Newcastle United will play one of its most important matches in decades Wednesday and the timing is terrible.
Injuries have ravaged the Magpies over the last few weeks, leaving them with a depleted squad ahead of a must-win match against AC Milan in the Champions League.
When it was healthy, Newcastle looked like one of the most impressive teams in the world, but Eddie Howe’s side has really struggled to cope with the fixture pileup over the last month and is limping into this contest off of back-to-back ugly losses to Everton and Tottenham.
And those defeats were just the tip of the iceberg.
Newcastle has conceded 11 goals and 14.9 expected goals in its last six matches across all competitions.
Newcastle took on some good attacking teams during that stretch, but the Magpies are supposed to be an elite defensive unit that can handle the best clubs in Europe.
They couldn’t even contain Bournemouth or Everton.
Despite the injuries and poor form, Newcastle is a home favorite to beat AC Milan in its final group-stage match Wednesday.
And while AC Milan has been unimpressive going forward for large chunks of this season, it’s about to take on a defense that is in complete shambles and will play its seventh match since Nov. 11.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
At full strength, Newcastle is a threat to beat any team in the world.
But the Magpies are not even close to that and are being forced to run players like Anthony Gordon, Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak into the ground.
Newcastle is getting too much respect in this spot.
The play: AC Milan (+275, Bet365)
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7kGtmamtfqL2wvtOsZqedp5iutMDLnmSuppmpsqV51axkmptdoratrc1mp6udlJ6wtbXOp2ScoJGivaq7zaxkpZ2RnMKmec%2BimqSrXaSxpb%2BO