Serie A: Milan - Palermo [24-02-08]

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 24 - 24/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Milan - Palermo

Stadio Meazza

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It has been a shaky season for both teams and the pressure is on. Milan need a victory to keep up with Fiorentina in fourth, while Palermo boss Francesco Guidolin remains on thin ice.

The Rossoneri looked set to complete a remarkable comeback by catching the Viola in the standings, but two straight draws against the less than unstoppable Livorno and Parma have left them three points adrift of that target. What’s worse, the Champions League resumes this week with the trip to Arsenal, so Carlo Ancelotti must balance his squad over the two commitments. Considering how badly they played in the first half against Parma without Andrea Pirlo, that is a worrying prospect.

The Sicilians actually have a pretty good record against Milan since returning to the top flight, earning a 3-3 draw in 2005 and coming away with a shock 2-0 victory last term. They also beat the Rossoneri with a last-gasp Fabrizio Miccoli free-kick earlier this season.

Alexandre Pato should be back in the side after his ankle injury, but Nelson Dida seems to be out for the count after bizarrely picking up a back injury on the Tardini bench. The goalkeeper tried to stand at half-time and seized up, eventually needing a stretcher to take him away. Zeljko Kalac dislocated a finger, but has recovered to pull on his gloves – albeit gingerly. We won’t see Ronaldo again this season, as surgery for a snapped left knee tendon rules him out for at least nine months.

Guidolin kept his job after a slender 2-1 win over bottom of the table Cagliari, but Palermo did not play at all well and have a long way to go before convincing furious President Maurizio Zamparini. At least he can welcome back Amauri, Miccoli and Roberto Guana from bans, so Edison Cavani should return to a wider role. Bosko Jankovic scored his first Serie A goal last week, but is on the bench.

Keep an eye on: Alberto Fontana (Palermo) – The 41-year-old Rosanero goalkeeper was predominantly responsible for their victory over Cagliari and will have his work cut out for him against Milan’s superstars.

Last season: Milan 0-2 Palermo

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

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Milan (probable): Kalac; Cafu, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Emerson, Ambrosini, Serginho; Kaka; Inzaghi

Palermo (probable): Fontana; Zaccardo, Biava, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Guana, Migliaccio, Caserta; Cavani, Miccoli; Amauri

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[D-Kin]

Amauri issues Milan warning Thursday 21 February, 2008

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Palermo travel to San Siro this weekend to face Milan and striking star Amauri is confident the Sicilians can build on their win over Cagliari.

The Rosanero have endured a miserable spell with President Maurizio Zamparini on the warpath and pressure mounting on Coach Francesco Guidolin.

However, the Aquile bounced back with a hard-fought win over Cagliari last weekend and are still sitting in eighth place.

Amauri has previously been linked with Milan, but Juventus are in pole position for his signature and he is ready to show the Rossoneri what they are missing.

“We are going there to win,” the former Chievo man roared. “Milan are a very strong side, but we will play our football at San Siro.

“Milan showed their strength yesterday to stay in the game when others would have lost, but no team is invincible and so we are travelling with optimism.”

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[D-Kin]

Miccoli is a doubt for Palermo.
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[Aladino]

Miccoli made the team for Palermo, hee are the squads that have been called up.

Milan's team

MILAN-PALERMO: I CONVOCATI ROSSONERI
23/02/2008
MILANELLO - Questi i 18 convocati rossoneri per domani:
PORTIERI: Fiori, Kalac;
DIFENSORI: Bonera, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Oddo, Simic; CENTROCAMPISTI: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo; ATTACCANTI: Gilardino, Inzaghi, Kakà, Pato

Palermo's team:

Portieri: Agliardi, Fontana;
Difensori: Balzaretti, Barzagli, Biava, Cassani, Cossentino, Rinaudo, Zaccardo; Centrocampisti: Bresciano, Caserta, Guana, Jankovic, Migliaccio, Simplicio, Tedesco;
Attaccanti: Amauri, Edgar Çani, Cavani, Miccoli

I am fairly confident for this game for some reason. I just hope the likes of Kaka and Pirlo are on top form, bt I won't complain if Pirlo is rested once again.
Hopefully Gourcuff can get some action tonight, he deserves it.

[sinoy1]

1-1 so far.Good game.Amauri is amazing.Flicks tricks and solid passing.

Pato has been good so far.

[sinoy1]

Kaka is visibly injured but is grinding it out and playing through it.

[hijjawi1]

1-1 Ambrosini (Min 24)
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Kaka Shoot (Min 19)
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Amauri Skills (Min 22)
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Pirlo Free Kick (Min 30)
Click Here for Video

Pato Skill And Shoot (Min 62)
Click Here for Video

2-1 Inazghi (Min 90)

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[sinoy1]

INZAGHI SCORES! 2-1.

[sinoy1]

LOL

Commentator : He's a goal buster,Who you gonna call? Super Pippo!

!!!

[sinoy1]

2-1 final.Super Pippo decides the game with his classic 90 minute header.

[D-Kin]

Vintage Inzaghi!

Big win for Milan.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 24 - 24/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Milan 2 - 1 Palermo
Bresciano 9 (P), Ambrosini 24 (M), Inzaghi 91 (M)
Stadio Meazza

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Pippo Inzaghi's first Serie A goal in over a year defeated Palermo in stoppages and put them on a par with Fiorentina in fourth place, but both sides complained about the referee.

The Rossoneri needed a victory to keep up with fourth-placed Fiorentina, while Sicilian boss Francesco Guidolin was on thin ice despite a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cagliari. Clarence Seedorf and Paolo Maldini were rested after the 0-0 with Arsenal midweek, but Palermo welcomed back Amauri, Fabrizio Miccoli and Roberto Guana from suspension, though the former Juventus star was only fit for the bench.

The Rosanero had a good record here with a 3-3 draw in 2005 that lost Milan the Scudetto and a shock 2-0 victory last term. They had also beaten Carlo Ancelotti's men at the Barbera earlier this season.

Palermo took the lead thanks to some confused defending just nine minutes in. Mark Bresciano volleyed a Guana cross from the left and it took a deflection off Massimo Oddo's chest to leave Zeljko Kalac stranded.

Amauri went on a slalom including some fancy footwork with his heel, like a rabona mid-sprint, but was eventually closed down by Daniele Bonera.

Milan wanted a penalty moments later when Alberto Gilardino's flicked ball struck Andrea Barzagli's arm, but the linesman insisted it was involuntary, as it came off his chest first and ricocheted.

Alberto Fontana smothered a cracking Kaka piledriver and was very fortunate as it bounced off the ground and got trapped under his body.

The Rossoneri drew level on 24 minutes with captain Massimo Ambrosini. Oddo's sweeping cross to the back post found Ambrosini totally unmarked for a sliding finish, as he had lost marker Cassani.

Pirlo curled one of his trademark free kicks from 25 metres under the bar, bringing a fantastic one-handed save out of 41-year-old Fontana. Moments later the veteran tipped another Pirlo set-piece out for a corner.

Kaka rolled across for the onrushing Ambrosini, halted by a crucial tackle on the edge of the area. Towards half-time it was turning into a siege on the Sicilian goal and a corner fell kindly for Marek Jankulovski to balloon over.

Ambrosini nodded a Pirlo free kick just over the bar, as the midfielder remained Milan's most dangerous attacking figure. Kaka got a knock to the knee, so made way for Yoann Gourcuff at half-time.

Kakha Kaladze did well to stand by substitute Fabio Simplicio and protect the ball for Kalac as the Brazilian ran into the box.

Pato skipped past Giuseppe Biava with a splendid nutmeg and his deflected snapshot was palmed round the post by the ever-attentive Fontana. From the resulting corner Kaladze complained of a Giulio Migliaccio handling offence that took the ball off his foot as he was lining up the volley. It looked like an evident penalty, but the referee and linesman ignored his protests.

Yet Palermo risked restoring their lead when Simplicio's free kick went past everyone, Kalac getting a hand to it before the ball could settle into the far bottom corner.

Edison Cavani found himself in acres of space on Guana's through ball, but blasted over the bar with only Kalac to beat. Pippo Inzaghi replaced the disappointing Gilardino, but Cavani found another gap in the Rossoneri defence and hesitated, wasting the opportunity.

Inzaghi was angry when he was lining up a header, but teammate Gourcuff clattered into him. SuperPippo was also halted for an incorrect offside decision and Barzagli did just enough to keep Inzaghi from turning in a Biava error.

This time it was Palermo who had furious penalty appeals in the final minute, as Amauri ran into the area and nutmegged Gennaro Gattuso to fall over the outstretched leg, but once again the referee and linesman waved play on.

It's a decision that is bound to cause controversy, as moments later Inzaghi gave Milan the victory. He was left completely unmarked for a free header from six yards on Gourcuff's cross from the left, springing the offside trap. It was his first Serie A goal in over a year.

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Milan: Kalac; Oddo, Bonera, Kaladze, Jankulovski (Favalli 85); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka (Gourcuff 46); Gilardino (Inzaghi 73), Pato

Palermo: Fontana; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biava; Cassani, Guana, Migliaccio, Bresciano (Simplicio 54), Balzaretti; Cavani (Tedesco 88), Amauri

Ref: Giannoccaro

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[D-Kin]

Ancelotti: Mission accomplished Sunday 24 February, 2008

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Carlo Ancelotti and match-winner Filippo Inzaghi praised Palermo as they celebrated Milan’s ascent into the top four.

The Rossoneri went behind to a Mark Bresciano opener at San Siro before Massimo Ambrosini and a stoppage-time Inzaghi header turned it around for a 2-1 victory.

“Palermo played well and did not deserve to lose,” admitted Ancelotti. “Having said that, when we met earlier this season we deserved better and still lost, so that’s football.

“Kaka got injured and Clarence Seedorf was rested, so we were missing two quality players. At the moment we aren’t particularly sharp, but still achieved our main objective of fourth place.”

Fiorentina’s 1-0 defeat at Roma this afternoon allowed Milan to catch them, although Ancelotti’s squad are in front on goal difference.

The Rosanero were furious at the final whistle, as they felt Gennaro Gattuso tripped Amauri just seconds before Inzaghi’s winner, while earlier the home side had two penalty appeals waved away.

“There were three spot-kicks tonight, but the referee did not award any of them,” added the Coach.

Inzaghi also praised Palermo for their fighting spirit and smiled at his latest last-gasp heroics.

“I’ve been out for a while and had to rush back my recovery, but thankfully I am in good shape now. This is a wonderful night, as I had not played or scored much in Serie A recently.

“Palermo are a great side and made life difficult for us. They deserve to be higher up the table. It’s nerve-wracking and we make our fans suffer, but it’s fun to win this way!”

Understandably, Rosanero boss Francesco Guidolin was less amused at the outcome.

“It is very disappointing to lose like this, right at the death,” said the Coach. “We made one mistake on Inzaghi’s goal and he did well to take advantage.

“We played a good game and in the second half were never under pressure. We deserved to take home at least a point.”

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[D-Kin]

Ambro hails San Siro success Monday 25 February, 2008

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Massimo Ambrosini believes that Milan’s victory over Palermo yesterday can be a springboard at a crucial stage in the season.

The Rossoneri stole the three points against the Sicilians thanks to Ambrosini and a last-gasp Pippo Inzaghi winner.

“This win can only be something to build on because this road is long and there are lots of tough rivals ahead,” Ambrosini declared.

“It was important to take fourth place, but it’s also crucial to keep on good form at this stage.

“Now we have two tough League games against opponents we can’t underestimate before the tie against Arsenal.

“That will be a great game and the fans can spur us on to deliver the kind of night that we have become used to at Milan.”

Ambrosini’s opener was his third of the season and seemed to please a man with a modest strike rate.

“I was happy to score. I love pushing forwards and sometimes I find the net.

“There are lots of tight games at the moment and the onus is on us midfielders to stop tiredness creeping in when Carlo Ancelotti calls on us.”

Sadly, last night’s game was slightly overshadowed by refereeing controversy as three possible penalty shouts were waved away.

“Football today is decided by lots of incidents and it’s a shame that the referees don’t always get the support they need from their assistants who should be decisive,” Ambro stressed.

“When there is lots of confusion in the box it isn’t easy for the ref to see every little detail and so we need better from the linesmen.”

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