Milan-Celtic Preview: Four Burning Questions

By: JT | December 4th, 2007

Heading into today’s monster Champions League match with Milan, some simple facts are known.

If Celtic avoid defeat, they’ll advance to the knockout rounds for the second year in a row.

If Celtic win, they’ll take the group ahead of the European Champions, who have already qualified.

If Celtic lose and Shakhtar beat Benfica, Celtic head to the UEFA Cup.

Celtic haven’t won in their last fourteen CL away matches.

Milan haven’t won a Serie A home fixture this term, but have won both their Champions League encounters.

The match will be shown live on ESPN2, leaving open the possibility of the inaugural Celtic Offside Liveblog.

Despite these indisputable facts, there are a ton of questions left to be answered about this match. In lieu of a traditional match preview, lets take a look at four key queries:

HOW HEALTHY ARE CELTIC?

The Bhoys literally have no natural fullbacks available. The likely back four of Gary Caldwell, Steven Pressley, Stephen McManus, and Darren O’Dea are all center backs by trade, and they performed well against Hearts this weekend, save Caldwell’s innocuous challenge which the ref deemed a penalty.

Midfielder Paul Hartley could be called on at right back with Caldwell moving to the center, but methinks Hartley will be required to protect the back line rather than to be a part of it.

World class keeper Artur Boruc will likely have a minor knee procedure after the match, and miss some time over the holiday period.

HOW WILL CELTIC LINE UP AND WHAT WILL THEIR TACTICS BE?

The guess here is that Celts will start off 4-4-1-1 like they did when Milan visited Celtic Park. Hartley, Massimo Donati, Aiden McGeady, and Scott Brown will man the midfield, with the ridiculously in-form Jiri Jarosik playing off of speedy frontman Scott McDonald. The Aussie’s pace will be required to keep Milan’s ancient rearguard on their toes.

A straight-up 4-4-2, minus Donati and with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink partnering McDonald would be a huge surprise, and in my opinion, a mistake. Milan’s midfield needs to be swarmed, and 4 1/2 men will be required to do it.

WGS says he’s not playing for a draw, and I believe him. He can’t risk a late goal undoing 90 minutes of hard work like the Hoops did in losing to Benfica in Lisbon last month. They’ll take their chances on the counter while trying not to expose the defense, but I really don’t see them trying to suck the life out of the match.

WHO WILL TURN OUT FOR THE ROSSONERI?

Milan wants to win this match. They want to avoid dropping to second in the group, leaving open the possibility of drawing Barcelona, Chelsea, or ManUtd in the first knockout round. If its 0-0 with fifteen minutes left, I can see them chillin’ out a bit. But anytime Pippo Inzaghi is on the pitch, he’s looking to score. He’s one goal away from taking over as the top goalscorer in Champions League history, which makes him an even more dangerous man than usual.

Some of the Milan regulars might get a rest, though Carlo Ancelotti insists he’ll be fielding his “best team”, despite Milan heading to Japan next week to contest the World Club Championship. Even if Kaka or Seedorf get a rest, Yoann Gourcuff will get a run out and he’ll be looking to catch Carletto’s eye.

In the end, the team Milan puts on the pitch doesn’t really matter. They’re still pretty damn good, and they’ll be tough to crack.

SO HOW’S THIS ALL GONNA SHAKE OUT?

Everywhere I look, people are saying this one’s going to be a mind-numbing 0-0 draw. I see a draw, but a scoring one. Inzaghi is a lock to get on the board here, and I expect to see it happen early.

Celtic will open it up in the second half and get the equalizer that sends them to the knockout rounds, probably through a lightning quick counter courtesy of McGeady, Brown, and McDonald.

It’ll finish 1-1, everyone will be satisfied, and there will be some big time partying by the traveling faithful in Milan tonite!