[arivanjj]

Milan vs Genoa

Serie A 2007/08 - Week 20

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Stadio Meazza

Time : 14:00 (UK); 15:00 (IT)

Alexandre Pato gets another chance to shine at San Siro, but it could be another striker owned by Milan – Marco Borriello – who hits the headlines.

So much hype surrounded the Ka-Pa-Ro trio of Brazilians and that only intensified after Ronaldo and Pato scored in the 5-2 thrashing of Napoli on the debut of the system. Yet they failed to spark at the weekend with their 1-0 victory at Udinese coming deep into stoppages thanks to substitute Alberto Gilardino, who up until then had been put on the shelf and considered a transfer.

Now Carlo Ancelotti has some difficult choices to make with only Pippo Inzaghi ruled out by injury and Clarence Seedorf vocal in his demands to play as a Trequartista. The statistics count against Gila, as all six of his goals were scored away from home, but he could get his chance in Wednesday’s postponed match at Atalanta. The tie was called off only a few minutes in as Orobici fans broke down a Plexiglas barrier in protest at the death of Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri, accidentally shot by a policeman on November 11.

Yet one should not forget this is the first time this season that the Rossoneri have won two Serie A games on the trot, the Napoli match being their only home victory. The big difference from Udine is the return from suspension of midfield metronome Andrea Pirlo, which is bound to drastically change the balance of the side. Paolo Maldini is on the road to recovery from a bout of flu, but Marek Jankulovski, Serginho and Nelson Dida are unlikely to recover, so Zeljko Kalac looks set to retain the gloves after a fine performance at the Stadio Friuli.

Genoa have reason to be confident as well, though, as they have won three consecutive games and have Milan-owned Borriello on stunning form. The striker this week admitted he would like a recall to San Siro, but that the Rossoblu provided him with more stability and opportunity to play. This has been easily his best season, as in 16 games he has scored as many goals as the previous five Serie A campaigns put together.

However, unlike Gilardino, he gets travel sickness with just three of those 11 goals scored outside Marassi. He’ll need to change that run if Genoa are to break their drought in the Giuseppe Meazza, where they haven’t scored in the top flight in their last three visits, nor earned a point since that 1-1 draw in November 1991. Although the last away victory was a stunning 5-1 result, it was way back in May 1958.

Domenico Criscito is suspended and Julio Cesar Leon sits out a ban, so Santos is expected to slot into the three-man defence. Although Lucho Figueroa snatched the last-minute winner against Atalanta last week, he is still not considered match fit, so midfielder Marco Rossi could be pushed up into the trident attack with Giuseppe Sculli and Borriello, the system switching to a 5-4-1 when losing possession. January signing Anthony Vanden Borre from Fiorentina is in training and could make his debut for the club, but the former Anderlecht wide man has so far played just 42 minutes of Serie A football.

Keep an eye on: Alexandre Pato (Milan) – The Duck made a sensational debut in this stadium and the pressure will be on again as the Brazilian trident begins to hone its rapport.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Milan (W D L W W) Genoa (L D W W W)

Milan (probable): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka, Pato, Ronaldo

Genoa (probable): Rubinho; Bovo, De Rosa, Santos; Konko, Paro, Juric, Fabiano; Rossi, Borriello, Sculli


Channel4

[Tennie]

Carletto was chatty in today's pregame interview. (link)

Highlights included:

*Dida might play. It depends on how training goes today.
*Janku, Pippo, and Sergio are still injured, though the first two are expected to start training with the ball next week.
*Ronie and Pato will play in attack. (so it's a 4-3-1-2 and not the Christmas Tree)
*Seedorf will probably be rested. (so we're likely to see Ambro)
*Lots of good words for Borriello, who he says may be recalled and who he thinks Donadoni might call up to the Azzurri.
*There's no Ronaldinho in Milan's future. 'C'e qualcun altro'(quote) - there's SOMEONE ELSE. (any ideas who this might be, guys?)
*Lots of praise for the Cote d'Ivoire NT, specifically Drogba, Kalou, and the Toure brothers.

[Ry4n]

Carletto was chatty in today's pregame interview. (link)

*Lots of good words for Borriello, who he says may be recalled and who he thinks

Thats good for Borriello , keep scoring goals !! but not tomrow have a off day (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)