AC Milan go into tonight’s game needing a win against Dinamo Zagreb to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16.
Milan did win 3-1 in the reverse game but Dinamo have not lost at their home ground the Stadion Maksimir in the entire 2022 calendar year, having beaten Chelsea and drawn with Salzburg so far in the group stages. You can read our pre-match preview here, while below are the best stats…
➤ Milan have won all five of their previous meetings with Dinamo Zagreb in Europe, including qualifying matches. The Rossoneri represent a real bogey team for the Croatians, who have never suffered more European defeats against any other side. Dinamo are the team Milan have played the most matches against in Europe while maintaining a 100% record.
➤ The Rossoneri are set to take to the pitch at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb for the third time in their history. AC Milan have recorded two wins there so far, first a 3-1 success in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1973 and then a 3-0 return leg victory in Champions League qualifying in 2000. However, the Diavolo will have a tough job on their hands tomorrow: Dinamo have lost just one of their last five home matches in the Champions League (against Manchester City in 2019).
➤ After scoring four goals in their first two group matches, the Rossoneri failed to find the net in their next two fixtures against Chelsea. It’ll therefore be important to return to scoring ways. Milan last went three consecutive Champions League games without netting in 2011.
➤ Olivier Giroud, who scored in the reverse fixture, has bagged 19 career goals in the Champions League, with 14 of these having come on the road (74%). In the competition’s history, out of all the players who have found the net at least 15 times, only Timo Werner has a higher percentage in this regard.
➤ In Zagreb, Rafael Leão will be aiming to score his first Champions League goal of the campaign. Nevertheless, the Portuguese man has already found a way to make an impact in this season’s competition: during the first four matchdays, only Vinícius Júnior has completed more dribbles than Rafa, who has twelve to his name.
