Today at 2:45 p.m. ET, AC Milan and Celtic do battle in UEFA Champions League Group H action from San Siro, Milan. The game can be live streamed here.
AC Milan heads into this encounter with Celtic reeling from injuries and the club is hoping to avoid any setbacks in the game while it already has to deal with missing key players. Kaka was diagnosed with an adductor muscle tear on Monday after leaving the team's eventual 2-2 tie with Torino Saturday and is listed as out for today's game.
Joining Kaka on the list of injured players for Milan is club captain Riccardo Montolivo and fellow midfielder Andrea Poli, who will also miss the Group H opener. Those three injuries are just the tip of the iceberg for Milan as forwards Stephan El Shaarawy and Giampaolo Pazzini are both out along with defenders Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio, Matias Silvestre and Daniele Bonera.
Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri was upset with the way the team performed on Saturday and coming into a game against Celtic today he hopes the team can turn it around without some key stars.
"It's a big match as we'll be up against a team that are very physically strong as well as being technically good players, especially in the attacking department," Allegri said to ESPN Tuesday. "They'll be a tough team to face. I think that the players will put in a good performance tomorrow to put the match in Torino behind us."
Allegri also praised the importance of home-field.
"We're playing at home as well so we'll have our fans behind us," he said per ESPN. "There are all the ingredients for a great match and a great performance. I'm not worried at all about the situation."
Celtic will be relieved not to face Kaka since his goal eliminated them from the competition in 2007, but striker Alessandro Matri sealed Celtic's fate last year with two goals against them when he played for Juventos before switching to the San Siro over the summer.
"It'll be an emotional night," Matri told ESPN. "My Champions League debut in the San Siro. I can't wait to get on the pitch and play this game."
Celtic coach Neil Lennon will look for his team to take advantage of the injuries that have plagued Milan coming into the match.
"It is very unfortunate for [Allegri] that these injuries have come all at the one time and it is not an ideal situation," Lennon said, according to ESPN. "But I am sure as the season and the campaign progresses Milan as always will get better and stronger."
Lennon has a few injury problems of his own to deal with as Joe Ledley is doubtful due to a groin injury and winger James Forrest and midfielder Beram Kayal will also be sidelined for the contest.
"I can't look too much into Milan's problem I have to concentrate in my own," Lennon said per ESPN. "I can't really offer up a lot of sympathy at this stage for him."
After either Milan or Celtic takes the game this afternoon, there will be no sympathy from either side for the team that falls.
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