[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

[dst]

Serie A Preview: Milan-Lazio
After a summer of controversy and heartbreak because of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, it will be paramount for each side to start the new season by achieving a positive result.


BACKGROUND

Where to start? Well, a brief summary will do just fine, as no one on this planet could be without some knowledge of what took place in Italy this summer.

Last term finished much as the prior season did. Juventus were champions, Milan were in second place, and Internazionale were third. However, this has been wiped from the record, following the trials which occurred after phone taps were done to keep a check on the various club officials in Italian football. Sparing you yet another repeat of the exhaustive details, here is how it ended up: Juventus were relegated to the Serie B with a seventeen-point deduction; Milan remain in Serie A with an eight-point deduction; and Inter were handed the title.

This may seem quite odd to give a title to a side who did not seemingly win it on the field, but with so much protestation on Inter’s part as to the level of punishment that was dished out (not nearly enough in their opinion), something had to be done to quell the fury of Inter patron Massimo Moratti. So, his side were given the Scudetto, their first in almost two decades.

Milan were expected to make several huge purchases during the summer transfer campaign, but their Serie A status, and more likely their ability to play in the UEFA Champions League, made it very difficult to attract top-quality players who would definitely not want to join a side which was going to be out of Europe. Fernando Torres, who Milan have pursued for several years, yet again rebuffed the Rossoneri’s advances. Add to that list players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hernan Crespo, and it made for a somewhat disappointing transfer season.

Or was it? Ricardo Oliveira, who led Spain’s La Liga in scoring two seasons ago with Real Betis, came over after negotiations with Real Madrid for Ronaldo fell through. Another interesting buy is that of Yoann Gourcuff from French Ligue 1 side Rennes. He has been performing very well for the French Under-21 side this summer, and may get his Milan debut in this opening encounter against Lazio.

The only major departure from Milan was a true legend: Andriy Shevchenko, who moved to Chelsea. He thrilled the Rossoneri faithful for seven seasons, and became the second highest goalscorer in club history. He will surely be missed, as he was a symbol of all that was right about football.

Lazio also had a rough summer. Initially, they were demoted to Serie B. This was overturned on appeal, and return to Serie A with an eleven-point penalty is where they now stand.

The Biancocelesti were actually able to make several good purchases in the transfer market, despite the goings-on of the summer. Nigerian-born Stephen Ayodele Makinwa joined from Palermo. He is a pacy striker with a good bit of skill, and should find room in the starting lineup to accommodate his ability. Also, Cristian Ledesma was bought from Lecce, and he will find space in the midfield. Pasquale Foggia was signed on loan from Milan, and he will want to show the Rossoneri why they should have kept him.

A key departure from Lazio is Paolo Di Canio. He was the captain, and even though he was much older than most of the side, he was the spark in their attack, and they will be lucky to fill that void.

Lazio have not won at the San Siro since 1989, but this may be their best chance in a long time to buck this trend. Gone is Andriy Shevchenko, who always seemed to score against Lazio. Furthermore, the defense is not totally fit and Gennaro Gattuso is out through suspension, so no area of the field is quite complete for Milan.

TEAM NEWS

The injury bug has yet again hit several key members of the Milan squad. Massimo Ambrosini is out, as was the case most of last season. Alessandro Nesta is not fully fit, but captain Paolo Maldini is ready to go, and his appearance on the field will give the supporters hope of a great season lying ahead. Gennaro Gattuso is suspended.

Lazio have just one major injury concern, that being Valon Behrami, who is not yet recovered from groin surgery.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kakà (Milan) – He was the only consistent performer for Brazil in the World Cup, and has looked to be in sparkling form during the preseason. His talents will be relied upon even more now that Shevchenko has left.

Massimo Oddo (Lazio) – He was strongly linked with a transfer over the summer, especially to Milan, and will look to prove to the opponents why they should have coughed up the fee Lazio were requesting for his services.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafu, Costacurta, Maldini, Serginho; Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Gilardino, Inzaghi

Lazio (4-4-2): Peruzzi; Oddo, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Foggia, Mutarelli, Ledesma, Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev

PREDICTION

With Andriy Shevchenko having left, Milan are starting a new chapter in their history, and Lazio will be trying to find their way, at least in the early stages of the season. While both of these sides will be at the bottom of the table at least until the beginning of October because of the point penalties, they must begin the season with a step forward to accomplish any respective goals they have set for themselves. That being said, Milan will continue to dominate Lazio at the San Siro.

Milan 2-0 Lazio

Joel Whitehead


Goal