Serie A - Matchday 21 - Inter vs. AC Milan [24/01/10]



Form (last 5):
Milan 4;1;0
Inter 3;0;2

n the past 5 games:
Milan scored 15, conceded 4
Inter scored 9, conceded 6

LEONARDO EXPECTS `EXTRAORDINARY` DERBY


AC Milan coach Leonardo believes Sunday night's Milan derby could not have come at a better time for his side.

The result of the clash at the San Siro is likely to go a long to deciding the outcome of the Serie A title race.

The Rossoneri go into the clash six points behind league leaders Inter Milan, but with a game in hand and on the back of three convincing wins.

"This derby arrives at the right time for us," said Leonardo. "We are getting closer to Inter and it will be an extraordinary game.

"We are playing well and we hope to give consistency to our results."

Leonardo will be without injured striker Alexandre Pato but will be able to count on

Ronaldinho who is brimming with confidence

The Brazilian has struck seven of his team's 12 goals in the last three league games.

"This is a special moment in my career and I want it to last as long as possible," said Ronaldinho.

Milan will have an added motivation to beat Inter as the last time both sides met earlier in the campaign the Nerazzurri thrashed the Rossoneri 4-0.

Roma and Juventus will both be rooting for Milan. They clash 24 hours earlier in Turin with third place up for grabs.

The Turin outfit are two points behind Roma and desperate to return to winning ways having lost four of their last five games.

A draw in Turin could see Napoli climb to third - provided the Partenopei can cope without top scorer Fabio Quagliarella, who serves a one-match ban, to win at Livorno.

Sixth-place Palermo will face a battle as they look to defend the last European qualifying spot when they take on Fiorentina at La Favorita.

The Sicilian giants moved one point clear of the Viola last weekend and are unbeaten at home this campaign.

If results go their way, in-form Cagliari could leapfrog Palermo into sixth.

The Sardinian outfit, who travel to rock-bottom Siena, are unbeaten in 2010 and their solid form has seen them move level on 30 points with Fiorentina.

Bari go into Sunday's game at Bologna looking for their first win on their travels since October 19.

Lazio will look to end a dismal week on a positive note when they take on Chievo in the Italian capital.

The Biancoceleste slumped to 17th in the standings after a 3-0 defeat at Cagliari at the weekend before being knocked out of the Coppa Italia in midweek by Fiorentina.

Parma will expect to claim their first win this year in Sicily when they take on second-bottom Catania.

With just two points from their last five games, Udinese will be under pressure to deliver in front of the home fans when they host Sampdoria.

The Friuli outfit are level on 20 points with Lazio and Bologna, three points clear of 18th-place Atalanta.

Inter is gonna get spannnnnked, hope so atleast

i think Milan will really win this one.

its hard to tell ,from the last few games,it looks to be Milan,who will come with a win but then again this is football

inters defense seems to be horrible and milans attack seems to be unstoppable inter is going dowwn

Massive game, a Milan win would really open the title race, an Inter win would close it again.

Milan are in better form, but I'm sure Ronaldinho will have a harder time against Maicon than he has recently. Nesta is doubtful, Ancelotti said that Milan would be 30% less effective without Nesta, possibly an exaggeration but he'd be a massive blow. PAto still out so it will be the same team that's done well in the last 3 games, with Ambro returning for Flamini. Seedorf should be fit to start from the bench. Zambrotta or Jankulovski might come in for Abate or Antonini.

It will be hard, but Milan must win.

Pato is in Brasil

That would be nice, especially considering the first match's result. But I doubt that's going to happen. If we win, it will be most likely by a goal.

Yes, we're in better form right now but sometimes in big clashes it just doesn't matter. If we don't bring our A-game, we're not going to achieve the result that we want. Simple as that. And not having Nesta is a major blow.

Nesta's fitness will be evaluated tomorrow.

It would mean breaking Mourinho's 5 years (or however long it is) undefeated at home record if Milan are to win.

Milan's title chances on line against Inter
ROME (AFP) - AC Milan head into this weekend's top of the table derby clash with Inter Milan knowing defeat could spell the end of their Serie A title hopes.
Champions Inter have a six-point lead at the top although Milan, in second, have a game in hand, away to Fiorentina in February.
In-form Milan head into this match with eight wins from their last nine Serie A clashes while Inter have stumbled several times recently, particularly on their travels.
They have won only one of their last four away matches in the league and even needed two late strikes to earn a 4-3 victory at home to rock bottom Catania in their last home match.
They will be the hosts at the San Siro on Sunday, although the stadium is also Milan's home.
The nominal visitors know that while a draw would not be a disaster, the loss of all three points would be.
"The table says we are six points back with a game in hand although that is away to Fiorentina and will be very difficult," said combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.
"But we cannot afford to lose the derby, even with a draw we'd still be in with a chance. We'd still be six points back but with a game in hand and the fight would be open."
Gattuso, though, admitted to being worried about Inter's amazing powers of recovery.
"Inter cause fear because many times they go behind but still pull out incredible recoveries," he said.
"I'm thinking of the match against Siena or the one at San Nicola (stadium) when they were 2-0 down to Bari and only narrowly failed to come home with the three points.
"Inter have a strength and a squad that worries you. There's (Wesley) Sneijder and (Diego) Milito who have great quality but it's (coach Jose) Mourinho himself who worries me the most because he's one who certainly won't go to sleep until he's found a solution to stop us.
"I know that right now he's watching many videos to study and see how to stop us."
Mourinho is going to have to come up with something as he is likely to be without three important midfielders in Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta and Sulley Muntari, all stuggling with muscle problems.
Things are little better in their neighbours' treatment room where striker Pato and full-back Gianluca Zambrotta have been ruled out while centre-back Alessandro Nesta is struggling to be fit.

AC Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani Declares Inter Are Favourites For City Derby

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has admitted he thinks Inter are the favourites going into Sunday’s city derby.

According to Italian daily Corriere Dello Sport, Galliani said, in a Radio interview due to be broadcast tomorrow, “Inter are first in the standings so they are the favourites.”

Inter currently sit atop of the Serie A table, six points ahead of rivals Milan although the Rossoneri have a game in hand over Jose Mourinho’s men.

Galliani went on to confess that he couldn’t wait for the derby, joking that he wish he didn’t have to.

“For a year the doctors have forbidden me to take a sedative," he said.

Galliani also heaped praise on coach Leonardo who has really turned things around for Milan following a shaky start, and former FIFA World player Of The Year Ronaldinho.

“Di Leo [Ronaldinho & Leonardo] fell in love, football-wise. He was a great player and is an intelligent person. Ronaldinho is another winning bet, thanks to our president [Silvio] Berlusconi."

Ronaldinho (Milan) scored a hat-trick against Siena last week. Just yesterday, Inter president Massimo Moratti admitted that the Brazilian scares him when on the ball. Key to this matchup will be how well Ronaldinho takes on countryman Maicon down the flank. The Inter fullback can't seem to find the form of past years, committing frequent positional errors at the back and not affecting the attack at all. Whoever wins this particular Brazilian battle will likely take all three points; the Milan derby hasn't ended in a tie since 2004.

hope this should convince Dunga that Dani should start ahead of Maicon in the WC.

Nesta is called up, they'll decide tomorrow whether he can play.

Milan squad:

Abbiati, Dida,
Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Nesta, Thiago Silva,
Ambrosini, Beckham, Flamini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf,
Borriello, Di Gennaro, Huntelaar, Inzaghi, Ronaldinho.


Injured: Oddo, Onyewu, Zambrotta, Pato.

Paolo Maldini Backs Ronaldinho To Light Up Milan Derby

Former Milan captain Paolo Maldini has rejected suggestions that tonight’s Derby della Madonnina between the Rossoneri and city rivals Inter will decide the Serie A title, but is fired up for an exciting clash.

“Even if Milan lose, you may rest assured that the league will stay wide open as it is today: they won’t give up,” Maldini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Second-placed Milan are coming off an impressive run of eight league wins in nine outings and have cut the gap on the reigning champions to six points with a game in hand thanks to an inspired Ronaldinho.

“I don’t know how it will end,” admitted Maldini.

“But I do know that this derby date comes around at a nice and intense moment: Inter are struggling with injury problems while Milan are doing very well.

Looking forward to this. ESPN is free this weekend for those who haven't got it, so no excuse not to tune in!

What time is kick-off?

7.45 UK time.

One English journalist said to put a bet at 50-1 on Maldini scoring the first goal in his last derby

Oh dear...

If only Maldini were still playing.

Nesta hasn't recovered, so the mighty Giuseppe Favalli plays. A Milan win is now far less likely.

I bet Baresi will score as well.

Line-ups:

INTER: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari; Sneijder, Milito, Pandev.
MILAN: Dida; Abate, Thiago Silva, Favalli, Antonini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Beckham, Borriello, Ronaldinho.

It's a very weak Milan defence it must be said. Ambro and Gattuso will have to be on good form.

Milan subs: Abbiati, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Bonera, Seedorf, Inzaghi, Huntelaar

7 Italians start for Milan, 1 for Inter because the Romanian Chivu is unavailable.

That is such a horrible defence, Milan will need to keep running on that adrenaline.

its good for Milan that Eto is not here.

Yet they call Lippi a snob for not visiting Inter HQ

its been a long time since i seen Santon, hope he plays well, only one i love at Inter, beside Eto and maybe Zanetti

Yeah Santon could be a great player, he needs to get out of that club.

Santon against Beckham again. I don't think Milan can win with this defence, but let's see.

1-0 Inter (Milito)

Maicon handball inside the box was ignored by the ref

heated game

Inter with 10 men

Sneijder

corner for Milan

Pirlo on it

Gattuso hacked down

Muntari

good fk opportunity for Milan

Pirlos deflected fk hits the bar

Milan are all over

Inter 1 Milan 0

HT

What a disgusting, disgusting club Inter are. Systematic fouling all over the pitch, senior players running to the referee every time there is a free kick trying to get Milan players booked, the coaching staff screaming at the ref from the touchline and even encroaching on the pitch, sheer intimidation that you can see in the face of the referee.

So well done to Mr Rocchi so far, who has refused to be intimidated by these tossers. I notice Mourinho has gone over to have another word at half time. Inter sure do a great job of being the villains but acting like the victims, it's actually laughable to watch.

Oh and Muntari is fucking crap and should have been sent off by now. I have counted 6 attempted tackles by him first half and 6 pretty bad fouls, but he has one yellow. He can't pass and has the worst tackling technique since Paul Scholes, garbage. But he is in there for Mourinho's systematic fouling.

Hopefully Milan can overcome the deficit, it was a nice finish by Milito, but a bad error by Abate.

Oh dear. Far too many errors from Milan, Abate at fault for Inter's goal with a very bad mistake and a great many Milan passes went astray in the first 25 minutes. Sneijder was sent off for sarcastic applause after the referee had booked Lucio for a dive. Lucio had been fouled but then took a few strides before going down so it was a possible dive, the sending off was very harsh but mocking a referee like that is asking for at least a yellow. Overall the referee has been very poor.

Milan have failed to create a single real chance other that one Borriello snap shot. Beckham isn't doing enough, we can't have two forwards offering no movement. Even having a man advantage Milan weren't really able to raise the tempo enough. Beckham should probably be replaced with Huntelaar to add more movement and threat and the whole team needs to life the tempo dramatically.

He wouldn't have been sent off for just the clapping, he would have said something.

Yeah, the Inter technical staff have been terrible. Clearly trying to mess up the game and take the attention away from the pitch. Cunts.

Ronaldinho's look pretty good even against Maicon who's decided to drastically improve his form of recent games, but he's stopped tracking back so much and hasn't quite managed to get the final product yet. Dida made some excellent saves.

lets go Milan

Clarence in for Gattuso.