[Portman]

Serie A 2006/2007 - Day 34

Torino v Milan

Saturday, 28th of April, 2007

Time: 17:00 (UK), 18:00 (IT)

Next match. Trip to Torino.

[arivanjj]

Torino - Milan -- Football Italia preview

Milan face a tricky away trip as they take on Torino at the Stadio Olimpico in Week 34. The Rossoneri will almost certainly be focused on the return leg against Manchester United after going down 3-2 at Old Trafford, and Toro may take advantage of this. The Granata are still involved in the relegation battle.

Milan have been enjoying a good run recently, winning their last four. Last week’s 3-1 victory over Cagliari has reinforced their position. They are now in fourth place and likely to qualify for Champions League, even if they don’t qualify anyway by winning the trophy. With 56 points they are just one behind Lazio and six ahead of Empoli.

Toro are in serious trouble at the moment. After losing three in a row and drawing 0-0 against Empoli, the Granata cannot afford to drop anymore points. They are seventh from bottom, but only two points off the relegation zone. Chievo, Parma, Reggina and Catania are all pushing from behind and the Granata are feeling the pressure.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be looking forward to the Champions League semi-final, so many of the regulars will be rested. Marco Storari may take the gloves, while Marcos Cafu and Giuseppe Favalli should cover right and left-back respectively. Kakha Kaladze is suspended, so Dario Simic will step in. French starlet Yoann Gourcuff will get another chance starting from the first minute. Clarence Seedorf will play as a trequartista behind the Brazilian attacking duo of Ricardo Oliveira and Ronaldo.

Toro boss Gianni De Biasi is likely to stick with the 4-4-1-1 formation which seemed to work against Empoli. In defence Ivan Franceschini and Gabriele Cioffi are in competition for a place next to Oscar Brevi. After his debut last week, Francesco Coco should retain his place in the starting XI. Simone Barone is suspended, while Andrea Ardito will return to the midfield after a ban.

Nikola Lazetic will play on the right flank. The main problem for De Biasi is in attack where Elvis Abbruscato, Roberto Stellone and Roberto Muzzi have all failed to impress so far this season. Torino have, with 25 goals, the worst attack in Serie A at the moment. So De Biasi will move Toro’s best scorer Alessandro Rosina forward and have faith in Stellone to find the net.

Man on fire: Ronaldo (Milan) – Since his arrival in January, ‘Il Fenomeno’ has scored seven goals to fire Milan up the table.

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

Last season: Not played

Torino (probable): Abbiati; Comotto, Franceschini, Brevi, Balestri; Lazetic, De Ascentis, Ardito, Coco; Rosina; Stellone

Milan (probable): Storari; Cafu, Bonera, Simic, Favalli; Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gourcuff; Seedorf; Oliveira, Ronaldo