Soccer Betting – Reds, Milan Renew Rivalry
Liverpool (+135) vs AC Milan (+200), Draw (+245)
When any soccer fan sees a match between Liverpool and AC Milan on the schedule, they immediately harken back to the Miracle in Istanbul, otherwise known as the epic 2005 UEFA Champions League final. Liverpool stunned the Italians back then, scoring three goals in six minutes to tie the game in the second half, and then winning on penalties. But it’s been more than a decade since the Reds reached the pinnacle of club soccer, and now neither of these teams are the continental powers they once were. Both will look to make strides this season, and they can get the year off on the right foot in Saturday’s friendly at Levi’s Stadium in California (10:00 PM Eastern) which is part of the International Champions Cup.
For AC Milan, the climb back to the top of the mountain looks longer and more arduous. New coach Vincenzo Montella is taking over a squad that just has too many holes to compete for the Italian Serie A title in the upcoming season.
Milan were able to get a result out of their first friendly against powerful Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. The teams played to a 3-3 draw, and then Milan triumphed on penalties. In reality, Milan were dominated by the Germans for most of the game. But you have to give them credit for capitalizing on their chances, and drawing the star-studded Bavarians through 120 minutes is never a bad result.
Meanwhile, Liverpool lost to Chelsea, 1-0, on Wednesday Night. That was already the fifth friendly for the Reds this year, and it was the first in which they didn’t emerge victorious. After the Blues took the lead in the tenth minute, Liverpool looked to have leveled the game 25 minutes later, but Roberto Firmino’s goal was ruled offside.
The Reds roster looked pretty settled a few days ago, but now might be undergoing some flux prior to the start of the EPL season. Jurgen Klopp just sent defender Mamadou Sakho home from the team’s US tour for missing team meetings (and a general “lack of respect“).
As mentioned, AC Milan and Liverpool have a storied history. In addition to the Miracle in Istanbul, they also met in the 2007 UCL final when the Italians got revenge with a 2-1 win. They also met in the 2014 version of the International Champions Cup, a game the Reds took 2-0.
Milan won’t be outplayed by Liverpool like they were by Bayern. The Reds aren’t that good. But they’re still the more skilled side in this affair, and I don’t see the Rossoneri converting their few chances at the same rate again.
Pick: Liverpool (+135).
Photo credit: goatling (Flickr:) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
