AC Milan vs. U.S. Città di Palermo. Staying second?

Milan have wind in their sails and are side by side to the Turin club in second place. Palermo has proved to be quite a handful for the big clubs of this season. Milan are coming to San Siro from second place with 64 points. As Juventus who just few goals away from them. The Old Lady has blowing Milan’s nape. Palermo are in seventh place of Serie A with 49 points. They have no league competition with the Rossoneri but they just three points away for being sixth instead Roma.

Carlo Ancelotti’s proteges has get used for three points, after three match ups in a row, despite having uninspiring performances and last week had beautiful winning when the 5-1 crushed Torino at San Siro. That last week’s result and Inter – Juventus’s draw, took them into the second place and with the momentum on their side, won five games from six. This game is important for finish in the second spot of league in the end of the campaign. Milan has to do massive work for win full-points ahead the games with Juventus, Udinese, Roma, and Fiorentina.

The injuries continues as usual with the regularly out of action player which them Gennaro Gattuso (Who coming back to Milan’s match against Juventus in three weeks according to reports), Marco Borriello (Who coming back in two-one month/s), Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Daniele Bonera, Christian Abbiati, Giuseppe Favalli and Luca Antonini. However, Marek Jankulovski returns from a ban while Seedorf, Ronaldinho and Kaka find difficult to get back to their full power after fitness issues which prevent them to play often. There are players who are always in good situation. Inzaghi for example just getting better game by game after scoring hat trick on last week’s clash. All Milan is in good shape after scoring ten goals in one single week (5 against Torino and other 5 against Hungarian League Team).

Milan will face Aquile tomorrow at their home base of San Siro. The Rossoneri have the best home record in Serie A 13 wins, 2 draws and only one defeat, which was Bologna in the beginning of the season (2-1 lose). They are also having the many goals scored this far in league. Il Diablo scored 59 goals which 33 of them was scored at San Siro and conceding only six at home since the shocking start of the season.

The Rossoneri have all the reasons to be confident, Palermo as well. The Rosanero visited San Siro April 11 when the fought on the points and came back from two – nil arrears with Inter but then they got control of the game which ended by two goals to Inter and two goals to Palermo. Palermo beat up all the great clubs. To the 2-2 draw with Inter, you can add their impressive wins away to Juventus, Sampdoria and Fiorentina.

Last time this two teams met, that ended in the best way to Palermo side. Crushing 3-1 win over the Diablo of Milano. Nevertheless, this clash will be quite different, to this matchup, Milan coming with great momentum of two five goals winning in one week, and most important, the 3-1 loss was away to Milan’s homey stadium. This time it is in Milan’s house, the stadium that Milan and Inter play in for 1925 (Renovated at 1989). For 84 years, Milan play there and that will be Milan’s advantage for this game.

Palermo’s Simplicio was suspended for the 4-1 win over Bologna, but he returns along with Igor Budan and Roberto Guana. Mark Bresciano, Antonio Nocerino and Alberto Cossentino are still struggling for fitness and unlikely to play on Sunday. Miccoli and Cavani lead the line with Simon Kjaer eager to impress his potential future club.

San Siro. This time it's on Milan homey Stadium

Last season, the match between those two teams was ending in a very suprising way. Palermo was the team to take the lead 9′ minute from goal by Bresciano. One-one was been made at 24′ minute from goal by Ambrosini. The match was about to end with 1-1 on the results board and then at the stoppage time. Inzaghi made the different between the teams, the one-goal different at 91′ minute. The old-young attacker is willing to bet against a similar finale?

“Against Milan it will be a nice game. They are a great team, but even Palermo knows how to play well. Let’s hope to win points in Milan and to do well, just like we did against Inter.” That is what Palermo’s Michel Morganella said about the match. Milan should not let Palermo wide-open space because; they know how to use it. Milan should stay in confidence and play pass by pass and the all team have to take part from the process of the fielders. Most important is the defenders, it is not like in Milan’s pass two games which were against bottom teams.

Now it is vs. seventh place, Milan cannot let themselves feel like they control the field and play all lousy. They need to initiate many attacks over Palermo’s area. Palermo will try to defense them but with it, make many blitzes, Palermo knows Milan is a strong team but they became to legend killer this season. As they player said, they would try to do what it takes to take points from Milan.

Palermo should keep their eyes on Milan’s strikers. Pippo Inzaghi – There is no stopping the 36-year-old hitman now, as his hat trick prompted David Beckham to declare: “You put the ball in the right place and he’ll score.” Alexadre Pato – Just fabulous, so young and so good. In couple of years can be the best striker of our time. He’s Milan’s top scorer with 17 league goals.

Form guide: Milan (W D W W W) Palermo (W L W D W).

Milan (probable): Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka; Inzaghi, Pato

Palermo (probable): Amelia; Cassani, Carrozzieri, Kjaer, Balzaretti; Tedesco, Liverani, Migliaccio; Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli

Ref: It will be referee Nicola Rizzoli who will direct Milan-Palermo game from matchday 33 of SerieA. Scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3pm at San Siro. He will be assisted by Lion and Lanciano. The fourth official will be Stefanini.

This game will be crucial to Milan if they want to keep on second but Galliani thinks second or third it is does not matter at all. My prediction: 1-0 to Milan, goal by Inzaghi.