[Portman]

Serie A 2006/07- Day 15

Milan v Torino

Sunday, 10th of December '06

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

Next Serie A match against a historical team - Torino.

After the draw in Cagliari will Milan get back to the winning track?

Prediction: 1-0.

This post has been edited by Portugal: Dec 3 2006, 05:51 PM

[X-Offender]

We'll win 3-0.

[han2503]

If the ref is HALF as decent we'll win this, if he keeps f@cking us up then we'll draw.

It's what has been happening in every match this season

a 3-1 for us.

Gila and Kaka wil score

[vito_online]

the real question is not to win or to lose... I think the question is to know who is the next player on the injury list for this game...

[han2503]

the real question is not to win or to lose... I think the question is to know who is the next player on the injury list for this game...

One of the important ones for sure (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[X-Offender]

If things go as planned we should have Cafu, Ambrosini and Kakà back this weel. Hopefuly Ambro will make some minutes against Lille so he can be a starter in this match and make breath the poor Brocchi. Damn, since Rino injured against Atalanta he hasn't stopped playing for a single second.

[han2503]

If things go as planned we should have Cafu, Ambrosini and Kakà back this weel. Hopefuly Ambro will make some minutes against Lille so he can be a starter in this match and make breath the poor Brocchi. Damn, since Rino injured against Atalanta he hasn't stopped playing for a single second.

Hopefully

[berenike_10]

2-1

goes for milan.

[arivanjj]

3 - 1 Kaka, Oli and Gourcuff (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) .

[han2503]

3 - 1 Kaka, Oli and Gourcuff (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) .

I think Gourcuff will score to, he had some great shots in these last 2 games.

[misha]

Milan - Torino

Milan are slowly starting along the comeback trail, but will need to be wary of a Torino side who are picking up momentum when they welcome the newly-promoted side to the San Siro. With both teams showing signs of improvement it should be a tense encounter.

With both Alberto Gilardino and Marco Borriello hitting the back of the net last week in the 2-2 draw at Cagliari, it looks like the Rossoneri could finally be overcoming their goal drought. That was the first time a striker had scored for Milan in over a month, and only the second time since the opening match of the season.

That lack of goals has also had a severe affect on the team’s results. Starting with the loss to Inter in the Milan derby they went on a spell ending with just one point from four games. They finally broke the curse with the Week 13 home win over Messina, but the draw in Cagliari was less than they would have hoped for, regardless of the sending off of Andrea Pirlo.

That red card also means that Milan will be without Pirlo for this match thanks to his suspension, but that will be far from Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest concern. The Rossoneri’s growing injury list now includes Serginho, Marcos Cafu, Giuseppe Favalli, Alessandro Nesta, Alessandro Costacurta, Gennaro Gattuso and first choice goalkeeper Nelson Dida. That means the likes of Zeljko Kalac, Cristian Brocchi and Daniele Bonera will have another opportunity to impress Carletto in the first team.

Torino boss Alberto Zaccheroni – facing the club he took to Scudetto glory in 1999 – has no such problems. The only absence from his side is defender Marco Di Loreto who has picked up a suspension. That means Giuseppe Pancaro, Massimo Taibi and Christian Abbiati will also return to their former club, even if only the latter – who is still owned by Milan – is expected to feature from the start.

Former club or not, Zaccheroni’s men will be eager to add to their hosts’ woes. After three consecutive victories and the enormous celebrations last week for the club’s centenary, morale is at a real high amongst the Toro squad. The fallen giants are starting to claw their way back up and with the top four now just three points away the Granata will be desperate to keep up the pace.

Man on fire: Yoann Gourcuff (Milan) – Milan may have been stumbling, but the young Frenchman has been a revelation this season. Virtually unheard of this summer the midfielder has been in excellent form since his return from injury.

Last season: Not played

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

Milan (probable): Kalac; Bonera, Kaladze, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gourcuff, Brocchi, Seedorf; Kaka; Gilardino, Inzaghi

Torino (probable): Abbiati; Brevi, Cioffi, Franceschini; Comotto, Barone, Ardito, Balestri; Lazetic, Rosina; Stellone

Football Italia

[Portman]

Just smack Toro. We can't lose the train for the 4th place.

I'm tired of losing points at home. Damn.

[Portman]

Serie A Preview: Milan-Torino  High-flying Torino venture this Sunday to Milan, and to what used to be considered as one of the more formidable grounds in all of Europe.

When: Sunday December 10, 15:00 (CET)

Where: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND

These clubs have not met in more than four years, when Milan won 6-0 at the location of this Sunday’s encounter.  And the fortunes of the two sides since then have been very different.  Milan have won the UEFA Champions League (2003) and Scudetto (2004), while Torino have been out of Serie A.

This has all changed recently, though.  Torino are in the midst of a three-match winning streak.  They have given up more goals (17) than they have scored (10) this season, but they are now improving in both departments.

Take their 1-0 home win last weekend against another surprisingly-good side this term, Empoli.  Torino were able to keep their opponents off the scoreboard, and got a late-winner through the superb effort of Gianluca Comotto in the 88th minute.

Milan have not been so fortunate.  Following the Calciopoli scandal this summer, and the eight-point penalty dished out, they have played from behind all season.  The stress of having to recover those points from the start of the campaign has shown, with the pressure mounting on a constant basis.

They have also struggled to find the goals after the departure of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea, who was their second all-time top scorer.  The arrival of Ricardo Oliveira has not been what the doctor ordered, as he has not been able to score regularly at all.  The rest of the strikers have had trouble scoring, too, but this could be changing.

The 2-2 draw away to Cagliari last Sunday saw a return of sorts to scoring ways.  Alberto Gilardino did well to head the ball into the net just after halftime, and the second Rossoneri goal was even better.  Marco Borriello hit a terrific overhead kick from close range to level the score in the 70th minute and earn a point for his side.   

CURRENT FORM

Milan (D W D, 12 points, 15th place in Serie A)

Despite the poor play of the side nearly all season, they are only eight points out of fourth place, and could make good inroads toward that spot with a win and three points here in this match.

Taking into account all of the injuries they have had to deal with, you cannot really be surprised by Milan’s current standing.  The defense has been depleted by long-term injuries, and the midfield has also suffered some key absences.  Add these to the drop in morale due to the Calciopoli trial, and you get one sad side.

They have improved recently, and team spirit seems to be growing, especially with the winter break coming up, which will provide some much needed rest. 

Torino (W W W, 17 points, 11th place in Serie A)

What can you say about Torino?  They are a side who have hit a real hot-streak with three wins in a row, after not being expected to do much of anything following their promotion this term.

They could really cement themselves are contenders for a European spot with a win at Milan, and this is not out of the question, all things considered. 

TEAM NEWS

Milan must again do without main players such as Alessandro Nesta, Serginho, Giuseppe Favalli, Alessandro Costacurta, Gennaro Gattuso and Nelson Dida.  Also, Andrea Pirlo is suspended after receiving a red card versus Cagliari.  Marcos Cafu is fit again, and may play a part in this match. 

Torino have just one absentee, that being Marco Di Loreto through suspension. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Filippo Inzaghi (Milan) – ‘Supperpippo’ scored a hat-trick when these two clubs met in 2002, and though he is not the player he used to be, he can still nip past the defense to poach goals at any time.

Christian Abbiati (Torino) – On-loan this season from Milan, he will be eager to impress his former employers.  It could be interesting how he reacts to this encounter, however, as he basically declined the chance to play against Milan last season when on-loan at Juventus (he claimed to be ill, but not many people believed this to be the reason why he missed out). 

POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Bonera, Kaladze, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gourcuff, Brocchi, Seedorf; Kakà; Oliveira, Inzaghi

Torino (3-4-2-1): Abbiati; Brevi, Cioffi, Franceschini; Comotto, Barone, Ardito, Balestri; Lazetic, Rosina; Stellone 

PREDICTION

This match is sure to be entertaining, if not to also provide several goals.  Rather than sit back and absorb pressure, Torino will look to take it to their hosts, with thoughts of a fourth-consecutive victory in their minds. 

Milan 2-2 Torino 

Joel Whitehead - GOAL.com

This post has been edited by Portugal: Dec 8 2006, 07:18 PM

[berenike_10]

Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Bonera, Kaladze, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gourcuff, Brocchi, Seedorf; Kakà; Oliveira, Inzaghi

Torino (3-4-2-1): Abbiati; Brevi, Cioffi, Franceschini; Comotto, Barone, Ardito, Balestri; Lazetic, Rosina; Stellone

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I just don't know why ancelloti keeps insisting with hom, although simoc played quite badly against lille, i think he's better option than bonera... but well, the rest of the squad look just ok, u but i would like pirlo instead of seedorf....

[agenth]

Pirlo has a red card,,,,


This match is a must win. We can't loose anymore points, and it would be better starting to win before the christmas break, when we rejuvenate hopefully our squad.
I wouldn't underestimate Torino, didn't they win the last 3 games...?
Right now I think every little team, even Serie B could have the ambition/will/strength to face and beat us, even at home