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26/11/2008[FONT="]
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Portsmouth (7/4) will saviour what is by far the most glamorous fixture any English side is involved this week when AC Milan (6/5) arrive on the south coast.
Tony Adams’s side will see the tie as a reward for their FA Cup triumph last season, but realise the need for points after a demoralising 3-0 defeat away to Portuguese outfit Braga got their Group E campaign off to a bad start.
Pompey will also be forced to take on the seven-time European champions without joint top scorer Jermain Defoe, out with a calf injury.That leaves the door open for fellow hotshot Peter Crouch to make his mark at Fratton Park – the lanky frontman is 7/1 to net the opener.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan have adopted a policy of resting many of their star players for the Uefa Cup, meaning former Chelsea man Andrei Shevchneko could get a run out – the Ukrainian international is 11/2 to find the net first, following his goal against Zurich in the qualifying round.
Adams has said in the run up to the game that he suspects Milan might “lock-up” for a 0-0 draw, a scoreline which can be backed at 7/1.
Elsewhere, former Pompey boss Harry Redknapp takes his new side Tottenham Hotspur side to Holland for a game with NEC Nijmegen.Spurs have enjoyed a mixed start to their campaign in Group D, thrashing Dinamo Zagreb 4-1 after losing 2-0 away to Udinese in their first match.
Redknapp will be hoping striker Darren Bent can continue his sparkling form – the recently-recalled England striker netted a hat-trick against the Croats and is 5/1 to open the scoring here.
With Roman Pavyluchenko cup-tied, Manchester United loanee Frazier Campbell could be handed the chance to add to his three-goal account – the pacy forward is also 4/1 to break the deadlock.
Manchester City face a trip to the 60,000 strong Veltins Arena to play Group A leaders Schalke – the Germans are currently seventh in the Bundesliga.
But City have a game in hand on their opponents and are looking to extend a 100 per cent record so far in the group stages.
Blues manager Mark Hughes says his side will be going for a victory, with their hosts needing victory to ensure qualification.
With European and Premier League champions Manchester United next-up for City, Hughes told the Manchester Evening News: “We will go to Germany looking for a positive result and that is how we approach every game. There is no reason why we cannot go to Schalke and cause them problems.”
Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has chipped in with two goals in the competition already this season and is a 12/1 shot to open the scoring.
Meanwhile, City’s Brazilian magician Robinho has had no trouble finding his feet at Eastlands – with nine goals already since a move from Real Madrid, the trickster is 6/1 to get the first goal of the game.
Schalke’s attack will be spearheaded by German international Kevin Kuranyi – the Brazilian-born centre-forward did not figure in his country’s 2-1 defeat to England last week after being dropped, but will be hoping to show coach Joachim Low what he is missing by striking first, available at 5/1.
Can Pompey rise to beat the Rossoneri?
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