AC MILAN
v
CHIEVO VERONA
October 16, 2010 – 21:30 IST
San Siro, Milan
The seventh week of Serie A kicks off on Saturday with Milan taking on Chievo at the San Siro. Resumption of league football is bound to bring, with it, a welcome change of focus from the hooliganism witnessed at Genoa on Tuesday before the Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia.
Il Diavolo are the only club among the top four in Serie A who are playing at home this weekend, which gives them a very good opportunity to ascend to pole position even before Lazio, Inter and Napoli play their away fixtures. Allegri would also be keeping an eye on Milan’s upcoming midweek Champion League’s fixture against Real Madrid and might decide to rest Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been suffering from stomach cramps. The return of Pato to fitness could see him starting upfront yet again for Milan.
The two-week international break came as a blessing for the beleaguered Red and Blacks as their goalkeeper Christian Abbiati who received a knock in the dying minutes of their match against Parma, once again seems fully fit for the Chievo clash. In fact, and this will come as splendid news for Milan fans, he has even resumed training with the squad at Milanello.
Chievo who astonishingly sat atop of Serie A only a few weeks ago, are now currently placed at 5th with 10 points and would have to play their hearts out on Saturday evening if they are to even stand a chance at reclaiming those giddy heights. Stefano Pioli knows that his team will have to play out of their skins if they want to salvage a draw at San Siro. Lest anyone write them off, pundits would remind us that the Flying Donkeys have won both their away fixtures so far – no mean achievement, and a shot in the arm as far as their team morale is concerned. Chievo Verona’s fortunes will depend on their talismanic forward Pellissier – currently the third leading scorer in Serie A, having netted 4 goals. Complicating their quest, however, will be the absence of Lucian and De Paula who are almost certain to sit out for thanks to injuries.
Milan’s possible starting line-up:
Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Silva, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Pato, Robinho
Chievo Verona’s possible starting line-up:
Sorrentino, Andreolli, Mandelli, Mantovani, Sardo, Bentivoglio, Rigoni, Marcolini, Bogliacino, Pellissier, Moscardelli
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Pato (AC Milan)
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic being rested for this clash by Allegri, in anticipation of the Champions League encounter with Spanish behemoth Real Madrid, Pato is expected to get the nod to team up with fellow Brazilians Robiniho and Ronaldinho. Milan fans have longed to see this Brazilian trio in action together, but injury to the youngest of the three has prevented Allegri from fielding him up front. Pato has had a successful international break where he not only scored but also assisted his teammates in getting on the scoresheet. TheHardTackle puts its money on Pato, in the expectation that he will replicate his international performances at the club level as well.
TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION
AC Milan 1-0 Chievo
TheHardTackle’s BLAST FROM THE PAST