Undefeated Serie A leaders, Zlatan and a top European Cup pedigree: AC Milan in focus ahead of Celtic Europa League group stage opener

AC Milan have had plenty to celebrate so far this season (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Hoops will be keen to get back on track against the Serie A club after losing to Old Firm rivals Rangers at the weekend, and they’ll want to match their proevious entrie into the competition over recent years, at the very least.

Celtic have progressed through the group stage of the Europa League for the last three seasons, reaching the knock-out stage and last 32 each time.

In Group H, it’s Lille, Sparta Prague and tomorrow night’s opponents Milan who stand in their way.

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is Milan's main man (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

The PA news agency has taken a closer look and given the lowdown on the Italian giants.

League leaders

While Celtic are chasing Premiership leaders Rangers, Milan sit top of Serie A with a flawless record. The Rossoneri have won four out of four since the start of the season and are two points ahead of second-placed Sassuolo.

Milan have scored nine and conceded only one, which was in the 2-1 win over city rivals Inter in the weekend's Derby della Madonnina.

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli shakes hands with another of Milan's star men, Theo Hernandez (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

European history

Milan are undoubtedly one of the giants of European football.

They have won the European Cup/Champions League seven times - the first time in 1963, the last in 2007 - and been runners-up on four occasions.

Only Real Madrid, with 13 successes, have won it more.

The Italian club have captured the European Cup Winners' Cup twice and will be looking to add the Europa League to their collection.

Previous meetings

Celtic and Milan have met on 10 occasions, dating back to season 1968-69 when they faced each other in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

The Italian side won 1-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the first leg at San Siro.

Celtic have come out on top just once, in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage encounter at Parkhead.

A late Scott McDonald goal gave the Hoops a memorable 2-1 win which helped take them through to the last 16.

Star man

The larger-than-life Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still going strong.

His remarkable CV features spells with a host of top clubs including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Manchester United.

The Swede turned 39 earlier in the month but has not lost his appetite for the game or grabbing headlines.

The talented striker, who won 116 caps for Sweden, scored a double in the Milan derby at the weekend and will no doubt be a threat to the Hoops.

Manager

Stefano Pioli is at his 13th club since starting out as boss of Salernitana in 2003.

He has played for and managed hometown team Parma but his most successful spell as a defender was at Juventus, winning the league title, the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup during his three seasons with the club.

He was the manager of Milan's great rivals Inter between 2016 and 2017.

After a two-year spell at Fiorentina, Pioli took over at Milan in 2019 and, ahead of the trip to Parkhead, he was quoted as saying: "Yes, we are in the European competition that is the least important, but we are aiming to win the trophy."