MD31: Milan - Fiorentina

[Jager]

Milan - Fiorentina

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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With the European hopefuls still jostling for position Milan and Fiorentina will both be keen to maintain their slim advantages in this match. Both clubs currently occupy the Champions League places they are aiming for, but with the rest of Serie A hot on their heels neither side will want to drop any points here. The Viola midfield duo of Marco Donadel and Cristian Brocchi will be eager to play their part as they return to the San Siro.

Off the field it has been a week of surprises in Milan. Despite Alessandro Costacurta and Coach Carlo Ancelotti both looking almost certain to end their time with the Rossoneri this summer, Carletto has extended his contract while the veteran defender has postponed his retirement for another year. It hasn’t all been good news though as rumours have surfaced that, due to his lengthy injury problems, the legendary Paolo Maldini may have played his last match for the club.

Ancelotti will be hoping that his players can put all those distractions to one side and continue their excellent recent form. The Diavolo have gone five games without conceding a goal, scoring 10 of their own in the process. With Andriy Shevchenko, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi all on top form he will be hoping they can fire his team to automatic qualification for the Champions League.

Fiorentina will be hoping to put their shaky history at the Giuseppe Meazza behind them in this match. Their last two Serie A encounters there against the Rossoneri have resulted in embarrassing 6-0 and 5-2 defeats. Cesare Prandelli will be looking to keep things tight in defence to help prevent any repeats of those matches. Three wins and nine goals from their last three games, not including their abandoned fixture at Cagliari, along with their 3-1 win over Milan earlier in the season suggest this time could be very different.



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Milan: Dida; Stam, Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Inzaghi, Shevchenko

Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Di Loreto, Pasqual; Jorgensen, Donadel, Brocchi, Fiore; Toni, Bojinov

Ref: To follow...

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...6/mil-fio.html

Game of the week in my opinion, even with Roma and Juve playing. Great week for football.

[TheDevil]

Tough game to call. However I think Milan will put Fiorentina away here. They have cooled off, while Milan is red hot and firing on all cylinders.

[Jager]

Milan welcome back Maldini Saturday 25 March, 2006

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Paolo Maldini could play against Fiorentina this evening, opening up a starting spot for him against Lyon, revealed Carlo Ancelotti.

“If Maldini is able to play, then he could be ready for Olympique Lyonnais as well,” said the Coach. “It’s true that our defence is solid at the moment, but his presence would only strengthen it further. Either way, we managed without him against Bayern Munich and would do the same in the quarter-finals if necessary.”


Maldini has been out of action for several months with a recurring knee problem that has prompted some to suggest he’ll put an early end to his career.


However, the captain will be on the bench against Fiorentina this evening and could make an appearance in this clash between second and fourth.


“Jaap Stam is slowly improving, but he is unavailable for this game. Alessandro Costacurta shows no signs of deteriorating with age and if anything has been a real surprise for us this season, especially as he can play at right-back as well as central defence.”


Just days ahead of the Champions League showdown with Lyon, Ancelotti admits he could opt to rotate the squad.


“Massimo Ambrosini picked up a knock and Marcos Cafu continues to work hard. All the strikers are in good shape, so a little rotation helps everyone in the long run. I’ll make my decision based on how I’ve seen them in training this week.”


Fiorentina will be particularly motivated in this game, as they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat here last season.


“They’re not the only ones looking for a re-match, as we aren’t over the 3-1 loss we had at the Stadio Franchi earlier this year,” added Ancelotti.



Milan squad: Dida, Kalac; Costacurta, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Jankulovski, Simic; Ambrosini, Gattuso, Kakà, Pirlo, Rui Costa, Seedorf, Serginho, Vogel; Amoroso, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Shevchenko

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/mar25a.html

[simaozinho200]

this game is going to be a great match up 2 good stable teams going at it with 2 of the best strikers in the world

[Jager]

Milan 3 - 1 Fiorentina
Toni 13 (F), Shevchenko 20 (M), Kaka 48 (M), Gattuso 60 (M)
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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Milan fought back from a goal down to sweep Fiorentina aside 3-1, including a spectacular goal from Gennaro Gattuso.

It was second vs fourth at the San Siro and both sides were eager to make up for previous embarrassments. Fiorentina lost their last trip here 6-0, while the Rossoneri wanted revenge for their 3-1 drubbing earlier this season. The Viola had to do without the suspended trio of Marco Donadel, Cristian Brocchi and Dario Dainelli, but Milan welcomed Paolo Maldini back to the bench after months out with a recurring knee problem. The captain had made only 11 Serie A appearances this season and hadn't played since December 6.

Fiorentina had a bright start and went close in the opening minutes with Stefano Fiore setting up Luca Toni and his strike skimming the woodwork. Kakha Kaladze was then fortunate to escape with an error, as Toni also slipped and the chance went begging.

Dida saved a Toni header from ex-Rossoneri full-back Giuseppe Pancaro's cross.

Milan's first real opportunity fell to Pippo Inzaghi, who got in front of Manuel Pasqual to redirect a corner kick that shaved the near post.

The Viola broke through after 13 minutes thanks to a defensive error on a Pasqual free kick. Tomas Ujfalusi got above his marker to nod the ball into the centre for an unmarked Toni to push in from six yards.

The Rossoneri defence has been solid of late, but was again distracted from a Pasqual set-piece as Toni - again unmarked - saw his shot charged down.

Costacurta's misplaced cross turned into a shot that struck the roof of the net.

Andriy Shevchenko both started and finished Milan's equaliser, as his mazy run caused problems for the Viola, then he sprung the offside trap on Andrea Pirlo's pass, cut back past a defender's challenge and beat Bogdan Lobont at the near post.

Alessandro Nesta was booked for bringing down Luis Jimenez after a splendid piece of footwork from the Chilean youngster.

Lobont was again less than secure when he lost Costacurta's taut cross from the right, but was protected by his defenders.

The Fiorentina goalkeeper made up for his error with a stunning save on Kaka's equally spectacular scissor-kick volley from nine yards.

Milan took just two and a half minutes to take the lead after the restart. Costacurta, who turns 40 next month, crossed in for the unmarked Kaka to swing home a free header into the far bottom corner of the net.

Dida had his palms stung by a fierce Toni strike that was rising venemously, but the next goal came from an unlikely source.

Gennaro Gattuso unleashed a powerful curling shot from the edge of the box that went under a Fiorentina defender's leg and caught Lobont by surprise at the near post. The fiery midfielder sprinted all the way up the field to hear the applause of 'his' fans in the Curva.

Fiorentina switched to a more attacking formation with striker Valeri Bojinov replacing Jimenez.

Bojinov skipped past several players and drilled a good chance over the bar.

Billy Costacurta, who was putting in crosses all night despite his age, limped off for the final 20 minutes and gave Paolo Maldini his first appearance in almost four months, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.

Toni was rested for the final stages, but seemed visibly irritated at leaving the field to make way for Giampaolo Pazzini.

A hopeful Shevchenko piledriver from distance was over the bar and he was replaced by former Fiorentina hero Manuel Rui Costa. There were Fiorentina penalty appeals for Nesta's push on Pazzini, but they were waved away.

Clarence Seedorf really should've made it 4-1 in stoppages, but he incredibly ballooned over from six yards after some great work from Kaka, who out-sprinted Ujfalusi.


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Milan: Dida; Costacurta (Maldini 75), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko (Rui Costa 82), Inzaghi

Fiorentina: Lobont; Pancaro, Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Fiore, Brocchi, Montolivo, Jorgensen; Jimenez (Bojinov 64); Toni (Pazzini 77)

Ref: Paparesta

Milan are red hot at the moment. Not a team I want to face. Disposing of teams with ease and class.

[skeeta]

Do Fiorentina have any real aspirations of Champions League football after last night's powder puff efforts?

[Jager]

Originally Posted by skeeta

Do Fiorentina have any real aspirations of Champions League football after last night's powder puff efforts?

I think they peaked too soon, and they are ahead of schedule in terms of their development. This is still a team only a few years off from coming into the league.

They will be better next year , as the books look good, and the team has cash, a good coach, and stable ownership.

[hanuma]

is bojinov still a possible mover?

[sinoy1]

great job milan!!

[Juve4Life]

Originally Posted by Jager

I think they peaked too soon, and they are ahead of schedule in terms of their development. This is still a team only a few years off from coming into the league.

They will be better next year , as the books look good, and the team has cash, a good coach, and stable ownership.

To be honnest, I would rather have our team in the same form as Milan right now...anyways will see what kind of Juve will show up vs Arsenal.

[interista luigi]

I think they peaked too soon, and they are ahead of schedule in terms of their development. This is still a team only a few years off from coming into the league.

They will be better next year , as the books look good, and the team has cash, a good coach, and stable ownership.

I agree. I think we've seen the maximum of what fiorentina has to offer, and should they miss CL, there shouldn't be anything to feel bad about. Fiorentina barely survived relegation last year and is now fighting for CL. A teams most important foundations, are cash, management and coaching. Fiorentina has these and the players will follow, good veterans, good youth, a couple of star players added and they will be on their way.