AC Milan vs BATE Borisov preview - Allegri targets `huge step'

Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by PA

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes victory over BATE Borisov at the San Siro in Champions League Group H would represent a significant step forward at the start of a crucial month for his team.

The Rossoneri drew 2-2 against defending champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp in their opening pool match before beating Viktoria Plzen 2-0 last month.

Milan head into the encounter level on four points with Barca at the top of the group and Allegri wants his side to pick up another three points in order to secure early qualification for the knockout phase and allow them to focus on improving their Serie A position.

"We have a crucial month ahead of us," Allegri said on www.acmilan.com.

"We have to reach the next round of the Champions League and to arrive to the next league break with as many points as possible.

"To win would be a huge step towards qualifying."

Milan bounced back from the worst start any defending champions have made to a Serie A season in the last 21 years with a 3-0 victory over Palermo on Saturday.

The result lifted Allegri's side to 13th in the standings, four points behind leaders Juventus after six games.

"We played well against Palermo but we have to give continuity to this performance," the coach added.

Milan will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng from injury.

Allegri could rest Italy striker Antonio Cassano in favour of fielding Robinho alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front.

BATE travel to Italy on the back of Friday's 2-0 triumph at Minsk that ended their seven-match winless run in the Belarusian league.

The result kept BATE on course to defend their title - they are nine points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining.

BATE were humiliated 5-0 by Barca on their last European outing, though, and head coach Viktor Goncharenko will be hoping his side can show a drastic improvement at the San Siro.

"The defeat to Barcelona was an ugly result but it was a lesson for my players," he said.

"They made stupid mistakes, they showed fear and they didn't display their true potential.

"I hope we can improve in every department against Milan."

Serbia striker Mateja Kezman is set to lead the BATE attack in Milan, but the visitors are still without Vitali Rodionov and Yawhen Kuntsevich through injury.