[Fillipo Simone]

This is a must win match. I see no possible problems for us,..

[Rossoneri7]

Serie A Preview: Siena - Milan

What: Italian Serie A
Who: Siena (0 pts., 19th) vs. AC Milan (4 pts., 4th)
When: Saturday September 15, 18:00 (CET)
Where: Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi, Siena


Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

Neither of these two clubs have had the starts to the season they envisioned, but nevertheless are already approaching different objectives. 

Siena are sitting in nineteenth place, not having taken anything from either of their opening two matches.  Their goal-scoring record so far this term is one for, and five against.  They opened the season with a loss at home, at the hands of Sampdoria, 2-1.

‘Samp’ took the lead in the first half, but Siena battled back and leveled the score with twenty minutes to go. Either side could have won this match, but in a theme which has already become repetitious for Siena this season, their defense could not hold the opposition, as newly-acquired Vincenzo Montella scored with less than five minutes remaining to give Sampdoria the victory. 

The next match was an even more daunting task for Siena, as they traveled to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to take on AS Roma.  The outcome was quite predictable, as Roma stomped the visitors on their way to a 3-0 win, thanks to the second long-range blast by the home side’s Alberto Aquilani in as many weeks, and two further goals in the final ten minutes. 

Milan, however, looked to be the team to beat after their first match, but regressed in the next fixture.  An opening day road win over Genoa, with the 3-0 score line being finalized in the first half, sent out a warning to all opponents.

Massimo Ambrosini beat his marker to the ball from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick and headed in at the near post.  Kakà then cemented the victory, by scoring from close-range in the 43rd minute, then converting a penalty kick in stoppage time, after Alberto Gilardino was brought down by the goalkeeper. 

The next match for Milan, however, was a real struggle, and they repeatedly failed to complete attacking moves or, as was the case most of the time, even get them started.  Fiorentina, fresh from a big win in their first match, came to the San Siro with intentions of getting the full three points, and almost did so.  Kakà converted a penalty kick midway through the first half, but Adrian Mutu brought the sides back on even terms ten minutes after the restart. 

Fiorentina had the better of the chances for the remainder of the match, even hitting the frame of the goal.  A scuffle broke out, with unlikely protagonists being involved.  A Fiorentina player went down in the attacking third, but Milan continued play.  Gennaro Gattuso, of course, was involved, but the usually-calm Kakà became involved, and showed a rare display of anger.  Following this odd encounter, both teams had some decent chances, but nothing came from them, and Milan slumped to a home draw. 

FORM GUIDE

Siena

8/26    Siena 1-2 Sampdoria    Serie A

9/2      Roma 3-0 Siena          Serie A



Milan

8/26    Genoa 0-3 Milan          Serie A

9/3      Milan 1-1 Fiorentina    Serie A

TEAM NEWS

Siena have several injured players, those being Valerio Bertotto, Daniele Ficagna and Wanderson Scardovelli, while the players returning from international duty may not be able to play the full ninety minutes. 

Milan will be missing about half of what would have been their preferred first-choice lineup.  Paolo Maldini and Ronaldo have yet to make an appearance this season due to injuries, while Kakà, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Oddo will be rested due to their time with the Brazilian and Italian national teams this past week.  The move to rest this trio is evidently a decision manager Carlo Ancelotti made with the thought of the Champions League opener (in the midweek against Benfica of Portugal).

Readdressing the Ronaldo injury, this saga continues to run on.  After first saying he would be fit for the start of the season, he has not yet touched the field of play, with his thigh injury causing a lot of distress and confusion for the Milan medical staff.  He even went back to his native Brazil to see the national team physician about the injury, with doubt in his mind over the abilities of the Milan physicians.  They now claim to have a handle on the injury and what the course of treatment should be, but a doping claim has now been made, and this could drag on for a long time. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leandro Grimi (Siena) – The young Argentine fullback is on loan from Milan this season, and will be eager to show his employers why they should have held on to him tightly.

Clarence Seedorf (Milan) – With Kakà and Pirlo being rested, the onus for attacking creativity will be squarely on the shoulders of this Dutchman.  His resurgence in play since joining Milan has placed him back in the Netherlands national team, and he should be up to the task against Siena. 

POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Siena (4-3-3): Manninger; Alberto, Portanova, Loria, Grimi; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa; Frick, Maccarone, De Ceglie

Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Emerson, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Gilardino, Inzaghi 

PREDICTION

Though Milan will be without many of their star names, they still have a fair amount of firepower to field against Siena.  The key to this match may be how Siena counteracts the Milan movements, and this should be a tight affair. 

Siena 1-2 Milan 

Goal.com