Bayer Leverkusen are "honoured" to take on a team with the pedigree of Milan, so says Xabi Alonso.
Milan made a poor start to the season, failing to earn a win in their opening three Serie A games while they also lost their Champions League meeting with Liverpool.
However, they have turned things around on the domestic front with three successive victories, including a 2-1 win over reigning Serie A champions and city rivals Inter.
Milan have won the European Cup/Champions League on seven occasions, and Alonso - who was part of the Liverpool side that famously overcame the Rossoneri on penalties in the 2005 final - says it is an honour to go up against one of the continent's great clubs.
"Fundamental for my career. After 20 years we still talk about that night," Alonso said.
"Then two years later we lost to Milan but that victory in 2005 was incredible. It was [nearly] 20 years ago, we have to think about tomorrow. Milan is still the history of the Champions League.
"I've always liked Milan. Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello, and great players, and to play against them is a great honour for us."
Despite Milan's inconsistent start to 2024-25, Bundesliga champions Leverkusen know to expect a stern test.
"It's one of those games when you have to play smart. With the ball, without the ball, you have to be patient, you have to be ready, you have to be focused," Alonso said.
"An Italian team is always dangerous. They know how to have patience. They are ready to defend low or to play with possession.
"Milan don't have to be dominant to be dangerous. Sometimes they have good possession, sometimes they have good counter-attacks."
Leverkusen won 4-0 away at Feyenoord in their opening Champions League match, and Alonso is relishing playing in Europe's elite club competition in front of the home fans on Tuesday.
"We're excited that the Champions League is back in our stadium," he added.
"That we're back in this competition and that we're playing our first home game against a huge club in the history of football."
Leverkusen are aiming to win their opening two games of a Champions League campaign for the first time since 2001-02, a season in which they would go on to reach the final.
Guardiola predicts Foden will soon flourish for Man City
Pep Guardiola predicted it will not be long until Phil Foden is back to his best for Manchester City.
Foden was named PFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year following an exceptional season in 2023-24.
However, after featuring for England at Euro 2024, Foden has begun four of his five games this season on the bench, with his only start coming against Watford in the EFL Cup.
Speaking ahead of City's Champions League clash away in Slovakia against Slovan Bratislava, Guardiola said he was not concerned, though.
"Maybe I can have some doubts in many things, but Phil Foden is going to be back! As much as he feels good, he will be back," Guardiola told reporters.
"I think in 30 minutes at St James' Park [against Newcastle on Saturday], I felt already something that I like that I didn't see for example against Watford."
Foden is yet to score this season but an away trip to Bratislava, beaten 5-1 in their opening game at Celtic, could be the moment for him to open his account.
"Don't forget after the Euros he didn't have any training for two months, he had problems with some niggles and some problems in his health," Guardiola said.
"But now he is smiling and he's in his rhythm. He was the best player in the Premier League last season so we need him, he was important for us, but I have no doubts with his love for football and his training and passion, he will be back."
City drew their opening Champions League group game 0-0 at home against Inter and will be expected to dispatch of Bratislava on Tuesday with ease.
"I have incredible respect for all the teams in the Champions League especially when you play away," Guardiola said. "Hopefully we can be aggressive and take the result that we need.
"I have learned (in my career) that nothing is for granted. Nothing comes for free."
Should City, as expected, avoid defeat, they will equal the record for the longest unbeaten run in European Cup/Champions League history, which is held by Manchester United (25 games between September 2007 and May 2009).
Guardiola's side have won 16 and drawn eight of their last 24 matches in the Champions League, scoring 60 goals and conceding just 18 in return in that run.
:Luis Enrique explains Ousmane Dembele axing ahead of PSG's Arsenal clash
Luis Enrique explained he axed Ousmane Dembele from Paris Saint-Germain's squad for the Champions League encounter at Arsenal for the good of the whole team.
French media reported the PSG head coach had a discussion with his star winger following PSG's 3-1 win over Rennes on Friday and has been omitted from the squad to face the Gunners due to disciplinary reasons.
Luis Enrique said there was no argument between himself and Dembele but explained why he took the decision he did.
"If someone doesn't comply with the requirements of the team, it means that they are not ready," Luis Enrique told a press conference ahead of Tuesday's clash at Emirates Stadium.
"It means in such an important week, with such an important game coming up, we need every player to be fully available.
"My objective is to do the best for the team and that was my decision."
Luis Enrique was pressed further on making such an important choice, leaving out a player who has scored four league goals in six games, for such a key European game.
"You think it is easy to create a team. You press a button and the 11 best players play and everything goes well," the manager said.
"No, making a team takes a certain amount of circumstances that can be difficult. Yesterday I had to make a difficult decision but I think it is the best decision without any doubt.
"I would make it 100 more times. That doesn't mean the situation is irreversible. But the best situation for the team right now is this, in my opinion."
The coach would not give further details on what happened with Dembele, but said that his job is to create a team and that is what he will continue to do.
"I am not going to make a soap opera out of it, there was no argument between the player and me. There was a problem with the player's responsibility to the team. Nothing else," he said.
"I signed for PSG last season to create a team. That is something I can guarantee. Until the last day that I am in Paris, I am going to make a team.
"A team that is brave, daring, plays good football or tries to. The first day I cannot do that I will go back home."
PSG won their opening Champions League game 1-0 against Girona while Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta.
Inzaghi highlights continuity as key for Inter in Serie A and Champions League challenge
Simone Inzaghi earmarked continuity as the key for Inter as they look to replicate domestic success in the Champions League this season.
The Nerazzurri romped to the Serie A title by 19 points last season and are fourth this term after six matches, albeit they are only two points back of Napoli.
However, they were knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions League last term having reached the final in the 2022-23 season.
They continue their latest tilt by welcoming Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday and Inzaghi said just finding some rhythm is going to be key for his side.
"It's difficult to win (the title) and it's even more difficult to win again. But as far as the lads are concerned, they are working with great commitment," Inzaghi told reporters on Monday ahead of Red Star's visit.
"Then, of course, we still lack that continuity that we had, especially last year. That continuity that makes the difference to you both in the championship and in the Champions League."
Finding continuity will be even more important in this season's Champions League with the new league phase format.
"Last year after the first two games you were able to take stock and understand how the games could go, because then you knew that in the third and fourth game you would have played the same opponent, home and away," Inzaghi said.
"Now it's a bit of everyone against everyone. It's a winning formula with two extra games, with more difficulties. You can't make calculations, because it's a sort of one-off game."
Those extra European games mean that rotating his team will be of even more importance this season, and Inzaghi is still unsure about who will start up front against Red Star.
"I still have to decide between Lautaro (Martinez), (Marcus) Thuram, (Marko) Arnautovic and (Mehdi) Taremi," he said.
"They will probably have a good chance to play all four of them. I don't know who will start, tomorrow I will have to evaluate today's training."
Piotr Zielinski has yet to start a league game this season, but Inzaghi confirmed the midfielder will be in the lineup against the Serbian side and expects a tough challenge against an outfit who lost their opening league phase game to Benfica.
"It's a team that started on July 20. They've had nine league games. They've played in the preliminaries," Inzaghi said. "It's a very well-trained team, with excellent players."
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