[Portman]

Serie A 2006/2007 - Day 23

Milan v Livorno

Sunday, 11th of February 2007

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

The match after the calcio-crisis.

-----------Storari------------
Oddo-Bonera-Maldini-Jan'ki
---Gattuso-Pirlo-Gourcuff---
-------------Kaka'-----------
---Gilardino-----Ronaldo---

This would be my 11 for next Sunday.
Carletto... I believe he will change Gourcuff for Seedorf.

Prediction: 2-0, Ronaldo will score if he starts on the first 11.

[arivanjj]

Milan - Livorno -- Football Italia preview

Two sides with contrasting recent fortunes meet as Livorno face Milan in an empty San Siro. While Milan have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, the visitors are a side in crisis and won’t be relishing the trip.

Despite an eight-point Calciopoli deduction, Milan are back in the running for a Champions League spot. Unbeaten since November and buoyed by the signing of Ronaldo, the Diavoli faithful are starting to enjoy life again. Week 21’s 1-0 win over Parma saw the Rossoneri climb into ninth place and move within three points of fourth-placed Lazio. Carlo Ancelotti has momentum on his side and will be determined to keep it that way with a win over a side in turmoil.

Livorno are in free-fall and have little reason to believe that they can stop the Milan juggernaut. The Granata lost a Tuscan derby to Fiorentina in Week 21 and look dangerously short of confidence after nine games without a win. Things don’t look good for Daniele Arrigoni’s men who have Serie A’s worst defence away from home – having conceded 27 times. Arrigoni was fired and reappointed within a week last month but surely won’t get another reprieve if he fails to turn things around fast.

Ancelotti has a number of absentees as his men go in search of a fifth win in six. Dida is sidelined with a right shoulder injury and with reserve ‘keeper Zeljko Kalac also out, Marco Storari who arrived from Messina in January gets a debut. Alessandro Nesta is out of action for at least another month and Cristian Brocchi has a left thigh complaint. Serginho is nearing recovery. Pippo Inzaghi – scorer of the winner against Parma - is a doubt due to a thigh knock and Ronaldo must wait for his return to Italian football as he is not 100 per cent fit.

The Tuscans have fewer headaches. Croatian defender Dario Knezevic is still out with a frontal bone injury and is joined by injury-prone stopper Stefano Fanucci who has a problem with his right knee. Marco Amelia – who impressed in Week 4’s stalemate between the two sides – returns from injury to face the side he has frequently been linked with.

Man on fire: Massimo Oddo (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Last season: Milan 2-0 Livorno

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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milan (probable): Storari; Oddo, Bonera, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Kaka, Gilardino

Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante, Pasquale; A. Filippini, Morrone, Passoni, Cesar; Fiore, Lucarelli(suspended) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


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