CATANIA TOUGH NUT TO CRACK | AC MILAN

From the Italian Cup to Serie A, from Genoa to Catania. Coach Simeone, in only his second game in charge of the southern side, welcomes a rossoneri side to the Massimino stadium fresh from their victory over Sampdoria in the Italian Cup. So far all five of Catania's wins this season have come at home, where last season the Milan giants produced a last gasp winner.

MILANO - Not an easy trip the one to Catania, where Milan will play on Saturday evening at 8.45pm for round 22 of the Serie A season. Past games and very recent encounters suggest that it will not be easy at all to beat Simeone's men, the man who officially took over from Giampoalo on January 18th. the change was made after a run of poor results from the Sicilian side although they still remain formidable at home.

Catania have in fact won all five of their games this season at home, in front of their adoring crowd. At the Massimino stadium they have picked up 19 of their 22 points with victories over Parma, Cesena, Udinese, Bari and Brescia. On top of thjis they have drawn against Bologna, Napoli, Fiorentina and Chievo. They have only lost twice, against Inter and Juventus.

Maxi Lopez is Catania's top scorer so far with 5 goals to his name, followed by the defender Silvestri with three goals. And the new coach will be hoping to have the defender available for the game against Milan as he explained in the press conference. He spoke on tuesday and will not be holding any other press conferences until after the game so that he can concentrate completely on the game in hand and getting his side ready. Simeone, who started his adventure on the catania bench with a defeat against Parma, said he would play with a 4-3-3 formation with Biagianti, Potenza, Izco and Llama all doubtful.

Milan have won their last two games in Catania but the victory of two years ago, on May 3rd 2009, broke a negative streak that had been on-going since 1964 where the rossoneri had picked up six draws in a row. That run, including the 1-1 draw in 2007 with Seedorf and Spinesi the scorers and also the 1-1 draw of 2008 with Pato and once again Spinesi on the scoresheet, came to an end in the 0-2 victory of 2009 with goals from Inzaghi and Kakà. Milan repeated that result a year ago in November when Huntelaar scored a brace in the dying moments after coming on in the 39th minute of the second half.

RECENT MATCHES

SEASON 2009-2010
29 NOVEMBER 2009: CATANIA-MILAN 0-2

SEASON 2008-2009
3 MAY 2009: CATANIA-MILAN 0-2

SEASON 2007-2008
27 FEBRUARY 2008: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1

SEASON 2006-2007
13 MAY 2007: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1

SEASON 1983-1984
2 FEBRUARY 1984: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1

BETWEEN GENOA & CATANIA | AC MILAN

Lots of work in the gym today with only Pirlo and bonera out on the field. Tomorrow training resumes at 12.00 and at 5pm the squad will leave for Sicily.

MILANELLO - Following the good win over Sampdoria in Genoa that takes Milan through to the semi finals of the Italian Cup, the sqaud were training today at Milanello to prepare for the match against Catania. The session started at 11.30 and it involved the usual in-between game workout.

The training session was a standard affair with no real differences in the work carried out between those players who played at Genoa in the Italian cup game and those who did not. Many of the players did work out in the gym, both those injured and those who played against Sampdoria.

Andrea Pirlo and Daniele Bonera did some running which is part of their specific work-out program. The team leaves Malpensa airport tomorrow at 5pm.