Match 14/03/2009

Lukas Jarolim Hoping Siena Can Put On A Show Against Milan

The Bianconeri are coming from an excellent 3-0 win against Catania and Jarolim is hoping that they can play in the same way when they face the Rossoneri this weekend.

Siena midfielder Lukas Jarolim has explained the importance of his team's 3-0 away win against Catania last weekend, according to a report by Sportmediaset.it.

The midfielder claims that this win will be a big boost for the Bianconeri ahead of Sunday's clash against Milan.

"We needed the three points,” explained the 32-year-old player. “At Catania we obtained a very important win thanks to an excellent performance.

"I managed to score my first goal and I hope that other goals will follow. In the context of the game maybe it wasn't an important goal, however, it was for me. Let's hope that we play another good game against Milan.

"We have seven points advantage on the bottom three. We must always look forward, thinking about one game at a time and continuing to work like we are doing.

"I hope that we can secure our survival soon - just like last year. That way we can play in a relaxed manner in the last games. At the end of the season it's always difficult as there are many teams playing for everything in the final games."

Siena are currently ranked in 15th place, boasting 31 points from 27 games played.

AC Milan News Today 28/01/2009

Referees' Prejudice In Favour Of Big Teams Still Exists - Mihajlovic
The Rossoblu coach is full of recrimination about the way the referee handled Sunday's match against Milan - which saw Mihajlovic's unbeaten run at the helm of the team come to an end.

Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is still disappointed about the way the game against Milan went as his side suffered a 4-1 defeat at home, the first such set-back since he took over the team in November.

Mihajlovic is accusing the Italian referees of not having enough strength of character when directing matches involving the 'big' teams."Milan's penalty should not have been awarded," affirmed the former Inter player. "If there was my father instead of [Gianluca] Zambrotta on the pitch, I wouldn’t have awarded it for embarrassment."Maybe the referees' prejudice towards the big teams still exists; it's normal.

I don't criticise the referees, but I wish they had more character."It's not a coincidence that after the correctly awarded penalty on Amoroso for us, I expected that in the first dubious situation, as a form of compensation, the referee would have awarded one to them."This was a lack of character and a symptom that the referee lost the control of the game."Following this defeat, Bologna remain in 16th place, with 19 points from 20 games played, three points above the relegation zone.

AC Milan News Today 28/01/2009

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

AC Milan vs Fiorentina

Fiorentina’s Jovetic Pleased Despite Defeat To Milan

The Viola suffered a 1-0 loss at San Siro last night, but Jo-Jo feels their performance was positive and he will soon open his account in Serie A.

Milan defeated Fiorentina 1-0 thanks to a superb effort from Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato.

The Gigliati huffed and puffed, particularly during the second period, but failed to get an equalizer despite creating a number of gilt-edged chances.

“It was not easy against Milan, but we played very well,” Radio Blu quotes the Viola's Stevan Jovetic as saying.

“I am happy at my performance, but I know I can contribute even more. It was wonderful to play at San Siro in front of a 70,000 crowd.”

The Montenegrin trequartista had a wonderful chance to score his first Serie A goal in the first half, as he ran on to Mario Alberto Santana’s through ball, but Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati managed to block him.

Referee Roberto Rosetti initially pointed to the spot, but then changed his mind after consulting with the linesman.

“I do not want to comment on the penalty episode,” insisted Jovetic.

“But I know that the goal will come for me sooner or later and I hope it will be in the next game.”

Match prediction

AC Milan vs. Fiorentina Preview: The Battle for UCL

Without a doubt, the biggest fixture of the upcoming Serie A weekend is Saturday’s tie between AC Milan and Fiorentina. Milan may be three places above La Viola, but only two points separate these two sides and the San Siro showdown is a very important match in terms of Champions League qualification.

All those who followed my football betting advice last week (Roma vs. AC Milan) got at least the draw right: I went for 1-1, the final score was 2-2. Overall a good result for the Rossoneri, despite Roma’s position in the standings and the absence of influential captain Francesco Totti. Of course, the most talked-about match event (even more than the lovely doubles by Alexandre Pato and Mirko Vucinic) was David Beckham’s Serie A debut, and the Spice Boy performed quite admirably even impressing his manager Carlo Ancelotti.

In counterpart, La Viola were on the wrong end of an upset last weekend. Beaten 2-1 at home by lowly Lecce (a result no one would have predicted), Prandelli’s boys will be looking to get their own European ambitions back on track. Despite this year’s UCL campaign ended in the Group Stage, Fiorentina have every intention of renewing their stay next season, and with a wealth of talent amongst their own ranks (lead by ex-Rossoneri striker Alberto Gilardino, who would surely relish scoring against his former employers), La Viola can certainly put a claim to get something from the game Saturday.

With that said, I think AC Milan will prove too strong a test for Fiorentina. Not even the persistent rumors linking Kaká with a bank-busting move to Manchester City should have any bearing on the game. A player of Kaká’s quality will put the blabbing aside and do his talking on the pitch, and the Rossoneri will need every ounce of his talent to unlocking Fiorentina’s tight defence (who have only conceded 16 goals this season). As for David Beckham, every sensible prediction suggests the English midfielder will be starting again on Saturday.

Overall, I’m expecting a fairly tight contest but I think home advantage and superior quality will see Milan take all three points in this one. My football betting tip for this particular clash is for a 3-1 home win. Milan have shipped in few goals this season and Fiorentina always present a danger up front, however on a good day the Rossoneri have the attacking flair to litterally destroy teams, as they showed when they demolished Udinese 5-1.

Statistic Match Milan Today

UEFA Cup: Portsmouth 2:2 AC Milan - match report
28.11 ||

Source: Football Italia

Scorers: Kaboul 62 (P), Kanu 73 (P), Ronaldinho 84 (M), Inzaghi 92 (M)

Pippo Inzaghi equalised for Milan with the last kick of the game to secure a thrilling 2-2 draw with Portsmouth and book a place in the third round.

While Milan had two wins from their first two games, Portsmouth were determined to bounce back from a 3-0 thrashing against Braga.

Carlo Ancelotti gave Kaka a run with a Serie A suspension looming, while Andriy Shevchenko and Pippo Inzaghi led the line.

Portsmouth were spurred on by a capacity crowd on a cold and wet night in Hampshire.

The English side made a frenetic start to the game but neither side were able to put together any cohesive movement.

Richard Huges, who started his career at Atalanta and is a Milan fan, was booked for a very late and reckless challenge on Mathieu Flamini.

Flamini won another free-kick from Papa Bouba Diop and Milan so nearly went ahead. Shevchenko's 30-yard free-kick bounced off the wall and fell to Inzaghi, but his scuffed shot hit the post and went into David James' arms.

Nwankwo Kanu's magnificent crossfield ball found Peter Crouch, but the gangly marksman fluffed his shot, much to manager Tony Adams' frustration.

Shevchenko chested the ball down in the Pompey box, but he lashed his shot wide of the target.

The Rossoneri back line looked vulnerable from a searching cross, but Crouch headed against Philippe Senderos' back.

Gennaro Gattuso's pass found Inzaghi, who delicately chipped James but his strike clipped the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

Kaka didn't seem to be himself and he volleyed the ball into Row Z, to the delight of the home supporters.

Glen Johnson's searching ball evaded Dida, but the 'keeper managed to catch Crouch's header back from the by-line when the England international may have been better off going for goal.

Despite the enthusiasm of the fans, there was very little to report in the way of goalmouth action in the opening period.

Johnson broke down the right and put over a cross but Crouch headed high over the bar at the near post. Soon after, Johnson swang another bal over but Crouch's ambitious overhead kick was sliced.

Milan started the second half the stronger and James was called upon to push away a Kaka shot. Sheva also had a shy to no avail.

Kanu crossed for Crouch, but the ball fell to Glen Little who hit the side-netting - some Portsmouth fans thought it was in.

Portsmouth failed to clear a corner and Kaka picked up the ball. James fumbled the Brazilian's deflected cross as he ran into Papa Bouba Diop but the hosts cleared the ball.

But Portsmouth went ahead when Kanu played the ball to Johnson to cross for Younes Kaboul to push aside Senderos and head past Dida and send the crowd wild.

The home supporters called for a penalty when Gianluca Zambrotta tackled Kanu on the edge of the box, but nothing was given.

Portsmouth made it 2-0 as Johnson skipped past two challenges to feed Kanu, who made no mistake from close range.

Ancelotti rolled the dice with just over a quarter of an hour to play and threw on Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho for Kaka and Shevchenko.

Inzaghi' clipped the post for a third time with a diving header as Milan poured forward to try and save the game.

Johnson brought down Ronaldinho on the very edge of the area with seven minutes left and Dinho produced a textbook free-kick to reduce the deficit.

Luca Antonini saw his shot from 25 yards deflected for a corner as Milan laid siege to the Pompey goal.

And Milan completed a Great Escape when Inzaghi's luck in front of goal finally changed in the 92nd minute!

Super Pippo ran on to a lofted Zambrotta through ball, controlled perfectly and beat James for 2-2 at the death to send Milan through to the next round!

Portsmouth: James; Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj; Little Bouba Diop, Traore, Hughes; Crouch, Kanu (Davis 81)

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Favalli, Antonini; Flamini, Emerson, Gattuso (Seedorf 66), Kaka (Pato 74); Shevchenko (Ronaldinho 74), Inzaghi

Ref: Gumienny (Bel)