Serie A Preview: Milan - Genoa
What: Italian Serie A Matchday 21Who: Milan (3rd Serie A, 40 pts) vs. Genoa (4th Serie A, 36 pts.)

When: Wednesday 28 January 20:30 (CET)Where: Stadio San Siro, Milano

Keep On rolling

After the disappointing display to start the year in the 2-2 draw away to Roma, Milan have begun to play some of their best football of the season.

With only six points separating them from the top of the table, the title race is back on.
The 1-0 home win against Fiorentina ten days ago was not as close as the score would lead you to believe. Milan controlled the pace of the match and held possession for long stretches.

In addition, former whipping post for the supporters Alberto Gilardino was held in check and barely saw the ball over the course of the match.
Then came Milan’s deceptively dominant 4-1 victory away to Bologna last Sunday. Milan went behind to a Marco Di Vaio penalty kick inside ten minutes but replied a few minutes later when Clarence Seedorf beat the defence to Kakà’s deflected shot.
This was followed in the midway through the half by a penalty kick for Milan, which Kakà easily put past the ‘keeper. Milan’s task was made decidedly simpler five minutes before half-time when Bologna’s Gaby Mudingayi was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Milan struck a third time just before the interval as Kakà hit a wonderful shot from the top of the box with his left foot; the defender marking him clearly didn’t think that Kakà would attempt such a shot with his weaker foot.
In the second half, Bologna were content to just allow Marco Di Vaio to basically attack all by himself, though he did challenge Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal several times. On the eve of the hour mark, the match was put out of reach as David Beckham scored his first goal in a Milan shirt.

He received a pass close to goal on the right side and, with Bologna ‘keeper Francesco Antonioli anticipating a cross for a team-mate, Beckham hit a bullet into the top corner at the near post.
Several players for Milan had admirable performances in this match, with Kakà, Christian Abbiati and David Beckham― who has improved each match he has played― standing out above the rest of the squad.
Milan are right in the mix for the Scudetto, with Juventus, who are ahead of them in second place, three points behind Internazionale.
Rubbing Shoulders with the Big Boys
Genoa, amazingly, are in fourth position in the Serie A table. However, after a quick review of their stats, you can see why.
Genoa have yet to lose at home this season and have won seven of the ten matches on their own pitch. But another reason for their move up the table is their recent improvement in away matches. After failing to winon the road for most of the first half of the season, they have now won their last three away encounters.

Granted, those matches were against Sampdoria, Chievo and Lecce, but any success away from home is a cause for celebration, especially in the Serie A.
Genoa’s work will be made a little easier now that Diego Milito has returned from injury, however, he only returned to the squad last weekend so he will probably be used as a substitute against Milan. It was Milito who kept Genoa’s undefeated home record in tact by scoring against Catania last weekend with time ticking away after Matteo Ferrari had been shown a red card.
It would be easy for Genoa to have dreams of Champions League football for next season in their heads, but there is still a long way to go in this current season, and they must focus on each individual match if they are to maintain their status as Napoli and a fast-improving Roma side are only three points behind them.
FORM GUIDE
Milan
17/12 (UEFA Cup): Milan 2-2 Wolfsburg
21/12 (Serie A): Milan 5-1 Udinese
11/01 (Serie A): Roma 2-2 Milan
17/01 (Serie A): Milan 1-0 Fiorentina
25/01 (Serie A): Bologna 1-4 Milan
Genoa
21/12 (Serie A): Chievo 0-1 Genoa
10/01 (Serie A): Genoa 3-0 Torino
13/01 (Coppa Italia): Inter 3-1 Genoa
18/01 (Serie A): Lecce 0-2 Genoa
25/01 (Serie A): Genoa 1-1 Catania
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Emerson, Marco Borriello, Daniele Bonera and Kakhaber Kaladze are injured, though Bonera and Borriello are close to returning. Having not yet made an appearance this season, Nesta is training hard to get fit and could be back on the pitch in the next two weeks.
Mathieu Flamini and Andrea Pirlo are facing suspension should they be cautioned in this match. On the positive side of things, Marek Jankulovski returns to the squad after a one-match suspension.
Possible Formation (4-3-2-1): Abbiati; Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kakà, Ronaldinho; Pato
Genoa
Players such as Raffaele Palladino, Matteo Paro, Alessandro Potenza, Alessio Scarpi and Andrea Gasbarroni are expected to miss out through injury.
Defender Matteo Ferrari was shown a red card last weekend against Catania, and will be suspended for this match. Marco Rossi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Bosko Jankovic, who are all expected to start, are facing suspension if they get cautioned.
Possible Formation (3-4-3): Rubinho; Biava, Papastathopoulos, Criscito; Rossi, Motta, Milanetto, Juric; Sculli, Olivera, Jankovic
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Milan
Ronaldinho will get a chance to prove to Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti that he can contribute to this team, but he needs to find a way to fit into this squad, rather than hoping that the team conforms to him. In the first match following the transfer saga with Manchester City, Kakà was brilliant in the 4-1 victory over Bologna, setting up the first goal and scoring two.
Genoa
With Diego Milito likely to start on the bench, Ruben Olivera and Bosko Jankovic must take up the reins of the attack. Thiago Motta has played well recently, and seems to have found a home after failing to fit correctly at several other clubs around Europe. Rubinho is one of the most underrated goalkeepers around; he foiled Milan in the first match-up between these sides.
PREDICTION
Milan’s confidence could not be higher at the moment, though the same could possibly be said for Genoa. With both sides feeling good about their chances in this match, it should actually be an entertaining affair, rather than a defensive battle.
Milan 2-1 Genoa