Feyenoord vs AC Milan Prediction: Hosts to be haunted by former striker

Feyenoord will welcome AC Milan to De Kuip for the first leg of their Uefa Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday evening (20:00, live on TNT Sports 3).

This match marks Feyenoord's first appearance in the Champions League knockouts since 1985, while this is only Milan's second appearance at this stage in the past 11 seasons. Read on for my Feyenoord vs AC Milan prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Feyenoord could rotate their starting XI, after manager Brian Priske was sacked earlier this week. Gernot Trauner has already been ruled out for the hosts and he joins an extensive injury list.

The likes of Justin Bijlow, Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje and Ramiz Zerrouki all remain on the treatment table, however Quilindschy Hartman returned from a knee issue to play last Saturday. New signing Jakub Moder has been registered to the knockout squad, and could start on Wednesday night.

As for the visitors, Santiago Gimenez will look to feature against his old club, while January additions Kyle Walker and Joao Felix could make their Champions League debuts for Milan here.

Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alessandro Florenzi are all ruled out by injury, while Yunus Musah is suspended.

Feyenoord vs AC Milan Odds

Feyenoord are 12/5 to claim a first-leg victory, giving them an implied win probability of 29.4%. The draw can be backed at 13/5, and an away win is available at 23/20.

Gimenez leads the anytime goalscorer market at 13/8, while Ayase Ueda is shortest-priced for the hosts at 21/10.

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 10/11

I'm expecting goals at both ends on Wednesday night, which is why I've opted for both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals.

In eight Champions League games this season, the hosts have scored 18 goals but conceded 21 at the other end, with over 2.5 goals landing in all eight of these fixtures. The same bet landed in six of AC Milan’s eight UCL games this term.

Matchday eight saw Feyenoord thumped 6-1 by Lille, and they've conceded four goals across the three games that followed that result. Milan are in slightly better form, winning two of their last three, but they've only managed to keep two clean sheets in their last 12 outings.

Goals look to be on offer on Wednesday night.

Santiago Gimenez to score anytime @ 8/5

One man who could contribute to a high-scoring game is former Feyenoord marksman Gimenez, who now plies his trade for the red half of Milan.

The Mexico striker marked his Milan debut with a goal off the bench against Empoli at the weekend, and he scored 16 goals for Feyenoord in the first half of the season before moving to the Rossoneri last month.

Across his last 10 appearances for both clubs, the 23-year-old has netted 11 times, so he looks reasonably priced to score anytime on Wednesday.

Offers

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