Will Milan turn up the AC and breeze past Palermo.....or will palermo blast past them like the previous encounters......put your money where your mouth is....
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[Serie A] AC Milan - Palermo (1 Viewer)
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Serie A Preview: Palermo-Milan
With the Rome derby on Sunday night, this fixture could arguably be the most intriguing of the other matches.
BACKGROUND
Currently lying in tenth place, Palermo’s fortunes have improved as of late. Undefeated in the month of February (domestically, that is), they have used to full effect their new additions. Striker David Di Michele has been very good since coming over from Udinese in the transfer window, and manager Giuseppe Papadopulo has given the side a confidence which they have been able to equate to positive results on the field. After making his debut in the 3-0 defeat of Milan in the Coppa Italia, 'Papa’ feels Milan will try to get revenge, saying, “There is a very difficult game ahead of us. They will want to make up for their Coppa exit, especially now that they are back on track in Serie A. Above all, though, they want points.”
Not all of the side agrees with the manager’s assessment, however, as evidenced by the words of Denis Godeas, who said, “We’re not even thinking about that 3-0 win in the Coppa Italia. This will be a very different game, although we are in form at the moment and capable of beating anyone. I may not be playing much at the moment but the fewer the appearances, the greater the satisfaction when I do play.”
Milan themselves will also not be considering the Coppa Italia defeat to be much of an indication for how this game will go, as they did not even field a full-strength squad (few of the top sides ever do). Although, they do know it will be quite a challenge to get the three points from Palermo, especially since they are without several top players through injury, but the replacements have done well. Johann Vogel spoke about the upcoming match, saying, “…we have Palermo and we want to put on a better show than we did in the Italian Cup. We have to win at Palermo and we have the top players to do that. We have to get the three points, with intelligence and show we are better than in the game we lost to them.”
The attack has been nearly unstoppable, averaging more than two goals a game for the season. The partnership between Andriy Shevchenko and summer arrival Alberto Gilardino has flourished, and both are near the top of the goalscoring chart in Italy.
TEAM NEWS
Palermo do not have any major injury concerns.
While their opponents can choose from basically a full squad, Milan will again be using a short bench. Captain Paolo Maldini and Marcos Cafu are both out of the equation in defense, and Jaap Stam may not be ready to go. Long-term absentee Massimo Ambrosini will also not be fit. First-choice goalkeeper Nelson Dida injured his ankle against Bayern Munich in the midweek, and he will be out for about a week or two.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Di Michele (Palermo)-He may be fielded in a bit of a withdrawn role in this encounter, but his runs forward will still be dangerous, and his finishing is of the highest quality.
Alberto Gilardino (Milan)-Even when Shevchenko is absent, he still shines, and even raises his game a bit. He could truly become one of the best strikers in Europe, and there is no time like the present to start showing why.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s
Palermo (4-3-2-1): Andujar; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biava, Grosso; Mutarelli, Corini, Barone; Gonzalez, Di Michele; Caracciolo
Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Stam, Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Gilardino, Shevchenko
PREDICTION
Both sides are in great form, but something will have to give in this match, and it well could be either defense. So, while it will be a close battle, Milan should be able to breach the Palermo rearguard enough to secure the win.
Palermo 1-2 Milan
With the Rome derby on Sunday night, this fixture could arguably be the most intriguing of the other matches.
BACKGROUND
Currently lying in tenth place, Palermo’s fortunes have improved as of late. Undefeated in the month of February (domestically, that is), they have used to full effect their new additions. Striker David Di Michele has been very good since coming over from Udinese in the transfer window, and manager Giuseppe Papadopulo has given the side a confidence which they have been able to equate to positive results on the field. After making his debut in the 3-0 defeat of Milan in the Coppa Italia, 'Papa’ feels Milan will try to get revenge, saying, “There is a very difficult game ahead of us. They will want to make up for their Coppa exit, especially now that they are back on track in Serie A. Above all, though, they want points.”
Not all of the side agrees with the manager’s assessment, however, as evidenced by the words of Denis Godeas, who said, “We’re not even thinking about that 3-0 win in the Coppa Italia. This will be a very different game, although we are in form at the moment and capable of beating anyone. I may not be playing much at the moment but the fewer the appearances, the greater the satisfaction when I do play.”
Milan themselves will also not be considering the Coppa Italia defeat to be much of an indication for how this game will go, as they did not even field a full-strength squad (few of the top sides ever do). Although, they do know it will be quite a challenge to get the three points from Palermo, especially since they are without several top players through injury, but the replacements have done well. Johann Vogel spoke about the upcoming match, saying, “…we have Palermo and we want to put on a better show than we did in the Italian Cup. We have to win at Palermo and we have the top players to do that. We have to get the three points, with intelligence and show we are better than in the game we lost to them.”
The attack has been nearly unstoppable, averaging more than two goals a game for the season. The partnership between Andriy Shevchenko and summer arrival Alberto Gilardino has flourished, and both are near the top of the goalscoring chart in Italy.
TEAM NEWS
Palermo do not have any major injury concerns.
While their opponents can choose from basically a full squad, Milan will again be using a short bench. Captain Paolo Maldini and Marcos Cafu are both out of the equation in defense, and Jaap Stam may not be ready to go. Long-term absentee Massimo Ambrosini will also not be fit. First-choice goalkeeper Nelson Dida injured his ankle against Bayern Munich in the midweek, and he will be out for about a week or two.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Di Michele (Palermo)-He may be fielded in a bit of a withdrawn role in this encounter, but his runs forward will still be dangerous, and his finishing is of the highest quality.
Alberto Gilardino (Milan)-Even when Shevchenko is absent, he still shines, and even raises his game a bit. He could truly become one of the best strikers in Europe, and there is no time like the present to start showing why.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s
Palermo (4-3-2-1): Andujar; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biava, Grosso; Mutarelli, Corini, Barone; Gonzalez, Di Michele; Caracciolo
Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Stam, Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Gilardino, Shevchenko
PREDICTION
Both sides are in great form, but something will have to give in this match, and it well could be either defense. So, while it will be a close battle, Milan should be able to breach the Palermo rearguard enough to secure the win.
Palermo 1-2 Milan
