[Portman]

Sunday, 10th September '06

Day 1 - Serie A 06/07

Milan - Lazio @ San Siro

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

Anyway, IT'S THE FIRST OFFICIAL MATCH OF THE SEASON.

I hope a good match, and obviously a win. No injuries. We'll have another match, on the CL, 3 days after.

Prediction: 1-0, Kaka' (I would say Oliveira, but don't know if he'll play). (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

This post has been edited by Portugal: Sep 7 2006, 08:24 PM

[arivanjj]

Channel4 preview


Milan - Lazio

Milan get their Scudetto challenge off to a difficult start against Lazio, one of the other clubs embroiled in Calciopoli. Both must begin to wipe out their deficits, which is eight points for the Rossoneri and 11 for the visitors.

Boosted by their performances in the Champions League preliminary round, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be confident of picking up all three points in this season opener. Although Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini are still not 100 per cent fit and Massimo Ambrosini is ruled out with a thigh problem, they hope to capitalise on Pippo Inzaghi’s fine vein of form. Alberto Gilardino is expected to be his partner with support from Kaka. New signing Ricardo Oliveira still needs time to settle in to his new surroundings.

It’ll be an interesting game for Massimo Oddo, who practically begged for a move to Milan throughout the summer only to see his £8m price-tag prove too big a stumbling block. Pasquale Foggia also believed he’d be wearing the Rossoneri jersey this term, but was loaned out to Lazio instead following a spell at Ascoli.

Lazio hope to build on last season’s solid showing, which would’ve put them in the UEFA Cup had it not been for the scandal. Delio Rossi sticks with his favoured 4-4-2 system with new arrivals Cristian Ledesma and Foggia the only real changes. Goran Pandev and recent Italian international Tommaso Rocchi form a dynamic partnership upfront that has impressed in pre-season.

Stefano Mauri and Massimo Mutarelli appear to have shaken off their injury concerns, but Valon Behrami is out following groin surgery.

Man on fire: Pippo Inzaghi (Milan) – three goals in two games against Red Star Belgrade and another for Italy to earn a point with Lithuania. Andriy Shevchenko may have left, but that only gives Super Pippo free rein upfront.

Last season: Milan 2-0 Lazio

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Milan (probable): Dida; Cafu, Costacurta, Maldini, Kaladze; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Gilardino, Inzaghi

Lazio (probable): Peruzzi; Oddo, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Foggia, Mutarelli, Ledesma, Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev