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...

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.

3 - 1 Kaka, Oli and Gourcuff .

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

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....

Carlo said 2 things today, a bad one and a good one. The bad one is that Kakà is still having problems with the injury so we don't know yet if he'll be a starter tomorrow or not. The good thing is that Gattuso is getting better day by day and we might see him already against Fiorentina.

Hard match vs. Viola next week.

that's why we need a hard-head like rino 

can anyone tell me how to put my profile picture on im stuck ! :S

Ancelotti urges Milan reaction

Carlo Ancelotti has run out of patience and has urged Milan to grit their teeth and start a winning cycle from Torino to avoid an anxious Christmas.

“This is the time when we need to grit our teeth and not look back,” said the Coach. “That doesn’t just apply to the players, but all of us, as we must focus on picking up as many points as possible before the winter break.”

The Rossoneri have been struggling badly of late with just three points from their last five Serie A games and two consecutive Champions League defeats.

Marcos Cafu returns from injury to shore up a side that is already missing Alessandro Nesta, Dida, Kakha Kaladze, Serginho, Giuseppe Favalli and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, but Kaka’s strain to the sole of his foot is still causing concern.

“The fans will see a different team from the one they saw on Wednesday against Lille. I am certain the crowd will stay close to the players. It’s a delicate moment for us and I think the supporters are viewing it the right way.”

Milan were booed off the field midweek after an embarrassing performance and there could be psychological repercussions against Torino at San Siro this afternoon.

“My angry reaction after the Lille defeat was a realistic analysis done with the right level of bitterness,” insisted Ancelotti.

“We have to face this game with the right motivation and urge to react. This side can do it. We all have to make a few extra sacrifices, though I won’t explain what those are.”

While Ancelotti’s job hangs in the balance, he faces a Torino outfit coming off three consecutive victories with ex-Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni at the helm.

“Toro are a solid squad in defence and I think we’ll find problems breaking them down. We still own Christian Abbiati’s contract and are following his progress, but I don’t understand why there is so much transfer talk around Milan and goalkeepers. We’ve always kept him in consideration as the first alternative to Dida for the future.”

Football Italia

Squad for Milan - Torino

KEEPERS: Kalac, Fiori, Facchin.

DEFENDERS: Antonelli, Bonera, Bruscagin (37), Cafu, Kaladze, Maldini, Jankulovski, Simic, Darmian (36).

MIDFIELDERS: Bottini (34), Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Guerci (28), Kakà, Seedorf.

STRIKERS: Borriello, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Ricardo Oliveira.

Anyone notice hoe Antonelli doesn't have a number next to his name anymore. I think he might be impressing and is heading for the first team 

wat do the numbers mean anyways??

so this would be my line-up for the game:

Kalac
Cafu, Simic, Maldini, Jankulovski
Brocchi, Kakà, Seedorf, Gourcuff
Gilardino, Oliveira.

I think we should establish some sort of consistancy in who we choose for our central pair, because our defence are making all  those mistakes because they haven't established any sort of rapport with eachother, becuase they are constantly changing.

And since Maldini and Kaladze are the strongest pairing we have, I think we should consistantly play with them until Nesta is back

I think the Formation will be

Kalac
Cafu, Simic, Maldini, Jankulovski
Gattuso, Kakà, Seedorf, Gourcuff
Inzaghi , Oliveira.
*

i think Gattuso will be bak in the squad but i think maybe on 45 mins  for fitness reasons

Oli will be playing behind 2 strikers