Milan - Palermo [Preview]

 

Now just four points off the leaders, Milan go looking for a sixth win on the bounce against a Palermo side in flux.

They may have done the bare minimum in the Champions League, scraping through with a 1-1 draw away to FC Zurich, but there can be no doubts on the Rossoneri’s current Serie A form. Since hitting upon the right tactical system in the 2-1 win over Roma on October 18, Leonardo’s men have notched up seven victories and a stoppage-time 2-2 draw at Napoli. The display against Sampdoria last week was so powerful that Vice-President Adriano Galliani declared it was “a different sport” to the rest of Serie A.

However, the loss of Thiago Silva for two months with a calf strain could be devastating, as he has formed a magnificent centre-back pairing with Alessandro Nesta. The only alternatives are Kakha Kaladze and Giuseppe Favalli, as Daniele Bonera, Oguchi Onyewu and right-back Massimo Oddo are also injured.

At least Gianluca Zambrotta returns from suspension, while Mathieu Flamini should give Massimo Ambrosini a rest in midfield. Leonardo doesn’t like making too many changes to his starting XI and tiredness could take its toll.

Palermo have begun their revival under new Coach Delio Rossi, fighting back to beat Cagliari last week and sweeping through to the next phase of the Coppa Italia too. Walter Zenga may have gone, but the basic problem remains and that is a dismal away record of just one win, a single draw and five defeats.

Their history at San Siro doesn’t bode well either. Last season’s 3-0 result was their 19th defeat in 22 visits to Milan, having also drawn two and won one on October 22, 2006. In these games they scored 13 and conceded 56, including a 9-0 thrashing in 1950-51.

Fabrizio Miccoli won his appeal to have the two-match ban for dissent reduced to one, so he is able to partner Edinson Cavani and Rossoneri January transfer target Fabio Simplicio. Giulio Migliaccio was not so fortunate and is suspended for this tie, but Fabio Liverani returns from his stint on the naughty step.

Keep an eye on: Ronaldinho (Milan) – He converted the penalty that put Milan through in the Champions League midweek and has been on sparkling, albeit typically inconsistent, form. No doubt the Brazilian will try his tricks to confuse the Palermo defenders and set up teammates Marco Borriello and Alexandre Pato.

Last five in Serie A: Milan (W W W W W) Palermo (D L D L W)

Last season: Milan 3-0 Palermo


Sumber: Football-Italia