Milan - Juventus (10/05/09)

35th matchday - all games on the 10th of May starting at 15:00

1 - Inter (77 points)
2 - Milan (70 points)
3 - Juventus (66 points)
4 - Fiorentina (61 points)
5 - Genoa (60 points)
6 - Roma (53 points)
7 - Palermo (52 points)
8 - Cagliari (49 points)

Qualified for the first round of the next CL
Qualified for the qualification round of the next CL
Qualified for the next UEFA Cup


Games:
Milan (2nd) - Juventus (3rd)
Catania (15th) - Fiorentina (4th)
Atalanta (11th) - Genoa (5th)
Chievo (16th) - Inter (1st)
Sienna (14th) - Palermo (7th)
Cagliari (8th) - Roma (6th)

What to expect from this matchday:
- Fiorentina and Genoa will still fight ... they are both in good form. I expect a win from these both teams, and they will both hope that we beat Juventus.
- Inter in Chievo is "a priori" a sure win for Inter. But Inter will play without Ibrahimovic and who knows ... they don't play really well and they showed it one more time against Lazio. They won because Lazio was as bad as them, but with only Zarate in their team as a possible danger for Inter, whereas Inter has many potential dangerous players.
- Roma, Palermo and Cagliari will fight until the end for a place in UEFA Cup. I don't expect Roma to qualify ... their objective was to fight for the title, the miserably failed in the first part of the season, then it was a CL qualification, they also failed, so I really think they will have another failure because this team can't play football anymore nowadays.

What to expect from Milan - Juventus:
- Juventus is in crisis !! It's official, Camoranesi and Ranieri can't support each other anymore, even Buffon is upset with that situation and I'm pretty sure he will leave (I'd like him to come in Milan, even now, because I don't want this GK to go in a foreign championship).
- We won our 5th game in a row against Catania, without Flamini and Pato. We're unbeatable since 8 games (7 wins), let's continue this record until the end ... and Juventus is a perfect prey for the kind of hunter we are in this end of season.
- This game will just allow us to secure our second place (and depending on Inter, maybe still hoping just a little ...). In worst case, we could allow Juventus to be back to fight with us. For Juventus, a loss there and they could see Fiorentina and Genoa back (66 points for Juventus, if Fiorentina and Genoa win, they will have 64 and 63 points). If this scenario happens, with the situation of Juventus, I would expect Fiorentina and Genoa to qualify for the next CL and Juventus only in UEFA Cup.

Strikers:
1 - Di Vaio (21 goals)
''' - Ibrahmovic (21 goals)
3 - Milito (19 goals)
4 - Gilardino (18 goals)
5 - Kaka (15 goals)
6 - Pato (14 goals)
''' - Cavani (14 goals)
8 - Inzaghi (13 goals)

Pato should seriously think to score some goals ... or he will end as our 3rd best striker of the season, which is not as good as what we can expect from him.

I had the same optimism before our first encounter earlier this season and look what had happened: we were outmuscled by them. They might be in awful form lately, but they're still Juve, and nothing gives you extra motivation than playing against your bitter rival.

Oh, and about Pato, I wouldn't worry even if he becomes our 3rd best striker. Pippo just cannot stop scoring and half of Kaka's goals came from PK, but Carletto has stated that Patinho is the #1 striker for Milan

Originally Posted by Nalx

I had the same optimism before our first encounter earlier this season and look what had happened: we were outmuscled by them. They might be in awful form lately, but they're still Juve, and nothing gives you extra motivation than playing against your bitter rival.

Oh, and about Pato, I wouldn't worry even if he becomes our 3rd best striker. Pippo just cannot stop scoring and half of Kaka's goals came from PK, but Carletto has stated that Patinho is the #1 striker for Milan

I just expect a bit more from Pato ... ^^
And the situation was totally different in the first encounter: we were into our injury crisis in all areas (remember the players Carlo had to use). Now, our team seems in form and we will probably not be beaten in all duels in midfield.

It looks like I made a mistake ...

10/05/09 - 15:00
Catania (15th) - Fiorentina (4th)
Atalanta (11th) - Genoa (5th)
Chievo (16th) - Inter (1st)
Sienna (14th) - Palermo (7th)
Cagliari (8th) - Roma (6th)

10/05/09 - 20:30
Milan (2nd) - Juventus (3rd)

I said it before and I'll say it again. It'll be 5-1 to us, no doubt. We always beat teams who play in black-white stripes 5-1, although perhaps Juventus will play in their gold shirts, but they did that last time, hence why it didn't end 5-1.

Hope we win this one, and win it big!!

Juve are reeling no doubt, but can never be underestimated...however, with no Nedved, they are shackled somewhat..so...we should be able to win this one.

Wondering what Carlo´s formation and team selection will look like...

My guess:

Dida
Flamini Maldini Favalli Zambrotta
Beckham Pirlo Ambrosini
Kaka
Inzaghi Pato

Biggest question is Seedorf or Beckham, and Jankulovski or Flamini. He might field Senderos though, since Juventus have big guys like Amauri, Trezeguet or Iaquinta up front, but it seems less likely.

Originally Posted by Christian

My guess:

Dida
Flamini Maldini Favalli Zambrotta
Beckham Pirlo Ambrosini
Kaka
Inzaghi Pato

Biggest question is Seedorf or Beckham, and Jankulovski or Flamini. He might field Senderos though, since Juventus have big guys like Amauri, Trezeguet or Iaquinta up front, but it seems less likely.

I just read something that confirmed that Favalli has been more than decent this year on TMW: we won almost all the games when he played ...

I don't see Juventus winning or even drawing as they will miss some key players.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I just read something that confirmed that Favalli has been more than decent this year on TMW: we won almost all the games when he played ...

I don't see Juventus winning or even drawing as they will miss some key players.

Yes, I agree, I think Favalli has played very well this season. He's 38, yes, so he's obviously not the future of the club, but still I feel that people have been harsh on him. He's surpassed any expectation I've had for him.

Originally Posted by Nalx

.
They might be in awful form lately, but they're still Juve, and nothing gives you extra motivation than playing against your bitter rival.

Indeed, Zebras in the Den is always a special moments.
Forza Milan!

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I just read something that confirmed that Favalli has been more than decent this year on TMW: we won almost all the games when he played ...

I don't see Juventus winning or even drawing as they will miss some key players.

When a semi-retired Nedved and Villan Olof Melberg are your key players, thats just kinda sad....

That said, I think this match favors us. I wouldn't mind a draw if it means we secure automatic qualification into the CL next season, but I do feel we will win this one based on form (they have 4 draws and a loss from the last 5 games) and player availability. I just hope that Merda lose a game or two to make them nervous enough to be looking over their shoulders.

That said, regardless of our placing at the end of this season, the transition has been highly successful, and I fully expect us to be challenging for top honours for the next 4 to 5 years.

Now, if only we could raid arsenal for Fabregasc, and maybe Anderson from Man U

Originally Posted by Ryo

When a semi-retired Nedved and Villan Olof Melberg are your key players, thats just kinda sad....

That said, I think this match favors us. I wouldn't mind a draw if it means we secure automatic qualification into the CL next season, but I do feel we will win this one based on form (they have 4 draws and a loss from the last 5 games) and player availability. I just hope that Merda lose a game or two to make them nervous enough to be looking over their shoulders.

That said, regardless of our placing at the end of this season, the transition has been highly successful, and I fully expect us to be challenging for top honours for the next 4 to 5 years.

Now, if only we could raid arsenal for Fabregasc, and maybe Anderson from Man U

Mellberg, Nedved, surely Camoranesi (after what happenned at the last game), Trezeguet (who probably won't play one minute anymore with Ranieri), it looks like Del Piero could be a sub too, and that Amauri would be in doubt. Then you add their leg destroyer of the midfield who is unavailable since months ...

Originally Posted by Christian

My guess:

Dida
Flamini Maldini Favalli Zambrotta
Beckham Pirlo Ambrosini
Kaka
Inzaghi Pato

Biggest question is Seedorf or Beckham, and Jankulovski or Flamini. He might field Senderos though, since Juventus have big guys like Amauri, Trezeguet or Iaquinta up front, but it seems less likely.

I agree, but I think Carlo is probably pondering whether to put Seedorf instead of Pato, not Beckham.

Your team looks just right, I would put the same.

About Favalli, it's true, he's been great at CB this year, along with Maldini probably makes the oldest defense EVER but it works...don't know how but it works.

They have almost 80 years together!!!!

Maldini & Favalli were solid against small teams, but the rest four matches will be different.

Juve, Fio, Udi and Roma all have quick, strong, good at heading forwards, and their midfielders are good, too.

I read that Ronaldinho will start against Juve...