According to the results of the draw for the group stage of the Champions League, the rivals for the Milan match with PSG and Borussia Dortmund formed the "group of death". Bookmakers are predicting a first place for the French champion, but the Parisian club is not known for its stable football and it is not known in what form it will appear on the European stage without Neymar and Messi in the squad. Both Milan and Newcastle automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage. Last season was the most successful European season for the Rosso Neri since 2007, when they won the Champions League. In May this year Milan were stopped by fellow countrymen Inter in the semi-finals of the elite European tournament. For Newcastle, the upcoming match in the Champions League will be the first since the 2003/2004 season. Bookmakers have chosen the hosts as favourites for the upcoming clash, offering odds of 2.38 on their victory.

After the Champions League play-offs last season, Milan have played six official matches: three in the last Serie and three in the current one. The clubs defeated by the Rosso Neri over the past month have been Bologna, Torino and Roma. On Saturday, before this piece was written, Milan were due to take to the pitch in a derby against Inter. Certainly, a match of this level in the championship will not go in favour of preparation for the meeting with Newcastle. It should be noted that in the off-season Milan spent an active transfer campaign, but lost one of the leaders - Tonali, who moved to the camp of the upcoming rival from England.

Newcastle's change of ownership a year and a half ago implied a rapid process of development of the club. However, instead of achieving it through the mass arrival of star players, the leadership of the "forty" made a bet on competent management and did not fail. In the off-season Howe conducted a restrained transfer policy, reinforced by Tonali, Barnes and Livramento. Already in the opening match of the season, the first two mentioned newcomers scored goals, while Isak and Wilson completed the 5-1 rout of Aston Villa. To the fight in Milan, the Magpies approach the game in a series of three defeats, which are inflicted by Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton. The guests are not inferior in class to the Milan club, so the fourth match in a row will not lose.