MD7: Lazio - A.C Milan[07-10-07] - TalkSoccer

**dukeofdavinci** · 03-10-2007, 12:07 PM

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Serie A Week 7 - 7/10/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Milan

Stadio Olimpico

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Lazio and Milan are both way down the table compared with their pre-season expectations and at least one team will come away from this weekend disappointed again as Serie A’s biggest underachievers come face to face at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Seven points from six games is not exactly the start that the Rossoneri fans were hoping for from the reigning European champions. Since their 3-0 thrashing of Genoa in Week 1, Milan have failed to win a single match and their toothless strikers are yet to hit the net with all of their goals coming from midfield, with the one exception from defender Alessandro Nesta – in yet [another disappointing 1-1 draw with Siena in Week 3. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be telling his team to just continue playing the way they know and the rest will come, but they also know the pressure will only get higher with every poor performance.

Ancelotti will still be without the added threat of Ronaldo in attack as well, as the Brazilian continues his recovery from a troublesome thigh injury. There are problems in defence too with Paolo Maldini, Kakha Kaladze and Serginho all missing, while first choice goalkeeper Nelson Dida is a major doubt after missing the games against Palermo and Catania through injury. That means Australian ‘keeper Zeljko Kalac will be on standby to step in again if needed.

His opposite number Delio Rossi also has some absences to worry about with Sebastiano Siviglia, Modibo Diakhite and Fabio Firmani all on the treatment table. There are also serious concerns over the fitness of Tommaso Rocchi and Valon Behrami and they may not be ready to play a part in this match. That could leave Rossi short of options, especially coming so soon after their Champions League tie against Real Madrid.

The Biancocelesti are desperately searching for some consistency at the moment, but they still don’t seem to have recovered from their injury-hit start to the season. They also only have one win to their name so far – 3-1 at home against Cagliari – and have failed to kill off teams they were expected to beat comfortably. Their home form has started to improve, as shown by that triumph over Cagliari, but this match will be a real test of their credentials as they come up against one of Serie A’s elite for the first time this term.

Keep an eye on: Kaka (Milan) – Luckily for the Rossoneri their Brazilian star hasn’t been affected by his teammates’ lack of form. With the strikers misfiring, Kaka quite simply is Milan’s attacking threat at the moment.

Last season: Lazio 0-0 Milan

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

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Lazio (probable): Muslera; Behrami, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev

Milan (probable): Kalac; Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

**D-Kin** · 03-10-2007, 01:25 PM

This has got draw written all over it.

We'll see how they both do in the CL first though.

barracuda · 03-10-2007, 02:39 PM

Agreed a draw waiting to happen. 1-1 is my prediction.

**D-Kin** · 03-10-2007, 10:22 PM

Well neither won in Europe tonight, Lazio should be pleased with their performance against Madrid though.

**Jager** · 04-10-2007, 06:33 PM

If Lazio plays like they did against Real Madrid, they will win it. This is not a good place for Milan to be, however its not like they are lighting the world on fire, with their performances against Minnows.

I want to see if Milan can actually score more than one?

**D-Kin** · 06-10-2007, 03:15 PM

Milan squad: Dida, Kalac, Fiori; Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Nesta, Oddo, Simic; Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà, Aubameyang, Inzaghi, Gilardino

**dukeofdavinci** · 07-10-2007, 08:16 AM

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Rossi: Milan like Real Madrid Sunday 7 October, 2007

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Delio Rossi has asked his Lazio side to face Milan the same way they did Real Madrid in Wednesday’s impressive 2-2 draw.

“We have to put in a performance of the highest level, as we cannot afford to drop the intensity or quality by even the smallest margin.

“Milan are one of the greats, like Real Madrid, but they are even more compact than the Spaniards. Let us not forget a month ago they won the European Super Cup. We have to repeat our performance against Real.”

In that Champions League tie midweek, Real were twice ahead at the Olimpico through Ruud van Nistelrooy, but the Biancocelesti had most of the chances and drew level thanks to Goran Pandev’s brace.

Tommaso Rocchi raced against the clock to be fit for that match, but could be rested for Milan, while Cristian Ledesma is out for at least a month after undergoing keyhole surgery on the meniscus ligament in his knee this morning.

“Nestor Muslera will be in goal. Roberto Baronio can play in Ledesma’s place, although he is more of a creator and less of a filter.”

Rossi will come face to face with Massimo Oddo, who left Lazio in January and has spoken highly of the Coach since his departure.

“I have always remained in good relations with my former players. I like to think that when he lifted the Champions League trophy in May, there was a little bit of Lazio in there too. I will be happy to welcome him with a hug.”

Nelson Dida is expected to start in goal for Milan just days after his Celtic Park theatrics caused controversy and widespread condemnation.

“Let us just say that the fan’s behaviour was poor and so was Dida’s.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

**Jager** · 08-10-2007, 07:35 AM

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Serie A Week 7 - 7/10/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio 1 - 5 Milan
Ambrosini 16 (M), Mauri 23 (L), Kaka pen 33, 52 (M), Gilardino 70, 78 (M)
Stadio Olimpico

Alberto Gilardino and Milan broke their droughts in spectacular fashion, demolishing Lazio 5-1 at the Olimpico.

These sides finished in the top four last term, but bad starts meant they were battling in mid-table. The pressure was poured on to the Rossoneri after four points from their previous five games in Serie A and the midweek Champions League loss at Celtic. Lazio at least took comfort from their spectacular 2-2 draw with Real Madrid.

Injuries have been key for both teams this season as the absentee list included Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Kakha Kaladze, Serginho, Marek Jankulovski, Sebastiano Siviglia, Mobido Diakhite' and Fabio Firmani.

Tommaso Rocchi was able to start despite a sprained ankle and had the first shot on goal after 90 seconds. Goran Pandev turned between two midfielders and sprinted forward for Rocchi, but his pass was somewhere between Pandev and Stefano Mauri, so Nelson Dida grabbed hold of the ball.

Milan should have taken the lead on eight minutes as Massimo Ambrosini redirected a corner kick, but Daniele Bonera incredibly turned wide from a yard. Alberto Gilardino hit the back of the net while offside.

On 13 minutes Muslera rushed out to close down Gilardino, but got the player's leg rather than the ball and the referee pointed to the spot. However, after consulting with the linesman he changed his mind and gave a corner kick, but there are strong doubts over this incident.

The goal was only postponed by a couple of minutes, as Ambrosini unleashed an extraordinary strike from 30 metres that slotted into the far top corner past Muslera's hand. The midfielder looked as if he was making a cross, but Mulsera was off his line and it swept straight past the stunned shot-stopper.

Clarence Seedorf went on a marauding run to smash his shot against the side-netting, then Kaka went on a run from his own half to blast over.

But it was Lazio who equalised with a fast-paced move. De Silvestri ran down the right flank and cut back low for Mauri to turn into the far bottom corner with the inside of his left foot, leaving Dida stranded. That was the first goal the Biancocelesti have scored in the first half this season.

De Silvestri had another great assist for Rocchi's header that Dida plucked out from under the bar and then Seedorf blasted a free kick over from a promising position.

Muslera tackled Gilardino again and this time the referee pointed to the spot for the penalty. Mauri slipped and Gila pounced on the loose ball as the goalkeeper came sliding into the back of his ankle. Kaka drilled to Muslera's left to restore Milan's advantage.

After the break Muslera parried a Gilardino shot from Andrea Pirlo's inspired pass, but the former Parma man handled the ball.

The Rossoneri went 3-1 up with Kaka's classy finish. Seedorf's cross from the left was put back in by Pirlo for Kaka to shake off Guglielmo Stendardo and nutmeg the goalkeeper at the near post.

Gilardino ran on to a Pirlo through ball and Cribari came sliding in on the edge of the area, but the referee perhaps harshly booked the Milan striker for simulation.

Mauri curled a free kick over and Kaka went on a slalom in the area, but Cribari blocked the ball with his hip and elbow in a sliding tackle.

Gilardino finally scored his first goal of the season in all competition, ending a drought that had weighed heavy on his shoulders. Kaka picked up the ball in midfield and went towards the centre, but placed a slide-rule pass in for Gilardino's angled drive. The entire squad went to hug Gila and celebrate this important goal for the striker - his first since April in Serie A.

It was almost five moments later, as Seedorf sprung the offside trap by combining with Kaka and Muslera got a hand to it, enough to allow Luciano Zauri to clear off the line.

Gilardino nearly got his second as well with a similar move created by Ambrosini's cross-field pass, but the lob took a deflection off Muslera's arm to whistle wide.

Soon after, Gilardino proved his confidence is most definitely back with a cracking goal. Seedorf chipped the ball over the defence for Ambrosini's headed assist and Gila's powerful right-foot volley under the bar silenced the Olimpico.

Lazio tried to make the scoreline a little more dignified, but Dida controlled Igli Tare and Pandev headers, while De Silvestri struck the side-netting.

Lazio: Muslera; De Silvestri, Stendardo (Scaloni 57), Cribari, Zauri; Behrami (Baronio 69), Mudingayi, Mutarelli, Mauri; Rocchi (Tare 76), Pandev

Milan: Dida; Oddo (Simic 81), Nesta, Bonera, Favalli; Gattuso (Brocchi 82), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf (Gourcuff 83); Gilardino

Ref: Morganti

channel4.com - Football Italia

**dukeofdavinci** · 08-10-2007, 08:58 AM

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Rossi: Don’t blame Muslera Monday 8 October, 2007

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Lazio boss Delio Rossi has defended goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, but apologised to the fans after last night’s 5-1 mauling against Milan.

The young Uruguayan was brought in this summer when the Aquile’s deal for Argentine star Juan Pablo Carrizo broke down at the 11th hour.

Despite his impressive reputation in South America, Muslera looked ill at ease and the Rossoneri emphatically took advantage.

“The goalkeeper is just one part of the team and sometimes he plays well and sometimes, like today, not so well,” Rossi insisted diplomatically.

“It’s not fair to judge him on tonight, but it is an experience that he can draw on as he is still a very young player.”

Just days after turning in a heroic performance to draw 2-2 with Real Madrid in the Champions League, Lazio looked a completely different side as they capitulated against the European champions.

“Now we need to go off and lick our wounds,” Rossi stated. “I can accept that we lost to Milan, but I have to ask for forgiveness from the fans for the way we lost.

“In the first half we paid dearly for a few errors, but it just wasn’t a game after the break. Maybe Milan are more used to playing two matches in a week.”

what a beating

.they must have been laughing of their arse whn we got a beating from the other milan, and we laugh back.

barracuda · 08-10-2007, 11:05 AM

Lazio played well in the first half, barred the GK who probably had the worst games I've seen a GK have in 2 years.

In the 2nd half though, Milan were too good. The thru-balls were magnificent and the 5th goal was a masterpiece. Not easy to by Lazio when the real Milan is on the pitch.

**D-Kin** · 08-10-2007, 02:29 PM

So much for my draw prediction then.

**D-Kin** · 08-10-2007, 02:29 PM

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Carlo Ancelotti admits this is a crucial victory for Milan and Alberto Gilardino, changing the atmosphere around the club.

They had been in what President Silvio Berlusconi called “a pitch black crisis” without a Serie A win since Week 1, but the 5-1 demolition of Lazio revived their fortunes.

“I’d say that we had a bit of a nervous start, but after taking the lead we built up this win. It was a delicate and difficult game, but certainly changes the atmosphere surrounding the club,” confirmed the Coach.

“Our second half was of a very high level, alternating possession with quick moves into space. The two strikers played brilliantly.”

Gilardino had been jeered by the Rossoneri fans after failing to score a single goal all season, but broke his duck with a spectacular brace.

Another player under the spotlight was Nelson Dida following his theatrical reaction to a pitch invasion at Celtic Park.

“I never considered dropping Dida. I think he remains a great goalkeeper who, like everyone, makes mistakes, but we never thought of replacing him,” assured Ancelotti.

“The break for international duty comes at the right time, as it allows us to recover some players we had out injured. We accept criticism, but some went over the line. In any case, it has been a complicated week.”

This emphatic 5-1 win over Lazio was particularly needed after Wednesday’s shock 2-1 Champions League loss to Celtic.

channel4.com - Football Italia

**D-Kin** · 08-10-2007, 02:30 PM

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Milan hitman Alberto Gilardino was clearly relieved after opening his account for the season with a brace against Lazio.

The ex-Parma marksman had been the victim of jeering from the Diavolo fans after failing to find the target in the first six weeks of the season, but he silenced the critics in style in the 5-1 win over Lazio.

“I couldn’t score during the summer break, so it isn’t such a long time that I didn’t score for,” he told Sky Sports Italia.

“We showed everyone that we aren’t the side people are talking about in the Press and we want to turn things around in the Champions League and in Serie A.

“It was largely a mental transformation. We were convinced that we would play well against Lazio and we really did.”

Gila has slipped out of contention for the Azzurri and doesn’t feature in Roberto Donadoni’s latest squad, but he believes that if he keeps finding the target that will take care of itself.

“I’m just thinking of Milan at the moment,” he stressed.

“Donadoni has made his decision and all I can do is make it tough for him by continuing like this.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

**D-Kin** · 09-10-2007, 06:34 PM

Game highlights:

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