The 2024/25 Champions League kicks off on Tuesday and the first day of matches already has a classic full of rivalry. Rivals in two decisions, Milan and Liverpool face each other at 4 p.m. (Brasilia time), at the San Siro stadium. The clash brings together 13 continental titles: seven for the Italian team, second most successful in the competition, and six for the English team.
Milan’s last title, in 2007, was against Liverpool, 2-1 in Athens. Two years earlier, the two European giants experienced one of the most exciting finals in the history of the Champions League: Milan led 3-0 in the first half, in Istanbul, but Liverpool sought the equalizer in the final phase and won the cup on penalties.
In the current season, neither team comes into the competition as a favorite for the title. Liverpool, who won their last Champions League title in 2019, are undergoing a process of reformulation following the departure of the idolised German coach Jürgen Klopp, replaced by the Dutchman Arne Slot. On the pitch, one of the season’s new signings, Italian Federico Chiesa, formerly of Juventus, could make his debut on Tuesday, against an opponent he knows well from the classics of the Calcio.
The surprising 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, on the last day of the English championship, did not discourage the Liverpool coach on the eve of his debut in the Champions League.
In Milan, his debut in the Champions League is the opportunity for the team led by Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca to put their poor start to the season behind them. Tenth in the Italian championship, with just five points, the red-and-black team only managed their first victory on the fourth day, by 4-0 in Venice, last Saturday.
Against Liverpool we will have to play with the same energy and intensity that we showed against Venezia. We still have things to work on, but the most important thing is to have that energy – said Fonseca.
Milan vs Liverpool
- Día y hora: 17/09, martes
- Location: San Siro Stadium, Milan (Italy)
- Where to watch: Max
Alineaciones probables:
Milan: Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Pavilovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, Rafael Leao. Coach: Paulo Fonseca.
Liverpool: Alisson Becker; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Endo; Salah, Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo; Darwin Núñez.Technician: Arne Slot.