Celtic v AC Milan
Champions League first knock-out round, first leg
Date: Tuesday 20 February
Kick off: 1945 GMT
Venue: Celtic Park
Coverage on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW, BBC Radio Five Live and the BBC
Sport website
Celtic have concerns about the fitness of Craig Beattie, Jan Vennegoor of
Hesselink and Maciej Zurawski ahead of the Champions League tie with AC Milan.
But fellow striker Kenny Miller will be fit after having an operation on
a wisdom tooth abscess.
Celtic are minus cup-tied Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley.
Milan are similarly without Ronaldo, Marco Borriello is suspended,
Filippo Inzaghi is out injured, while another striker, Alberto Gilardino,
doubtful.
Gilardino has travelled with the squad and will be given a late fitness
test.
Celtic will also give late tests to their three doubtful strikers.
Gary Caldwell has returned to training, but Darren O'Dea is expected to
win the battle to partner Stephen McManus in Celtic's defence.
Caldwell suffered a knee injury against Inverness in November.
SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION
Who are they? One of the Italian big boys and their country's most
successful side in Europe with six European Cup/Champions League titles.
Recent form: This season Milan are in the shadow of city rivals Inter,
who lead them by 30 points and a places at the top of Serie A's form table.
Their league cause has not been helped by an eight-point deduction, but since
the winter break they seem to have found their feet after a slow start to the
campaign. They last lost in Serie A in November, cruised through top of their
Champions League group and since the winter break have picked up 13 of 15
points in the league, although they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by
Roma on the last day in January.
European record: Those six titles in Europe's premier competition put
them second on the all-time list behind Real Madrid, who have nine. They have
lifted the 'cup with the big ears' in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, are
the last side to have successfully defended it and have reached the knockout
stage in the last five tournaments, losing to the eventual winners in each of
the last two seasons. In addition they won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and
1973.
How did they get here? With the help of a trip to the courts. Having
finished second in Serie A behind Juventus last season they were embroiled in
the Moggiopoli match-fixing scandal and were intially banned from the Champions
League. But after an appeal their points penalty was cut from 44 to 30 and they
were given permission to play in Europe's premier competition. After victory
over Serbian side Crvena Zvezda in qualifying, they had an easy time of it in
their group after picking up nine out of 12 points in their first four games,
before losing their last two to AEK Athens and Lille.
Ones to watch: The tifosi (fans) are crazy for Kaka, and why not. The
playmaker is the heartbeat of the Rossoneri, is the joint-leading scorer in
this season's Champions League on five goals alongside Didier Drogba and
Fernando Morientes and has had more shots on target than any other player in
the group stages.
Did you know? Kaka, full name Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, became an
Italian citizen just over a week ago, but he will not be turning out in the
blue of Italy as he is "cap-tied" to Brazil.
They say: "Our main objective this season is the Champions League. I
can't promise the fans that we will win it again, but we will do everything we
can, that's for sure."
Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan coach
BIG MATCH STATS
Definitions of terms used:-
Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this
competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in
1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments
(Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup
competition are excluded.
Head-to-heads
Celtic and AC Milan have met on four occasions, with the Italians winning
two and the sides drawing two. Their last meeting was in the group stage of the
2004-05 CL when Celtic recorded a goalless draw at home after suffering a 3-1
defeat in Milan.
In the 1968-69 Champions Cup, Celtic lost 1-0 at home, having managed a
goalless draw in the first leg in San Siro. That was Celtic's only home defeat
in six matches against Italian opposition, while Milan have never been
eliminated by a club from Scotland.
European history
Celtic have won the Champions Cup once, in 1967. They were the first
British team to win the trophy. This is their fourth Champions League campaign,
and the first in which they have successfully negotiated the group phase.
Milan are taking part in the Champions League main competition for the
11th time. Only FC Porto and Manchester United have made more appearances in
Europe's leading club competition - 12 each. Milan are two-time winners of the
Champions League and have added these to four Champions Cup triumphs.
Current European form
Celtic have won all three of their CL home matches this season and are
yet to concede a goal at Celtic Park. The Scottish champions have lost only one
of their 12 CL home matches. This sole home defeat came on 14 September 2004
against FC Barcelona (1-3).
AC Milan lost their last two CL matches, without scoring. The Italian
side have never lost three successive CL matches.
Player and disciplinary info
Celtic's Evander Sno, Kenny Miller and Stephen McManus all face
suspension if booked.
Celtic's most experienced player in the Champions League is Czech
midfielder Jiri Jarosik with 36 appearances. He also has six goals in the
competition. Three of Celtic's players - Artur Boruc, Neil Lennon and Lee
Naylor - are yet to miss a minute in this season's Champions League.
On 21 November, Milan's Alessandro Costacurta became the oldest CL player
ever at 40 years and 211 days. If he plays, Maldini will become the first
Italian player to reach 100 Champions League appearances. Kaka is joint top
scorer of this season's CL, with five goals, but only one of those was away
from home.
Other miscellaneous facts
Gordon Strachan's side lead the SPL by 19 points from "Old Firm" rivals
Rangers.
Milan are in sixth place in Serie A and trail table toppers
Internazionale by 30 points.
Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
