Chelsea vs AC Milan prediction, odds and preview

As Chelsea welcomes AC Milan to Stamford Bridge for their Group E matchup on Wednesday, supporters will be hoping that the third time will prove to be the charm in the 2022–23 Champions League.

After two games without a victory, Graham Potter’s team is in last place in the group, while the Rossoneri are in top place with four points from six games.

Potter’s first match as Chelsea’s manager concluded in a 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg after the 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb put the final nail in Thomas Tuchel’s coffin. Now that he’s made a winning start at home, his next goal is to stop Chelsea’s winless streak in Europe.

Chelsea, although being in last position, is only three points behind Milan in first place, and the Blues will be determined to upset the apple cart on Wednesday.

The last time Chelsea lost at home to Italian opposition in Europe was in March 2010 when they lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. The hosts have gone eight games without a loss at Stamford Bridge, but they have also failed to keep a clean sheet in the same span of games in all competitions.

When AC Milan faced Empoli in Serie A over the weekend, the injury issue in Stefano Pioli’s squad grew worse, but the Scudetto champions still won easily as they continue to play catch-up in the race to defend their Serie A title.

Pioli has seen his team tie with Salzburg and defeat Zagreb to hold the top spot in Group E of the Champions League. Like Chelsea, the Italian champions have recently displayed some defensive flaws, surrendering in six straight games across all competitions.

Milan is attempting to break a European curse on English soil, as they have lost all eight of their away games and have only won one of these games, at Old Trafford in 2005.

The Rossoneri’s other 19 encounters with English clubs in continental competition resulted in seven draws and 12 losses for them, and they haven’t faced Chelsea since the 1999–2000 Champions League group stage, when both games ended evenly.