate that.

Milan are fresh off a derby win in Serie A with veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading them to a 2-1 win over Inter Milan. The visitors are now unbeaten since losing to Genoa in Serie A in March. Milan have come through three qualification matches this season including a penalty win in the final playoff. That said, Milan haven’t travelled well in the Europa League and have won just four of their last nine matches – losing three and drawing three. Closer in time, Milan are unbeaten away from home since the derby loss to Inter in February.

This is the first time since 2013/14 that Celtic and AC Milan are meeting. There have been ten previous encounters in major European competitions, although all coming in the Champions League or its previous avatar of European Cup. Celtic have won just one of those and adding another win looks extremely unlikely.