Notebook – Spurs vs AC Milan

On Wednesday evening, we take on AC Milan in the second leg of our Champions League round of 16 tie trailing 1-0 on aggregate (kick-off 8pm UK).

Here’s all of the game’s key points of note…

1 - Champions League head-to-head record

Having faced Milan three times in this competition, it is honours even heading into Wednesday night’s last-16 second leg decider with one win apiece and a draw. Our 1-0 defeat last time out levelled the record after we had previously knocked Milan out at this stage in 2010/11. On that occasion, a goalless draw at White Hart Lane was enough to send us through after Peter Crouch’s 80^th-minute winner at the San Siro had given us a 1-0 aggregate advantage.

Highlights - AC Milan 0-1 Spurs | 2010/11

2 - Last time out

Back in February, we suffered a narrow defeat in northern Italy as Milan’s Brahim Diaz scored the only goal of the game. We fell behind after seven minutes when Diaz headed into an open net following two fine saves from Fraser Forster in the build-up.

Despite looking comfortable in possession with Pape Matar Sarr and Oliver Skipp deputising well in central midfield, we found it hard to build attacking momentum against a stubborn Rossoneri defence. As we pushed for the equaliser in the second half, we were grateful for some wastefulness from the Italian side as Charles de Ketelaere and Malick Thiaw spurned two glorious opportunities to give Milan a sizeable advantage, but it remains all to play for.

Highlights - Milan 1-0 Spurs | February, 2023

3 - Dier suspended

If we are to turn around this tie, we will have to without the assistance of Eric Dier. The defender, who has started each of our seven Champions League game so far this campaign, picked up his third booking of the campaign during the first leg in Milan, meaning he is now suspended for the return leg.

4 - Conte versus Milan

Despite our last defeat to Milan, that was only Conte’s second loss to the Italian side in his managerial career (10W 3D) and he has a 66.67% home win record across nine games in this fixture (6W 2D 1L).

5 - Milan bumpy on the road

A 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina in Serie A at the weekend was the Rossoneri’s third loss in four games on their travels (W1). In 13 away games this league campaign, Milan have five wins, four draws and four losses but only one of those victories was against a side in the top 10 (Monza 10^th).

Similarly, in this season’s Champions League group stage, Milan lost 3-0 at Chelsea and were held 1-1 at FC Red Bull Salzburg but did manage to overcome Group E bottom side Dinamo Zagreb 4-0.

Historically, they have also found it difficult to win in England in this competition. In the 10 games played in this country, Milan have only one win (D3 L6) - a 1-0 victory at Manchester United in 2004/05.

6 - Milan record 

Although they have lifted the European Cup seven times, Milan have failed to get beyond the last-16 since they knocked out our north London rivals Arsenal in 2011/12. Our former player Kevin-Prince Boateng scored a superb goal to help Milan to a 4-0 first leg win at the San Siro before the Italians held on to progress 4-3 on aggregate. 

7 - Conte and Pioli

Wednesday’s fixture sees the last two managers to win the Scudetto face each other for the 13^th time in their managerial careers. Conte holds the upper hand overall with seven wins to Stefano Pioli’s two in a head-to-head which dates back to 2007/08 when both Italian managers were plying their trade in Serie B.