<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/it-ac-milan.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10290" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/it-ac-milan.png" alt="" width="125" height="105" /></a></strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-10294" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/italy_catania.png" alt="" width="110" height="110" /> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> <strong>AC Milan</strong> V </strong><strong>Catania</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <em>San Siro, Milan </em>September 19, 2010 – 00:15 IST </p> <p style="text-align: center;">----- </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>AC Milan</em>, fresh from their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYJHEeYN5ac" target="_blank">win against </a><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYJHEeYN5ac" target="_blank">Auxerre</a></em> in the <em>Champions League</em> opener, is all set to welcome <em>Catania</em> in the 3<sup>rd</sup> round of the<em> Italian League, Serie A</em>. The Sicilian side is yet to win a match at the <em>San Siro</em> against <em>Milan</em> and they will be hoping that they can turn around the tables on their fourteenth attempt. Milan have won<em> 9 out of the 13</em> times <em>Catania</em> has visited the <em>Giuseppe Meazza</em>, the other 4 ended in stalemates. </p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Allegri still needs to find the right balance"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/massimiliano-allegri-milan/image/9474722?term=Allegri" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9474722/massimiliano-allegri-milan/massimiliano-allegri-milan.jpg?size=500&imageId=9474722" border="0" alt="Emirates Cup Arsenal v Milan (1-1) 31/07/2010 Milan Head Coach Massimiiano Allegri Photo Roger Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="320" height="443" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/massimiliano-allegri-milan/image/9474722?term=Allegri" target="_blank"></a> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>The Rossoneri</em> certainly look vulnerable in the midfield with<em> Allegri</em> still finding it tough to build the balance of the team. Midfield was their biggest area of concern against <em>Cesena -</em> where <em>Allegri</em> decided to play two defensive midfielders in <em>Ambrosini </em>and<em> Gattuso</em>. Both of them, especially Rino, kept on going forward time and again leaving a lot of spaces in the midfield. <em>Pirlo</em> was playing very deep and hence they clearly lacked creativity.<em> The</em> <em>Diavolo</em> desperately need a box to box midfielder and with<em> Ambrosini </em>and<em> Flamini</em> injured, <em>Allefri</em> would look forward to the services of<em> Kevin Prince Boateng,</em> who was impressive but at times erratic, against <em>Auxerre</em>. His speed definitely helps as <em>Pirlo</em> and <em>Seedorf,</em> despite their vision, don’t have the legs to instil any urgency in the attack. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The backline looks secure with the return of<em> Nesta</em> and<em> Thiago Silva,</em> who have displayed a great partnership in the past. <em>Zambrotta</em> is most likely to start over <em>Bonera</em> as the full back from the right side. Though he has been short on match practice, he was still one of the best performers against the French team this Wednesday. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Milan’s</em> cause of concern is an injury to the <em>“Duck that glides, as if its ice”</em>.<a href="http://www.football-italia.net/sep16f.html" target="_blank"> </a><em><a href="http://www.football-italia.net/sep16f.html" target="_blank">Alexandre Pato</a></em><a href="http://www.football-italia.net/sep16f.html" target="_blank"> has managed to injure himself </a>yet again in the beginning of the season. He is reportedly out for 3 weeks, but the medical team does not have to rush his comeback as they now have a backup in<em> Robinho -</em> who will have the chance to improve upon his match fitness. It would be tough to avoid mentioning<em> Ibrahimovic</em> and <em>Ronaldinho</em> as the latter was the architect and the lanky boy was the executor in the victory over <em>Auxerre</em>. <em>Ibrahimovic</em> is getting into his groove very quickly and<em> Catania</em> might have to face his fury in front of the <em>San Siro</em> crowd. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Yet another injury, Off for 3 weeks"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-may-2010/image/8946981?term=pato" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8946981/sports-news-may-2010/sports-news-may-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=8946981" border="0" alt="May 29, 2010 - 05969062 date 28 05 2010 Copyright imago Chicago Illinois USA 28 05 2010 A C Milan w Chicago przed Z Chicago Fire n Z Pato Kamil PL A C Milan Training Session AT University of Illinois in Chicago Before International Soccer Game Against Chicago Fire ON Sunday May 30 PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxPOL Football men Milan USA Training camps Single Vdig 2010 vertical Highlight premiumd." width="400" height="554" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: left;"><em>- Catania </em>on the other hand is a very offensive unit, which can be justified by the presence of 12 South Americans, 11 Argentines and 1 Brazillian in their outfit. They possess a very quick counter attack threat to <em>Milan,</em> who have left far too many spaces through the midfield in their previous two matches. The<em> Rossazzurri</em> will look to exploit this weakness in <em>Milan</em>’s coordination. They did beat <em>Parma 2-1</em> last week but even coach <em>Marco Giampolo</em> is aware that the match could have gone anywhere had it not been for the two penalties by <em>Mascara</em> and <em>Antenucci</em>. </p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Maxi Lopez, Will he breakthrough??"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/catania-calcio-palermo/image/8426725?term=maxi+lopez" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8426725/catania-calcio-palermo/catania-calcio-palermo.jpg?size=500&imageId=8426725" border="0" alt="Apr. 03, 2010 - Catania, Italy - epa02103141 Maxi Lopez of Catania Calcio celebrates after scoring the second goal against Palermo during their Italian Serie A soccer match at Angelo Massimino stadium in Catania, Sicily Island, southern Italy on 03 April 2010." width="400" height="298" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>- Catania</em> will hope that<em> Maxi Lopez</em> fires against <em>Milan</em> as the Argentine forward has been in great form since he was signed, scoring 11 goals in 17 appearances for the Sicilian side. Club veteran<em> Giuseppe Mascara</em>, also the captain of the <em>Rossazzurri</em> will have to be on his toes if they are to snatch three points out of this one. Highly unlikely but can’t be ruled out with <em>Milan</em>’s signature lapses of concentration in the recent past. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">- <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Milan’s possible starting Line up: </strong></span><em>Abbiati, Zambrotta, Nesta, Silva, Antonini, Boateng, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Robinho</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Catania’s possible starting Line-up: </span></strong><em>Andujar, Capuano, Spolli, Silvestre, Potenza, Ledesma, Carboni, Biagianti, Mascara, Ricchiuti, Lopez -</em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Milan(4-3-3) v Catania(4-3-3)"]<img class=" " src="http://this11.com/boards/128471821030555.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="515" />[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;">- <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TheHardTackle’s Player to watch out for:</span></strong> <em><strong>Ronaldinho(Milan)</strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Brazilian Maestro was terrible against<em> Cesena</em> but he more than made up for that by his scintillating display in the second half against Auxerre. He was the architect of both the goals scored by<em> Ibrahimovic</em> at the <em>San Siro</em>. Catania being an offensive unit will leave a lot of spaces and <em>Ronaldinho</em> will look forward to create magic between them. Especially with the 2 DM’s probably not playing, <em>Milan</em> will be hoping for some mobility upfront. <em>Catania</em> will have to man mark Dinho if they would want to entertain any hopes iin this match.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TheHardTackle's Form Guide:</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em><strong>Milan</strong></em> : - - - W L <strong><em>Catania</em></strong> : - - - L W</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">- <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blast from the Past:</span></strong></p> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnKgady8vZ4 <p style="text-align: justify;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> TheHardTackle’s Prediction:</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>AC Milan 2-1 Catania</em></p>