AC Milan Macedonia: Match preview

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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Allegri's job under pressure as Milan faces Anderlecht in Champions League

Milan is in a rebuilding process, and right now is having tough time. On Saturday Milan were defeated for the second consecutive time in San Siro from mediocre Atalanta with 1-0. These were the first two opening losses for Milan over the last 82 years.

From possible 9 points Milan has only 3 and is currently on the 10th place of Seria A table. This led the media to believe that Allegri's job is under pressure, but Adriano Galliani ruled any question about Allegri's position:

"Allegri is not in discussion, he should stay calm,'' Galliani said, after spending Sunday at the club's training ground talking to the coach and the players. "We have to think about getting back our injured players and returning to getting good results, starting already in the Champions League.
Club president Silvio Berlusconi asked me to stay close to the squad and calm them at this time.''

Brazil duo, Robinho and Pato will miss this match due to leg muscle injuries, while Montolivo is still on the injury list. The good news for Milan is that Mexes could make the first season appearance.

Probable Milan starting line-up:
Abbiati; Abate, Bonera, Mexes, Antonini; Nocerino, De Jong, Ambrosini; Boateng; Bojan, Pazzini

UEFA EURO 2012: Portugal vs Netherlands - Preview

Kharkiv: Portugal boss Paulo Bento will have a fully-fit squad for Sunday`s clash with Netherlands at Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv.
The 42-year-old could name the same team that beat Denmark 3-2 on Wednesday, with Helder Postiga retaining his place in attack ahead of Hugo Almeida and Nelson Oliveira.
Netherlands have no injury concerns but coach Bert van Marwijk may consider naming a more positive line-up for the must-win encounter.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could start alongside Robin van Persie in attack, with Barcelona`s Ibrahim Afellay likely to make way.
Fenerbahce-bound Dirk Kuyt is also understood to be under consideration for a starting berth in place of Arjen Robben, especially after the latter`s petulant reaction to being substituted in the 2-1 defeat to Germany.

Portugal`s record in 10 previous encounters with the Netherlands is W6, D3, L1, with the solitary defeat coming in a European Championship qualifier in October 1991.
The Seleccao can secure qualification to the quarter-finals with victory, unless Denmark beat Germany 3-2, or by a higher-scoring one-goal margin. A draw will be enough provided Denmark fail to win. Portugal will also qualify if they lose by a one-goal margin and Denmark are beaten.
Helder Postiga`s goal against Denmark meant he became only the sixth player to score at three different European Championships after Jurgen Klinsmann, Vladimir Smicer, Nuno Gomes, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Fabio Coentrao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Meireles and Postiga are all a booking away from suspension.
Netherlands have won just three of their last nine official games. They have never lost two group matches in a European Championship before.
Bert van Marwijk`s side must beat Portugal by a two-goal margin and hope Denmark lose to Germany in order to progress.
Maarten Stekelenburg (pictured right) is in line to win his 50th cap against Portugal.
Mark van Bommel, Jetro Willems and Nigel de Jong will incur a ban with their next bookings.

Karthick Arvinth/Goal.com

AC MILAN - ARSENAL...Preview

Match Preview: Udinese - Milan

Possible Milan formation against Udinese

Italian Serie A
Udinese (32 pts., 4th) vs. AC Milan (21 pts., 12th)
Sunday January 20, 15:00 (CET)
Stadio Friuli, Udine

This match will be played in honor of Maldini who exactly this day exactly against the same opponent 23 years ago had his debut for Milan in age of 16. Now few months before Maldini retirement he will celebrate his 23rd season with Milan against the same opponent, Udinese.
Carlo Ancelotti has decided not to call Maldini for this match and leave him in Milano to rest, instead he called Simic who will sit on the bench and wait his chance. Last match against Napoli the trident Ka-Pa-Ro was successfully lunched and it will again be tested against more serious team as Udinese is, and they proved that by sitting comfortable on the 4Th place of Seria A table.
Milan news say that Pirlo will not be able to help his teammates because of too much yellow cards and he was suspended, Gourcuff was chosen to replace him on the bench. Maldini will also miss this match because of flu.
I hope in Milan win and hope again KA-PA-RO Show in Udine...
Forza Milan, Forza Rossoneri !!!

These are the called-up players of Carlo Ancelotti for the away game of Udine.
GOALKEEPERS: Kalac, Fiori, Offredi
DEFENDERS: Bonera, Digao, Favalli, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo, Simic
MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Seedorf
ATTACKERS: Gilardino, Pato, Ronaldo

Milan form last 5 matches: (WLLWD)

12/16 Milan 4-2 Boca Juniors World Club Cup

12/20 Milan 1-2 Catania Coppa Italia

12/23 Inter 2-1 Milan Serie A

1/13 Milan 5-2 Napoli Serie A

1/16 Catania 1-1 Milan Coppa Italia

My Prediction:

Udinese 1-3 Milan

Preview: Coppa Italia: Catania - Milan

Possible Starting AC Milan Formation

Coppa Italia, Second Leg, Round of Sixteen
Catania Calcio vs. AC Milan
Wednesday, January 16 20:30
Stadio Massimino, Catania, Sicily

First match in San Siro ended with 2-1 win for Catania, but that was just because Carlo Ancelotti played mainly with reserve and young players on the field. Seems like Coppa Italia is not such an important competition for AC Milan, and yet again mostly of the starting line up will take a much needed rest before resuming Seria A. This will be a chance for Gourcuff to show his talent at least in this competition and show Carlo Ancelotti that he's wrong about not putting at the starting team more often.

Last 5 matches for AC Milan:

12/13 Urawa 0-1 Milan FIFA Club World Cup

12/16 Boca Juniors 2-4 Milan FIFA Club World Cup

12/20 Milan 1-2 Catania Coppa Italia

12/23 Inter 2-1 Milan Serie A

1/13 Milan 5-2 Napoli Serie A

My Prediction:

Catania 0-3 Milan

Forza Milan, Forza Rossoneri !!!

Preview: AC Milan - Napoli

Players the has been called for Napoli match:
GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;
DEFENDERS: Bonera, Favalli, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo;
MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf;
STRIKERS: Gilardino, Kakà, Pato, Ronaldo.

Carlo Ancelotti's commentary for Napoli match in San Siro and Pato:

"The games like the one against Napoli are the most important for our recovery in the league. It is essential to do well and with serenity. We have three games to recover and take advantage of, contrary to our opponents. Napoli? It's a team which away from home has alternated good performances to not so good performances. Maybe away from home Napoli has not yet found an exact balance, but the more time passes by and the more a team becomes reliable. Pato? He will have time to insert himself in the mechanism of the squad. I think it's fair to give him the opportunity to insert him with the right tranquillity. He's cool and balanced and he will not have problems from this point of view. For his characteristics and speed, Pato can play with everyone, as he combines well with Gilardino, Inzaghi and Ronaldo. The expectations which are there on Pato cannot be determined by us. I have always said that the player is very good and that he will prove it on the pitch. This does not mean putting pressure on him. I simply said what I though. I confirm that with the character he has, in my opinion he will prove this very soon. I don't know if he will manage to score straight away, but he will surely be dangerous. He's a striker who moves a lot. The expectations are tied to the fact that he is not well known. I never made such a young player debut. There was the time to talk to him and insert him and he knows what he has to do. I don't see in him any reason to worry about. He's cool and serene and will not have any problem. We think it was a good thing to bring him here early, as he met his team-mates and his team-mates got to know him. I have not created expectations on a young player, I have said what I saw, then I might be wrong, the pitch will tell us.

What about Gila, Dida and Ronaldo?
"Gilardino, Dida and Ronaldo? If I was in them I would think that we have six months to reach our objectives, each one of them must think to do his part with diligence and serenity. The objective is the good of Milan, in which all players must contribute. There are no exams for Dida: he trained well in these days, especially in the last ones. I see him serene as always. Iznaghi? He must stay put, because he had the stomach pain following the hit he received in the derby. He must stop for the next 4-5 days. San Siro? To be honest, it never frightened us, as we consider it our home and therefore we want to return to win at home. We can't wait to close this inexplicable fact. Roaldo? He worked a lot in Dubai and during the friendly he was loaded in line with the work he did. The light training sustained in these days at Milanello did him good. He can play 45-60 minutes, but I don't know if he will play first or the second. With regards to the tactic, we did not yet study any alternatives to the current system. Seedorf? If he will play at the centre-left it's clear that something must change as he must return to play as a midfielder. It's something we have done for many years and keeping a good balance. For me Seedorf did very well for many years as a midfielder. Jankulovski? Next week he is ready."

Milan's recent form: (WWWLL)

12/4 Milan 1-0 Celtic UEFA Champions League

12/13 Urawa 0-1 Milan World Club Cup

12/16 Milan 4-2 Boca Juniors World Club Cup

12/20 Milan 1-2 Catania Coppa Italia

12/23 Inter 2-1 Milan Serie A

My Prediction:
Milan 2-0 Napoli