MD2: Milan - Fiorentina 3/9/07 (17.00 UK)

[Jager]

Serie A Week 2 - 3/9/07 (17.00 UK)
Milan - Fiorentina

Stadio Meazza


This match was moved to Monday evening due to Milan’s European Super Cup tie with Sevilla on August 31, but Carlo Ancelotti won’t put it in the shade.

These two teams currently share the top spot in Serie A thanks to comfortable Week 1 victories, Fiorentina defeating local rivals Empoli 3-1 and the Rossoneri taking a prestigious 3-0 result away to Genoa. Ancelotti faces a fine line in his tactical choices, as he must preserve sharpness as well as ensure they get full points against a potential front-runner.

Last season they were unable to break their deadlock, drawing 2-2 at the Artemio Franchi and 0-0 at San Siro, but it must be noted Fiorentina have had some terrific thumpings here in recent memory. They lost 3-1 in 2006, a record 6-0 the year before and 5-2 in 2001. In all 67 Serie A trips to Milan the Tuscans emerged with just eight wins, 18 draws and 41 defeats.

Giampaolo Pazzini got off the mark against Empoli and his confidence was no doubt boosted by that goal, taking him out of the shadow of Luca Toni. Teammate Christian Vieri will be eager to get some playing time against the club he only stayed with for six months, netting once in eight appearances.

The real problems for Cesare Prandelli are in midfield, where Franco Semioli is still out injured and could be joined in the stands by Martin Jorgensen and Riccardo Montolivo. The potential loss of the Under-21 international gem would be a particular blow, especially after his sublime chip last Sunday. At least Tomas Ujfalusi returns from a ban.

Over at Milan, Massimo Ambrosini seems to have recovered from his fitness worry, while Ronaldo and Emerson are tipped to feature in the European Super Cup on Friday. If there are no further setbacks, then Paolo Maldini will be the only absentee. Alberto Gilardino could be used as a lone striker backed by Clarence Seedorf and on-form Kaka. The Brazilian had never before netted in Week 1, but got a brace at Genoa.

Keep an eye on: Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina) – If the starlet recovers from his injury concerns, then he can set San Siro alight with his prodigious talents. At the age of 22 he’s ready to step into the limelight, as shown by that fantastic goal in the Tuscan derby.

Last season: Milan 0-0 Fiorentina

Form guide: Milan (- - - - W) Fiorentina (- - - - W)


Milan (probable): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Gilardino

Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Donadel, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Aladino]

YAY can't wait for this game. But first... SuperCoppa must be dealt with.

Good thing is Gila always has a knack of scoring against Fiorentina, hopefully it will continue

[barracuda]

First real test of the Serie A season. Hopefully Ambrosini gets to play as he is healthy for a change. I also hope for a 2 man attack + Kaka, I don't want to get Milan too comfortably with the Xmas tree formation.

[Aladino]

Yeha Ronie and Gila will most likely start on Monday. But that is if Ronie is fit. Ambro will prob play provided he doesn't get injured tomorrow

[Jager]

The game of the season thus far, as I'm concerned. Milan should prevail, but this will not be easy.

[Aladino]

i think what happens tomorrow will play a part for this game. Just a hunch. Gla dit is at home infornt of our 40 000+ season ticket holders.

[Jager]

Viola back in the big time Sunday 2 September, 2007

Cesare Prandelli and Sebastien Frey said Fiorentina would “honour” their return to Europe and look ahead to Monday’s Serie A showdown with Milan.

The Viola had not competed on the continent since former patron Vittorio Cecchi Gori took the club to bankruptcy in 2002.

They were drawn against Dutch outfit Groningen in the first round and are the favourites to reach the group phase.

“I am happy to begin with a side that has great tradition,” said Prandelli of the draw.

“I think it will be important over the two legs to have the support of our fans and they can really make their presence felt in the home match. I am also convinced that many will follow us overseas.

“We will do everything we can to honour Fiorentina’s return to Europe and with this opponent I’m sure we can guarantee an open and entertaining tie.”

Yesterday Prandelli released the list of players entered for the UEFA Cup, but surprisingly former Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli was not included, so he will only be available for Serie A and Coppa Italia matches.

As nearby Empoli had to swap their fixtures round so that they would play the first leg with FC Zurich at home, Fiorentina must therefore play their first encounter in Holland.

As the two cities are very close together, it is preferable to avoid having both sides play at home on the same day.

More pressing matters are coming up this Monday evening, when Fiorentina travel to San Siro for a Serie A clash with the newly crowned Champions of Europe.

“I did not see the Milan game, but what I heard confirms they are in great shape at the moment,” said goalkeeper Frey.

“They have incredible players, but we will also try to make our mark. Last year we held them to a 0-0 draw here, so we intend to come away with more points. These are entertaining games for the fans and players.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

Tricky game. Can go either way. Milan may have the advantage, but a draw wouldn't surprise me either.

[Aladino]

We must win this, Fiornetina are always tough and Milan do tend to struggle against them. We have to win to keep in touch with the top of the table

[Forza_Roma]

Milan 1-0 in the second half...Gila got absolutely stoned by Frey. Kaka shot went misdirected, right to Gila who turned and somewhat shot, and Frey made an unbelievable save. Gila was shocked he didn't score. Highlight reel save.

[Forza_Roma]

Kaka penalty

Serie A Week 2 - 3/9/07 (17.00 UK)

Milan 1 - 0 Fiorentina Half-Time
Kaka pen 27 (M)
Stadio Meazza

Kaka's spot-kick has given Milan the half-time lead against Fiorentina, but both goalkeepers performed spectacular saves.

This match was moved to Monday evening due to Milan's 3-1 European Super Cup win over Sevilla on Friday August 31. Carlo Ancelotti was tempted to rotate the squad, but stayed with much the same line-up - introducing Alberto Gilardino for continental specialist Pippo Inzaghi - for what was a head-to-head battle for the Serie A leadership. Gennaro Gattuso played despite needing stitches for a cut above his eye, picked up during that Monaco match.

Fiorentina were without the injured Riccardo Montolivo, so Mario Alberto Santana started and in the opening minutes his first touch wasted a great counter-attack opportunity set up by Adrian Mutu.

Gilardino's volley was charged down and he was not alert enough to turn in the loose ball. Moments later Milan had a glorious chance to take the lead. Kaka's scuffed shot was flicked into the air by Gilardino and Sebastien Frey performed an absolutely astonishing reaction save to lean back and flap it off the line twice with his fingertips.

Giampaolo Pazzini nodded Tomas Ujfalusi's cross inches over the crossbar.

The referee pointed to the spot after 26 minutes when Dario Dainelli mistimed his challenge and clearly brought down Massimo Ambrosini in the area. Kaka converted by sending Frey the wrong way, his third goal in two Serie A games.

Gilardino held up Andrea Pirlo's ball for Kaka to control and strike past the base of the upright from just outside the box.

Fiorentina really should have equalised on 38 minutes, but Nelson Dida challenged Frey for his reaction save, twice parrying from Under-21 international Pazzini at point-blank range.

Clarence Seedorf failed to make the most of Kaka's smart build-up, volleying well off target.

Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Kakà, Seedorf, Gilardino

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual, Donadel, Liverani, Gobbi, Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

Ref: Farina

[Marcelo]

It ends tied!
FT AC Milan [1 - 1] Fiorentina
27' [1 - 0] Kaka (pen.)
56' [1 - 1] A. Mutu
79' T. Ujfalusi
83' G. Gattuso F. Liverani
90' F. Semioli

[Jager]

Serie A Week 2 - 3/9/07 (17.00 UK)
Milan 1 - 1 Fiorentina
Kaka pen 27 (M), Mutu 56 (F)
Stadio Meazza


Adrian Mutu fought back for Fiorentina after Kaka's penalty to earn a 1-1 draw at Milan, so neither side stays on top of the table.

This match was moved to Monday evening due to Milan's 3-1 European Super Cup win over Sevilla on Friday August 31. Carlo Ancelotti was tempted to rotate the squad, but stayed with much the same line-up - introducing Alberto Gilardino for continental specialist Pippo Inzaghi - for what was a head-to-head battle for the Serie A leadership. Gennaro Gattuso played despite needing stitches for a cut above his eye, picked up during that Monaco match.

Fiorentina were without the injured Riccardo Montolivo, so Mario Alberto Santana started and in the opening minutes his first touch wasted a great counter-attack opportunity set up by Adrian Mutu.

Gilardino's volley was charged down and he was not alert enough to turn in the loose ball. Moments later Milan had a glorious chance to take the lead. Kaka's scuffed shot was flicked into the air by Gilardino and Sebastien Frey performed an absolutely astonishing reaction save to lean back and flap it off the line twice with his fingertips.

Giampaolo Pazzini nodded Tomas Ujfalusi's cross inches over the crossbar.

The referee pointed to the spot after 26 minutes when Dario Dainelli mistimed his challenge and clearly brought down Massimo Ambrosini in the area. Kaka converted by sending Frey the wrong way, his third goal in two Serie A games.

Gilardino held up Andrea Pirlo's ball for Kaka to control and strike past the base of the upright from just outside the box.

Fiorentina really should have equalised on 38 minutes, but Nelson Dida challenged Frey for his reaction save, twice parrying from Under-21 international Pazzini at point-blank range.

Clarence Seedorf failed to make the most of Kaka's smart build-up, volleying well off target.

Fiorentina drew level 11 minutes after the restart. Ambrosini failed to clear the ball effectively, so Santana floated it to the back post for Mutu's towering header past Dida's outstretched hand.

Seedorf drilled over from distance and Marcos Cafu replaced the tired Massimo Oddo at right-back. The Viola also made changes, throwing on summer signing Franco Semioli and former Milan striker Christian Vieri, who only spent six disappointing months here.

Gilardino was also replaced by Inzaghi and the fans at San Siro had been jeering Gila all the way through, not helping his already shattered confidence.

Frey did well to fingertip a Kaka snapshot round the base of the post and Cafu's volley was deflected over from the resulting corner kick.

However, the Viola became even more dangerous on the counter-attack, as Mutu brilliantly flicked the ball on with the outside of his right foot, shaving a coat of paint off the far post.

Inzaghi wasted a glorious opportunity. Ambrosini ran through two defenders and rolled across for SuperPippo, but he incredibly hit a fresh air shot when all that was needed was a touch to turn it in from six yards! Inzaghi and the crowds in the stands weren't quite sure how it happened.

Vieri nearly scored against his old teammates, as Alessandro Nesta didn't deal with Semioli's counter-attack, but did charge down Bobo's strike.

Emerson made his Serie A debut in a Rossoneri jersey for the final 15 minutes, but Fiorentina went close again with another defensive mix-up. Mutu and Vieri passed the ball around quickly for Kuzmanovic to thump the base of the upright. The move continued towards the other end with the Viola youngster down injured and a row broke out between Kaka, Fabio Liverani and Gattuso over who was meant to put the ball out of play.

Pirlo's chipped pass for Inzaghi was plucked out of the air by Frey in a very open and fast-pace close to the match with chances at both ends. Dainelli had to close down Inzaghi as he chested the ball and prepared to turn and volley.

Semioli's low drive deep into stoppages was comfortably smothered by Dida, but in the final seconds Dainelli pushed Inzaghi in the D. With the last kick of the game, Pirlo touched the ball on for Marek Jankulovski to blast over.


Milan: Dida; Oddo (Cafu 61), Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini (Emerson 76); Kakà, Seedorf; Gilardino (Inzaghi 65)

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Donadel (Kuzmanovic 57), Liverani, Gobbi; Santana (Semioli 62), Pazzini (Vieri 62), Mutu

Ref: Farina

channel4.com - Football Italia

All in all, good game. I can't complain, I'm sure the Milan fans are kicking themselves, but Fiorentina are a class act. They will cause many headaches for many teams.

[Forza_Roma]

Had a feeling this game would be a draw. Too bad i didn't pick it in the prediction...Tough match. At least they shared a point.

[Jager]

For some reason, I knew they were going to draw. Fiorentina has very few weaknesses when they are healthy. Though they are missing Montolivo.