Serie A' MD21: Fiorentina - Milan [03-02-08]

[Jager]

Fiorentina finishing was autrocious today, they didn't make Milan pay, and they squeak out with victory.

Though it makes me wonder if Milanista see this as two step forward or not??

[LAF]

I think they'll care more about the three points Jager.

Good game. Pato is looking mighty.

'The Mighty Duck'.

[Jager]

But of course, but in Italy Milan is basically always forgiven. Three are the most important thing in Italy, however they didn't really dominate, actually they were lucky to win this, and the goal came on the run of play.

As an Interati, if Inter was doing a Milan, we would never hear the end of it, but Milan is always forgiven.

[sinoy1]

Inter has been doing it for mostly all of 2008.Havent played spectacular but are still winning.Thats what good teams do.In the terrible months of January/february they grind out results.This is the difference between top tier teams and aspiring Scudetto contenders

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 21 - 3/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Fiorentina 0 - 1 Milan
Pato 77 (M)
Stadio Franchi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexandre Pato gave Milan a crucial victory away to Fiorentina, but the youngster was stretchered off with a potentially serious injury.

This was essentially a play-off for fourth place between two teams finally finding their form. Fresh from a rescheduled midweek 1-0 away win at Reggina, the Rossoneri were without Ronaldo and Gennaro Gattuso, so former Viola man Cristian Brocchi had a rare start. Fiorentina's Marco Donadel sat out a ban and Fabio Liverani was sidelined, but they were coming off four straight wins.

Milan have traditionally struggled at the Stadio Franchi, held 2-2 last season and with just one win here in their last five visits. Having said that, the last time they failed to score was a 4-0 thrashing in January 2001. There was a minute's silence before kick-off and Milan wore black armbands out of respect for President Silvio Berlusconi's mother, who died this weekend aged 97.

Giampaolo Pazzini had the first shot on goal in the opening minute smothered by Zeljko Kalac, who was given the gloves despite Nelson Dida's return to fitness.

There was chaos in the Viola box on seven minute as the Rossoneri had several chances in one move to score. Alberto Gilardino flicked the ball over Sebastien Frey and Manuel Pasqual's goalline clearance was almost an own goal, ricocheting off the inside of the far post! The move continued and Massimo Ambrosini's effort was charged down.

Adrian Mutu went close as well soon after, his first header clattering against the near post, the follow-up looping but not enough to beat Kalac in a splendid save.

Clarence Seedorf flashed a shot over and Martin Jorgensen's goalline clearance kept out Kakha Kaladze's header from a corner kick.

Kaka pounced on a Per Kroldrup error and Gilardino fired a snapshot across the face of goal, but at the other end Mario Alberto Santana just failed to get a decisive touch from close range thanks to Paolo Maldini's protection.

Gilardino was clear on goal from the D, but completely scuffed his right-foot shot so that it went well wide. A Massimo Oddo error sent Riccardo Montolivo on the counter, but Pazzini's finish was charged down inside the box.

Moments later Pazzini chested down the ball to hold off Alessandro Nesta and spun round, the rising strike skimming the crossbar.

Kaka and Seedorf combined for a classic counter-attack, but Frey did well to smother the Brazilian's finish.

Straight after the restart Nesta was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red card. He was dispossessed by Mutu and chasing the Fiorentina striker twice held him back by his jersey, but because Kaladze was between them and the goalkeeper, it was not considered a clear scoring opportunity and so only a booking.

From the resulting free kick Nesta rode his luck again, the ball deflected out for a corner over his shoulder. Oddo dived in to prevent Pazzini getting a header from six yards on Mutu's cross.

Alexandre Pato replaced Seedorf, who was struggling with an ankle problem since the first half, but the Dutchman was visibly angry and walked off the field distant from the bench.

Maldini charged down a Tomas Ujfalusi attempt, but Kaka skipped past three tackles to fire wide of the near post.

It was a very open game and Kalac did brilliantly to parry Mutu's volley at the back post from point-blank range.

Emerson came off the bench and beat two Fiorentina players with nutmegs before unleashing a curler just over the bar in a wonderful solo move. Moments later Pato was inches away from getting the decisive touch on an Oddo cross that zipped across the face of goal.

Santana wasted a golden opportunity and it proved disastrous. Santana's unnecessary backheel for Montolivo wrecked a great chance and on the counter Milan took the lead. Pato chested down Kaka's cross, controlled it and fired past Frey with his left foot between a crowd of defenders. It was the 18-year-old's fourth goal of the season.

Former Milan flop Christian Vieri replaced Montolivo, but Kroldrup needed a desperate sliding tackle to stop Pato getting a second.

The Brazilian badly sprained his left ankle as he put his foot down awkwardly and was stretchered off in visible pain. Milan had completed their substitutions, so had to play five minutes of stoppages with 10 men. In the final seconds a corner had both teams packed into the box and it fell to Alessandro Gamberini's header from six yards, but Kalac performed a stunning point-blank reaction save!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Jorgensen (Gobbi 81), Montolivo (Vieri 78); Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi (Emerson 72), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (Pato 66), Kaka (Favalli 80); Gilardino

Ref: Saccani

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Ancelotti fears for Pato Sunday 3 February, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carlo Ancelotti has warned Alexandre Pato’s injury “is pretty serious,” leaving Milan with few options for next week’s game against Siena.

The 18-year-old was stretchered off in the final minutes of tonight’s 1-0 away win at Fiorentina after turning his left ankle on the turf.

“He sustained up a pretty serious sprain. We need 48 hours to evaluate the extent of the injury,” said the tactician.

It remains to be seen how long he will be out for, but the Brazilian is a real risk for the first leg of the Champions League clash with Arsenal on February 20.

It is a bitter blow for the Rossoneri, not only because Pato scored the winner at the Stadio Franchi, but also as Alberto Gilardino picked up a booking.

“We are back in an emergency situation. With Gilardino suspended, we hope that Pippo Inzaghi or Ronaldo can recover for next Sunday.

“Pato’s goal was very well constructed. Kaka did a great job in attacking the space left by Gilardino and putting it straight into the centre for Pato, who had a marvellous control and finish.”

Zeljko Kalac was also a revelation in goal, keeping the gloves despite Nelson Dida’s return to fitness from a shoulder problem.

“He earned his place with his performances, but we have another great goalkeeper who will not be forgotten, nor shelved.”

The win in Florence means Milan fly into fifth place with a game in hand against Livorno, which will be played on February 13.

If the team doesn’t qualify for the Champions League, it is likely Ancelotti will be sacked and there are new reports he’ll be replaced by Marcello Lippi.

“These rumours emerge every now and then, but they make me smile more than cause irritation. Will I leave Milan? I’ll chain myself to the gates!”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Viola rue Franchi failure Monday 4 February, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fiorentina camp was deflated after last night’s defeat against Milan, with Coach Cesare Prandelli insisting the Viola deserved at least a point.

The Champions League qualification showdown went the way of Milan courtesy of a late goal from Alexandre Pato, but Fiorentina came close on several occasions in a very even battle.

The Gigliati now lead the world champions by just four points and have played one extra game, but Prandelli is determined to take the positives from events at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

“Psychologically there is no problem because when you play like that you know that you are doing well,” he maintained. "We didn’t deserve to lose, but that’s football.

“Milan are a great team with quality players who can conjure up goals, but their winner came after we were in their box and gave the ball away in midfield – they just did well to capitalise.

“We would have been disappointed even to draw. It was a good performance that we can build upon. We just need to have more determination and be more ruthless in the box.”

President Andrea Della Valle also believed that the score-line was unjust and commended his men for their efforts.

“A draw would have been a fairer result,” he stated. “We dominated for 70 minutes and I have no reason to criticise the lads.

“It was a chance to keep distance between us and Milan, so there is some bitterness because we lost due to our mistake and against top sides you always will be punished for errors. But we will keep going and fight to the end.”

Sporting director Pantaleo Corvino insisted that the difference between the two sides on the day was purely the level of investment.

“Fiorentina have champions too but we can’t compete with Milan’s financial power in the market,” he lamented. “They can spend £12m on an 18-year-old whereas we can’t.

“However, I am proud of the way our side is performing and I hope that they can immediately bounce back because we can still achieve our Scudetto, which is finishing in fourth place.”

The next test for Fiorentina is a challenging trip to Atalanta.

channel4.com - Football Italia