Struggling Milan and Zurich set for San Siro bow

Struggling giants AC Milan and FC Zurich both enter Wednesday’s Champions League matchday 2 at the San Siro, in poor form.

Milan has managed only two wins and three goals in its first six rounds of Serie A under new coach Leonardo, while Zurich has two straight losses in the Swiss league to fall 13 points adrift of leader Young Boys after only 11 matches.

The difference lies in how each club began its European campaign. Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in Milan’s 2-1 win over Marseille, while Zurich was beaten 5-2 at home by Real Madrid.

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has noticed that his team usually seems to perform better in Europe than domestically, and he pumped the Champions League music into the club’s changing room before a 1-0 victory over Bologna earlier this month.

“For some reason, whenever we hear that music we play better,” Galliani said.

The music will play for the first time at the San Siro, at least for Milan, after last year’s absence from the Champions League for the seven-time winners.

However, Milan has scored only one goal in three home games this season after finding the target in every fixture at the San Siro last term, in all competitions.

Milan was whistled off the field after a 0-0 draw with freshly promoted Bari on Sunday.

“The fans’ whistles are deserved. We’re having a hard time imposing our game and they want to see a better show,” Leonardo said. “We’ve got to control the ball better and be more aggressive.”

Kaka’s departure to Real Madrid is starting to weigh heavily on Milan, with Ronaldinho out of form and unable to take over the playmaker position consistently.

Clarence Seedorf has performed better directing strikers Alexandre Pato and Inzaghi.

“Any game could be the one that becomes the turning point,” Galliani said. “Let’s let (Leonardo) do his job.”

Milan beat Zurich twice, 4-1 on aggregate, in the first round of last season’s UEFA Cup.

Zurich gave Madrid a scare before the Spanish powerhouse scored two late goals to gain a respectable result against the Swiss champions – but it has been all downhill since for coach Bernard Challandes.

Zurich lost at Young Boys 3-0 last Wednesday, then slumped to a 2-1 home loss against Neuchatel Xamax over the weekend.

A simmering dispute between Challandes and standout midfielder Almen Abdi came to a head Monday with an announcement that the 22-year-old Switzerland international will join Serie A team Udinese next season.

The Kosovo-born Abdi scored 19 goals in Zurich’s title-winning campaign but has recently been left on the bench, reportedly because he refused to sign a new contract.