AC CESENA
V
AC MILAN
Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
September 11, 2010 – 00:15 IST
Milan is poised to unleash the extravaganza of their tremendous strike force in their second league game against Cesena in Emilia-Romagna. The Rossoneri fans are keen to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is expected to start the game alongside Pato and Ronaldinho. Robinho is expected to be sitting on the bench though. This might turn out to be a smart decision, considering Milan’s midweek Champions League clash against Auxerre. Milan has the force and all that they need to do is utilize that force in an efficient manner.
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A major setback that the Rossoneri faced in the previous two seasons was injuries. To say the least, the medical team has their work cut out already. Flamini is injured and is out for sure. If the recent training sessions were monitored, one could easily observe Seedorf and Nesta missing. Nesta has been nursing a hand injury and Seedorf is speculated to have carried a niggling injury after the game against Lecce. Now whether they are really injured or are being deliberately rested for the Champions League remains to be seen on Wednesday.
Kevin-Prince Boateng is likely to start this game with Pirlo and Ambrosini. Sokratis Papastathopoulos might get a chance alongside Thiago Silva in Nesta’s absence to prove if he has what it takes to be a champion defender.
Cesena on the other hand is returning to top flight after a gap of 19 years. They frustrated Roma in their first encounter with a goalless draw. Francesco Antonioli, Cesena’s 40 year old Goalkeeper made some crucial saves and will try his best to stop the Milan’s “Awesome Threesome”.
Ghana national football team’s captain Stephen Appiah, who joined Cesena from Bologna on a one year contract will have the burden of a lot of expectations from the fans and the middle man will try to cause problems for the Milan back line.
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It was 19 years ago when Cesena hosted Milan at the Manuzzi Stadium. Milan won the game 1-0 thanks to a van Basten strike. The tickets have been sold out for a day which will be very emotional for Cesena fans. Milan would hope to win their second league match and stay on top of the table before they host Auxerre midweek and it would be a major upset even if Cesena can hold the Diavolo to a draw.
Milan’s possible starting Line up:
Abbiati, Bonera, Sokratis, Silva, Antonini, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Boateng, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Pato
Cesena’s possible starting Line-up:
Antonioli, Ceccarelli, Von-Bergen, Pellegrino, Nagatomo, Appiah, Colucci, Parolo, Schelotto, Bogdani, Giaccherini
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TheHardTackle’s Player to watch out for:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
The Swede has already expressed his desire to score 25 goals in this season. He was humbled by the overwhelming response that the Ultras gave him when he was unveiled at the San Siro. He would be starting his first game in the Milan jersey. Combine all this with the brilliant form of Ronaldinho and majestic chips of Andrea Pirlo and Cesena have all the reasons to be worried. The lanky Swede is raring to go and so is Milan.
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
AC Cesena 0-3 AC Milan
TheHardTackle’s Blast from the past:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mvk9q-0JE-M