Chelsea at AC Milan: Champions League betting guide
By Mike Malley
Stefano Pioli will undoubtedly have Milan better prepared than Wolves were. Theo Hernandez returning to fitness is also a storyline to watch, as his runs up-and-down the left flank will force Reece James to play more defensively than he did last week. I’d expect a more careful affair in general.
I’m always surprised at how highly-valued the home-field advantage is in European football in 2022. The Blues were favorites at -150 at home against the Rossoneri last Wednesday, but their odds have risen to +130 for the upcoming clash. Chelsea is still favored with Milan sitting at +210 on the moneyline, however, the oddsmakers are evidently placing a lot of value on the atmosphere at San Siro and how much it will impact the road team. All three of the Blues’ defeats this season have come away from Stamford Bridge, so perhaps there is some reason for this line of thinking. I’m not convinced enough to include a moneyline bet in my picks, though.
As I mentioned earlier, I really can’t see this match being as high-scoring as its previous iteration. Chelsea is certainly less desperate for a victory, so I assume Graham Potter will be more pragmatic in his team selection and playing style.