Serie A Week 33 - 26/4/09 (14.00 UK)
Milan - Palermo
Stadio San Siro
Milan have the wind in their sails and are side by side with Juventus in second place, but Palermo have proved to be quite a handful for the big clubs this season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men had been notching up points regularly despite uninspiring performances and last week found their football too with a crunching 5-1 win over Torino. That result and Juve’s 1-1 draw with Inter took them into joint second spot and with the momentum on their side, having won five of the last six. It’s crucial to get full points before the Rossoneri’s extremely tough run-in, which will see them take on Juventus, Udinese, Roma and Fiorentina.
The injury crisis continues with usual suspects Gennaro Gattuso, Marco Borriello, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Daniele Bonera, Christian Abbiati, Giuseppe Favalli and Luca Antonini out of action. However, Marek Jankulovski returns from a ban while Clarence Seedorf, Ronaldinho and Kaka are slowly finding their form after fitness worries. Spring has most definitely sprung for Pippo Inzaghi, whose hat-trick against Toro means he has notched up seven goals in his last five games.
Milan have the best home record in Serie A this season with 13 wins, two draws and only one defeat, which was to Bologna in the opening game. They are also the most prolific side with 59 goals – 33 of them at San Siro – conceding just six here since that shock start.
The Diavolo have every reason to be confident, but so do Palermo. The Rosanero visited San Siro on April 11 and fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a sensational 2-2 draw against leaders Inter. The goals from Edinson Cavani and Davide Succi shocked the Nerazzurri, adding to their impressive wins away to Juventus, Sampdoria and Fiorentina.
They’ll also be buoyed by the memory of their last meeting with the Rossoneri, which was a 3-1 hammering at the Barbera back in November courtesy of Fabrizio Miccoli, Cavani and Fabio Simplicio.
Simplicio was suspended for the 4-1 win over Bologna, but he returns along with Igor Budan and Roberto Guana. Mark Bresciano, Antonio Nocerino and Alberto Cossentino are still struggling for fitness and unlikely to feature. Miccoli and Cavani lead the line with Simon Kjaer eager to impress his potential future club.
Last season Palermo had taken the lead at San Siro, but ended up losing 2-1 in stoppages to a goal from the old fox in the box Inzaghi. Who is willing to bet against a similar finale?
Keep an eye on: Pippo Inzaghi (Milan) – There’s no stopping the 36-year-old hitman at the moment, as his hat-trick prompted David Beckham to declare: “You put the ball in the right place and he’ll score.”
Last season: Milan 2-1 Palermo
Form guide: Milan (W D W W W) Palermo (W L W D W)
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Milan (probable): Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka; Inzaghi, Pato
Palermo (probable): Amelia; Cassani, Carrozzieri, Kjaer, Balzaretti; Tedesco, Liverani, Migliaccio; Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli
Ref: To follow...
Channel 4
MILAN-PALERMO: RIZZOLI TO REF
MILAN - It will be referee Nicola Rizzoli who will direct Milan-Palermo, game from matchday 33 of Serie A scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3pm at San Siro. He will be assisted by Lion and Lanciano. The fourth official will be Stefanini.
MILAN-PALERMO: THE CALLED UP ROSSONERI
MILANELLO - Here are the 20 called up players of Milan for the match against Palermo:
Dida, Kalac, Perucchini, Darmian, Favalli, Jankulovski, Maldini, Mattioni, Senderos, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Beckham, Cardacio, Flamini, Pirlo, Seedorf, Inzaghi, Kakŕ, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho.
Unavailable players: Abbiati, Antonini, Bonera, Kaladze, Nesta, Gattuso, Borriello, Pato.
ACMilan.com
