[dst]

Wasn't Rino suspeneded?

Maybe he should be rested tomorrow, against AEK, as dst has been saying they are not good so we don't need a full strength team. And the games will get tougher as the season progresses and when that time comes we will need a Pirlo at 100%

Rino was suspended ofcourse but even in Paris he looked exhausted!!!

I think Pirlo should start so that the good start will be safely sealed ... Gourcuff could come later in the game!!!

Do not underestimate AEK ... they got nothing to lose in this game; when you got nothing to lose you play with no fear ... and that is what concerns me the most; then again the quality level is too low; we must kill the game in an instance!!!

[han2503]

Rino was suspended ofcourse but even in Paris he looked exhausted!!!

I think Pirlo should start so that the good start will be safely sealed ... Gourcuff could come later in the game!!!

Do not underestimate AEK ... they got nothing to lose in this game; when you got nothing to lose you play with no fear ... and that is what concerns me the most; then again the quality level is too low; we must kill the game in an instance!!!

You're right. But at least Pirlo should be rested in some not so important games. Parma don't look as strong as last season, so I would rest Pirlo then. Because when he is off-form he is still no use to us and it's better if he doesn't play because he starts to lose the ball in dangerous places

My formation fo this game would be something like this

Cafu--Nesta--Maldini--Janku (I removed the winger (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )
--Gattuso---Pirlo---Seedorf--
--------------Kaka-------------
-----Gila/Pippo--Oliveira-----

I think Gila shoul be given the nod for this game, this is his golden opportunity to break his duck, and if somehow that doesn't happen and we need a goal, then Pippo should be brought in.

[Guest_fresh_prince7_*]

You'd like to think this will be a formality and milan will take 3 points from this game. Hopefully we can keep the clean sheet and score at least 3 goals.

I'm hoping we see the defensive line: bonera nesta kaladze jankulovski
in the future

If oliveira is fit, I think he should start with gila. From what I've seen of oli, my first impressions were he could be a real threat in europe, due to the open space for through balls and long runs. I'm expecting to see some good exchanges between oli, kaka' and pirlo.

FORZA MILAN! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)

[KillerMax]

I'm expecting to see some good exchanges between oli, kaka' and pirlo.

And Seedorf! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[C-Xaris]

re dst me pia omada ise stin ellada;

[misha]

re dst me pia omada ise stin ellada;

?

[dst]

re dst me pia omada ise stin ellada;

me kamia!!!!!!!!!!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) apo pou eisai???

[Jack Sparrow]

no hablo greek....Lol....yo dst heard of the expression It's all greek and latin?? Guess you can never use that!

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

As for the match...I'm going with han's formation...cept i'd let oli and pippo start. In my opinion, it's more important to get Oli in top notch form for CL. We are gonna need a lot from him...

Gila and Oli start against Parma...so does Gourcuff...

Man I wish...LaPalma was not Kaka in disguise but Carlo...


Ahh and score...I think 2-0 or 1-0...coz I'm providing for a tired and (by his standards) ineffective Pirlo.

[misha]

As for the match...I'm going with han's formation...cept i'd let oli and pippo start. In my opinion, it's more important to get Oli in top notch form for CL. We are gonna need a lot from him...

According to Carlo Pippo and Gila will start...

[Jack Sparrow]

Oh bugger?

Hey is Carlo there in this forum??

Well in that case..I'm sure Oli is not 100pc fit...no other explanation

[misha]

Hey is Carlo there in this forum??

I wish he were. We have good tips for him (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[misha]

Ancelotti aware of AEK danger

This may be Carlo Ancelotti's sixth season in charge of AC Milan but his desire to win has not diminished with the passage of time. Ahead of the Rossoneri's opening Group H encounter with AEK Athens FC on Wednesday the coach made it abundantly clear just how important he considers the UEFA Champions League, saying simply: "It's our main objective."

European love affair
Milan's love affair with the UEFA Champions League is such that their name has become synonymous with the competition. Only Real Madrid CF have won more European Champion Clubs' Cups and a glance at the Italian giants' performance in the tournament over the last five years pays testament to their coach. In that time Milan have reached the final twice, winning it in 2003, and the semi-finals and quarter-finals on one further occasion each.

'Dangerous ground'
However, Ancelotti has not got this far by underestimating his opposition, and was quick to contradict suggestions that a group containing AEK, LOSC Lille Métropole and RSC Anderlecht would be straightforward for the six-time winners. "You're on dangerous ground if you think things will be easy," said Ancelotti. "AEK may be little-known but it is the lesser-known sides that can spring surprises. We need to respect them the same way we do the bigger clubs. What's more, having played only one league match so far this season some clubs are fitter than us. They will be up for the fight and so must we be."

Winning start
Unlike their Greek counterparts, who have mustered draws in their first three league matches, Milan got their Serie A campaign off to a winning start by overcoming S.S. Lazio 2-1 on Sunday. Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini returned to central defence after injury and Ancelotti refused to blame their lack of match sharpness for the Lazio goal, saying: "That wasn't a result of individual errors, the whole team got stretched. We need to be careful of counterattacks and get back quicker. This is a tournament we want to win and we can't afford to get off to a bad start."

First victory
Although underdogs, AEK also have no intention of starting the competition inauspiciously, even if they are still seeking their first UEFA Champions League victory after 18 games in the competition. The Greek outfit will take to the field with a positive attitude, according to their coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer: "My players must only have one thing in mind and that's winning. Things can always change during the course of a match and we're playing a good side."

'Nothing to lose'
Serra Ferrer is without Ifeanyi Udeze due to a knee injury but refuses to be downbeat. "My hand is forced with the suspension to Nikolaos Georgeas and the Udeze injury but we're still going to give it our best shot. I wouldn't say that we have nothing to lose because there is always something to play for but we certainly aren't under the same pressure as Milan and there is no reason why we shouldn't give them a run for their money."

Probable lineups
Milan: Dida; Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Serginho; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaká; Alberto Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi.

AEK: Stefano Sorrentino; Martin Pautasso, Traianos Dellas, Bruno Cirillo, Stavros Giorgiopoulos; Emerson, Evangelos Moras, Vladimir Ivić; Júlio César, Nikolaos Lyberopoulos, Panagiotis Lagos.

link

[han2503]

Milan keen to get back to business


There have been few more difficult summers in the history of AC Milan than the one just past but the UEFA Champions League traditionally brings out the best in the Italian giants, and they will be looking to get off to a good start when they take on AEK Athens FC at the San Siro on Matchday 1.

• Finishing runners-up in Serie A would normally guarantee an automatic ticket to the UEFA Champions League group stage but a 30-point reduction for Milan's part in a sports tribunal case saw them relegated to third position. That put Carlo Ancelotti's men in the third qualifying round for Europe's premier club competition where they edged past FK Crvena Zvezda 3-1 on aggregate, with Filippo Inzaghi on target in each game.

Home comforts
• Six-time winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, Milan will be hoping to recapture their impressive home form in the competition. Ludovic Giuly's smart finish for FC Barcelona in last season's semi-final first leg, the only goal of the tie, spoiled a run of 12 wins in 13 home games.

• They have also been robust starters in each of the last four UEFA Champions League seasons - winning their opening fixture in each case and going on to top the group.

Past meetings• Milan faced AEK in the group stage of the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League - the teams have not met in the intervening 12 years and neither have Milan faced any opposition from Greece in that time - when they followed a 0-0 away draw with a 2-1 win in a game that took place in Trieste.

• It continued Milan's sequence of never having lost to Greek sides in UEFA competition. In the each of their previous three ties with Greek opposition to date, over the two games the Rossoneri have won at home and drawn away.

AEK task
• This is AEK's third UEFA Champions League campaign in five seasons and Lorenzo Serra Ferrer's team will be hoping to record their first ever victory in the competition in Milan. In a total of 18 games so far their record reads ten draws and eight defeats.

• On their last visit to Italy the Greek league runners-up managed to hold AS Roma to a 1-1 draw in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League – the only time they have ever come away from the country with a result after six previous defeats.

UEFA.com

[Nova]

Again ... 1-0 kaka (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

1.Milan
2.AEK
3... Who gives a damn
4... see number 3

[amancik]

can't wait till tomorrow ... Gila plz score!