milan 4 parma 0 : bravo cassano!

Milan-Parma, Formazioni Ufficiali/Official Lineups:
MILAN: Abbiati, Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini, Gattuso, Van Bommel, Merkel, Seedorf, Ibrahimovic, Cassano.
PARMA: Mirante, Gobbi, Lucarelli, Paci, Zaccardo, Valiani, Dzemaili, Candreva, Giovinco, Amauri, Crespo.

Great performance of the rossoneri today at San Siro! AC Milan beats Parma 4-0, goals by Seedorf, Cassano and twice score by Robinho!

Milan’s injury hit squad was still nowhere near full strength, and although he was due to play, Pirlo suffered a setback in training to keep him out too, so in Allegri’s 4-3-1-2, Christian Abbiati started in goal, behind a slightly more recognisable back 4 than in recent times with Massimo Oddo on the right, the number 1 partnership of Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta in the middle, and Luca Antonini on the left. In midfield, Van Bommel retained his spot, along with Gennaro Gattuso and Alexander Merkel. Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic started up front with Antonio Cassano, with Clarence Seedorf back in the side behind them.

The game (like many of Milan’s this season) started off at a frantic pace, with Clarence Seedorf involved instantly after returning from injury. As Gennaro Gattuso won the ball back, he managed to find Clarence Seedorf with a little bit of space. The Dutchman took a few strides forward, and unleashed a strike at goal! The shot was a decent one, and it forced Mirante in to making a smart save, but the keeper was not beaten, and despite threatening otherwise, the scores remained level very early on.


With just 7 minutes gone, Milan took the lead! After Alexander Merkel showed good pace and dribbling on the left, he cut inside and took a shot, however, his effort was deflected out towards Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The swede intelligently played a through ball in to space, and Seedorf had already started making the run. Picking up Ibra’s superb pass, Seedorf touched the ball past Antonio Mirante, before walking the ball in to the empty net! A cool, calm and collected finish after a cool calm an collected ball from Ibrahimovic!

Within minutes of a world class save from Abbiati to deny Giovinco, Milan had doubled their lead! Once again, some excellent work from Alexander Merkel lead to the goal – but this time there was a difference. Merkel picked out Antonio Cassano, who ran in towards the box, and layed the ball off to Gennaro Gattuso at the edge – this was just the first part of the 1-2 though, as Gattuso flicked the ball over the Parma defenders, straight to Cassano! Cassano managed to bring the ball down with an excellent first touch, before calmly slotting the ball in to the bottom right corner to score his first goal for the Rossoneri!

Almost 28 minutes in to the game, Milan’s lead could easily have been 3! By this stage the Rossoneri were dominating, and were clearly the better side, with any half chances for Parma few and far between to say the least. Clarence Seedorf was just outside the left edge of the box, when he managed to pull it back across goal! The ball sqqueezed through and it seemingly found its way to Alexander Merkel, but Merkel completely missed the ball whilst swinging for it! He was very unlucky, but his ‘air shot’ was nowhere near the ball, and so the lead stayed at 2-0.

Shortly after, there were another two oppertunities to take the lead, this time through Antonio Cassano, and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cassano’s chance came after a run just outside the box. The italian turned inwards and struck the ball ferociously with power at the goal of Antonio Mirante – however, the goalkeeper did well to punch the ball over the bar. Ibrahimovic’s effort was one where he perhaps should have passed – after some good footwork he found himself approaching the 6 yard box, and Antonio Cassano fired in a superb ball for him which he just got on to, before taking the shot, but his effort went wide.

The half came to a close with the Rossoneri still in complete control. Milan were looking comfortable at the back, and impressie going forward, not a single player was having a poor game, and they had a 2-0 lead to boot! Parma never really got going, and the front 3 of Giovinco, Crespo and Amauri hadn’t really tested Abbiati’s goal.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were fairly quiet, with little action in front of goal. Milan did have one or two half chances though. Firstly Van Bommel smashed the ball goalwards, and the deflcted shot found it’s way in to the path of Clarence Seedorf, however, he fired over the crossbar. Secondly, Milan should have had a penalty, after Ibrahimovic’s free kick struck a Parma defender’s arm in the wall, but the referee either didn’t see it, or didn’t think it was a penalty, as the game played on. Meanwhile, Parma rarely threatened and the Rossoneri’s back 4 looked solid.

With 58 minutes on the clock, Allegri decided to take off Clarence Seedorf for Robinho – and the dutchman walked off to rapturous applause, after a very good performance.

This proved to be an inspired substitute after just 3 minutes! Despite Parma looking like they might get back in to the game, Milan added to their lead! After a run in to the box on the left from Antonio Cassano, the Italian intelligently managed to flash it across goal, and Ibrahimovic let it run behind him for Robinho to run on to it and score with a very neat finish in to the bottom corner! Instant impact from the substitute, and a goal and an assist wrapped up for Antonio Cassano! As a result of the goal, with all 3 points secured, Massimiliano Allegri decided to bring on Flamini for Gattuso. Seconds after, the lead could have been 4! After an awesome low ball across the box for Robinho by Ibra, but Lucarelli did well to get something on it to stop him scoring!

Nearing the 65 minute mark, Milan crushed Parma’s spirit even further by adding yet another goal! Robinho once again on the scoresheet! Mark Van Bommel managed to pick out Antonio Cassano, who took the ball in his stride and dribbled at the Parma defence! The Italian continued without being stopped until around 20 yards out, where he had Ibrahimovic to his right, and Robinho to his left! He chose the unmarked Robinho, and the Brazilian made no mistake whatsoever in slotting the ball neatly in to the back of the net past the helpless oncoming Antonio Mirante! With the game well and truly done, Allegri gave Pato a run out in the center forward role, and a rest for Ibrahimovic with a sub.

Parma had another half chance within the next 10 minutes, but again Abbiati was on top. Truth be told, Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta completely dominated defensively, it once again showed how much better defensively Milan are when paired together. Thiago Silva was excellent at attacking the Parma forwards, and any time they did get a bit closer to goal, Alessandro Nesta was there to clean up any mess, the pair complimented each other wonderfully, and meant that there was a solid foundation to base attacks on.

The game ended as the last 10 minutes fizzled out quite quickly, the only chance coming from Pato’s effort inside the box, but he didn’t strike it cleanly and it went wide. It was a very comfortable performance, and possibly the best kind of preparation for the Spurs game. There were no fresh injuries, Ibra, Gattuso and Seedorf earned some rest, Flamini, Pato and Robinho had some rest – and the Rossoneri racked up 4 goals whilst looking rarely troubled at the back, an excellent victory!

Best Moment: Robinho’s second goal, to seal the victory

Man of the Match: Antonio Cassano, a goal and 2 assists!

Milan 2 cesena 0

AC Milan moved four points clear at the top of Serie A with a comfortable win over Cesena at the San Siro.

An own goal from Maximiliano Pellegrino just before the interval helped the Rossoneri to all three points with Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealing the win deep in stoppage time.

Cesena tried to make a game of it, but succumbed to their second defeat in Milan in the space of four days to remain inside the bottom three.

Cesena troubled Inter Milan with their positive attitude at the San Siro in midweek and, although they were lacking the suspended Emanuele Giaccherini, they seemed to have found an equally enterprising replacement for him.

Dominique Malonga was the main threat early on as he grasped the chance given to him by Cesena coach Massimo Ficcadenti.

He almost opened the scoring himself after just three minutes before creating several chances for his team mates.

Ezequiel Schelotto also went close as Cesena made a bright start. He pounced on a weak backpass from Luca Antonini, but shot straight at Christian Abbiati from a tight angle.

Having weathered an unexpected early storm, Milan started to attack themselves with Robinho and Antonio Cassano looking particularly happy with the ball at their feet.

Cassano set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the Rossoneri's first chance on the half-hour mark, but Francesco Antonioli thwarted him before Robinho sent the rebound over the crossbar.

Antonini dragged a shot wide of the post in the 33rd minute and Ibrahimovic headed wide at the far post 10 minutes later as Milan came close to scoring.

They did go ahead on the stroke of half-time when another clever pass from Cassano sent Ibrahimovic through, and Pellegrino shot past his own goalkeeper as he attempted to clear the ball before the Swede could shoot.

Milan appeared to take it a little easy in the second half and they were almost punished in the 76th minute when Sokratis Papastathopoulos had to make a clearance just ahead of Erjon Bogdani.

Robinho missed two gilt-edged chances to seal the win before Ibrahimovic wrapped up the points in the third minute of stoppage time.

coppa italia : milan 3 bari 1

Milan Bari, Formazione Ufficiale/Official Line-up
MILAN: Roma; Oddo, Nesta, Yepes, Antonini; Gattuso, Ambrosini, Merkel; Robinho; Ibrahimovic, Cassano
BARI: Padelli; Raggi, Rossi, Glik, Parisi; Alvarez, Pulzetti, Donati, Romero; Kutuzov, Castillo.

As a result of injuries to Abbiati and Amelia – 36 year old Flavio Roma made his Milan debut, behind a bacl 4 of Oddo, Nesta, Yepes and Antonini. In midfield, Gattuso, Ambrosini and Merkel were the 3 behind Robinho – with Cassano and Ibrahimovic starting up front.

The opening 5 minutes showed that were Milan were up front, and the front 3 were linking up well – with Robinho and Cassano playing some excellent build up play involving a backheel from Robinho, And after yet another brilliantly executed flick from the brazilian, Alexander Merkel had a chance to test Padelli in the Bari goal. Ibrahimovic’s acrobatic effort forcing a decent save, but nothing came of the corner.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Antonio Cassano brought down the ball fantastically, and layed it off for Robinho – who fired hard and low across goal, but it was neither here nor there and went out for a goal kick. Moments later, Ibrahimovic shifted insite and fired it goalwards, only for Padelli to make the save once more – and the italian managed to hang on to the ball a fraction of a second before Robinho arrived, to ensure the score remained level.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Milan took the lead. Robinho’s good defensive running meant the brazilian picked up a loose ball from Alvarez – after Alexander forced him to play the ball by pressurizing him near the halfway line, before finding Ibrahimovic wide left. Ibra managaged to dribble in to the box, drop his shoulder to beat a defender by cutting inside, before curling his shot in to the far corner – another excellent finish from the swede.

A few minutes later, Milan’s lead was almost doubled, once again Robinho was instrumental. Robinho picked up the ball, shifted on to his right foor and fired a curling strike at goal. Once again Padelli was up to it, and dived well to keep it out. Flavio Roma’s debut was going smoothly too, he hadn’t been tested once by Bari, despite being 30 minutes in to the game! This spoke volumes about Bari’s seemingly toothless attack.

On the stroke of half time, Milan doubled their lead. After some nice link up play, Ibrahimovic played it wide to Massimo Oddo (who was playing very very well), and the Italian’s cross was met by the head of Cassano, though his header went past the post. However, Robinho picked up the ball, and calmly rolled it in to the path of young Alexander Merkel, who did well to slot the ball in to the back of the net, doubling the Rossoneri’s lead by getting his first goal for the club.

The half ended with a lot of action, as Bari should have pulled one back, however, Alvarez’s headed effort (from around the 6 yard line) somehow managed not to find the back of the net – instead, ending up high and in to the stands, when really, Bari should have pulled a goal back. That was very significant, because it meant – as a result of that miss – that Milan had a comfortable 2-0 lead to go back out to in the second half.

At half time, Massimiliano Allegri decided to take off Gennaro Gattuso – and bring Ignazio Abate on – playing in a right center midfield role (but running wide) probably because Gattuso had picked up a yellow card and might easily have picked up a second and gotten suspended.

5 Minutes in to the first half, and the ball was in the back of Milan’s net, but Bari did not get the goal – Nesta’s unfortunate own goal was ruled out for offside (the bari striker was still interfering with play) – this angered some Bari players, especially due to the fact that Robinho was seemingly offside in the build up to Merkel’s goal just before half time.

Milan were playing fantastic football and thanks to the 2 goal cushion, were perfectly in control. Robinho was working hard and linked up brilliantly with Cassano and Ibrahimovic, the trident were working together excellently in their first game together. Milan had 1 or 2 chances as a result, firstly with an Ibrahimovic backheel to Cassano (who was unfortunately offside) and also, Ibra’s outside of the foot pass to Robinho (who’s shot went narrowly wide – despite deserving a goal for his play)

Robinho ensured safe passage to the quarter finals for Milan with 65 minutes on the clock. Alexander merkel played a good through ball for Robinho (who’s movement was excellent to get in to the position he was in) – who controlled it, and hammered the ball hard and low in to the back of the net to make it 3-0. 3 goals up, Cassano was taken off for Andrea Pirlo, who was returning from a thigh strain sustained in December.

With 71 minutes on the clock, Alexandre Pato came off the bench, and he possibly had something to prove after seeing how well the other 3 forwards had done! Alexander Merkel picked up a slight knock, and so he made way for the Brazilin, but it was not a serious injury.

The next quarter of an hour went by surprisingly quickly – with little action. There was an injury scare, after Andrea Pirlo needed treatment on his knee after a collision just minutes after stepping on the pitch, and despite returning to the pitch, he was forced off the field as a result of that knock, a fairly big blow for the Rossoneri.

The game drew to a close in a fairly boring manner, Bari never really got going and offered little threat to Milan, the Rossoneri’s front 3 linked up exceptionally well and it’s no surprise the game fizzled out after those 3 were interrupted. Milan are comfortably through to the next round against Sampdoria, and the likes of Robinho and Merkel in particular shone – unfortunately, the latter and Andrea Pirlo picked up knocks in the process (more news to follow on those 2 injures)

Best Moment: Ibrahimovic’s goal

Man of the Match: Robinho (Merkel’s a close second, Cassano, Ibra and Oddo could all compete for the 3rd spot in terms of how well they did)


VIDEO MILAN VS BARI ,COPPA ITALIA januari 20, 2011