3 POINTS FROM the Milan derby for AC Milan is just what the doctor ordered to get the team’s chances of qualifying for European football back on track.
The opening minutes of the match saw cross-city rivals Inter Milan control much of the possession and push Milan into their own half. As the time wore on the game became more scrappier. Inter Milan were trying to hold a high defensive line and Captain Riccardo Montolivo almost punished them as he split the defenders with a pass but striker Mario Balotelli was instantly fouled by defender Andrea Ranocchia.
The 25th minute saw the best chance thus far in the game as starlet defender Mattia De Sciglio latched onto a great cross from winger Adel Taarabt only to bury his effort into the side netting without picking out a teammate or trying a shot on goal.
Milan-Inter: Official line-ups
Milan-Inter: The Rossoneri Squad
Milan began to dominate possession in the latter part of the first half and almost took the lead on Ricardo Kaka’s 25 yard half volley that cleared Inter’s keeper and dipped only to smash off the cross bar. Kaka brought the ball down well between two defenders and took a touch then rifled his shot, almost in vintage Kaka fashion. Definitely the best chance of the first half for both sides.
Out of the break Milan continued to dominate possession looking for any breakthrough to score and scoop up the all-important 3 points from the derby. The 58th minute saw defender Philippe Mexes make good contact with the ball with his head from a corner, but the effort is wide of the target. Milan would grab the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute via a header from defensive midfield stalwart Nigel de Jong. Balotelli delivered a beautiful dipping ball that found de Jong’s head perfectly and the Dutchman made no mistake.
Milan almost grabbed a second if it wasn’t for substitute striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who continued to disappoint with his performance, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Balotelli cleverly dribbled into space and rifled a shot on goal that was deflected slightly by Pazzini who was in an off side position. The remaining time saw substitutes from both sides as well as a few yellow cards for both teams.
A deserved win for Milan who looked the better team and created more than Inter. Milan will look to build on this win and their chase of a Europa League spot as they face Atalanta in next week’s tie but will be without the services of keeper Christian Abbiati who earned a yellow card for time wasting and will miss the next match.
As always, Forza Milan!
Do we qualify for Europa league if we finish 6th?
Yes we do , coz finalists of italian cup have qualified for Europe
To be honest Mahmoud I am not sure of that. I read somewhere that there is a chance of that happening but I forgot what the scenario was. Something to do with Fiorentina and Napoli and the Coppa Italia and where they finish.
Yes we will if we win both our remaining games. We are fighting Torino and Parma, they are playing against each other this week so we kindo covered. Yes we will be there.
I expect the next two games to really show Milan’s character as a team. They need to fight for everything to ensure qualification and it will take an entire team effort to get us across the finish line!
Forza Milan!!
Yes we will cos Napoli who won the Coppa Italia is going to the UCL qualifiers while Foirentina will take their spot in EL. So 5th and 6th position will be in EL
Well done My AC Milan Love you forever
GALIAN you were able to keep the trouble Alegri for 4 seasons
Then don’t sack the SUPER SEEDORF please!!!!
Other wise Galian should be sacked out by Barbara Berusc
two more wins and if toro and parma drop points…….then we are all but in Europe…….Forza AC Milan……
parma next 2 matches……
torino vs parma—-***
parma vs livorno
torino next two matches…….
torino vs parma—-***
fiorentina vs torino
there is a huge chance if we collect all 6 points from last two matches then there we can reach the europa league playoff spot….that will do it……wish torino and parma both draw the next match and then fiorentina beat torino……then we are there…….Forza ACM….Forza Rossoneri…….
I belive we can do it
i would have liked yesterday—-elsha over pazzo…..
n e ways its more important that we won….we can do it….
Montolivo has been very consistent in the last matches. His work rate up and down the pitch is off the charts and he continues to make smart plays with the ball. De Jong’s performance was stellar as well. Winning the ball and stopping Inter’s attacking moves before they really even started. He showed some nice vision and control in posession as well. De Sciglio was a bit shaky at first, playing bad passes and got beaten by Nagatomo in side the 16 that allowed Inter for their best chance in the first half. But as the game went on he… Read more »
Thank you for being one of few who gives Monto the recognition he deserves, he has been inconsistent yes, but we all know his potential and it’s just silly to bash him as much as some fans here have done.
Great victory! But 3 years ago we won the league, then we finished second in the league and we were not happy, then we were fighting for a champions league spot and we finished third. And now we are fighting for a europa league spot, but if we get it it will be just good, but we should not be happy. Many players should be changed.
Great victory. But the criticism on pazzini is not justified in my opinion, he works hard and offers danger up front.
As for the deflection on Ballotelli`s shot, it would have been wide if he didn`t touch it, not that it was a particular smart move, but still.
Anyways, Europa is still possible,
Forza Milan!
I am going to be honest, I am not a very big fan of Pazzini. I haven’t seen anything from him this season that has given me any reason to applaud his performance.
He may work hard, but he doesn’t provide goals or assists or anything. I like players that are quality and able to change the game on a dime as opposed to those who do not offer much to the team.
Pazzini being in the club is stunting the growth of other younger and more talented players like Petagna for instance.
I’m one who doesn’t want Milan in Europa, its just not good enough for Milan, the income is minuscule and a season with the ONLY focus as the league would be best, take Liverpool, the last team we played in an EL final, it wouldn’t hurt my pride as a Milan fan if we didn’t get European football, infact i believe it a blessing in disguise.
Your thoughts??
I agree with you, I mean, I hope we win these next two games, and if we get into the Europa League, fine we’ll get money from it – although it’s nothing if you compare it with UCL – and if not, we can focus entirely on the league. I do want us to finish above Inter though haha, no matter the outcome.
Lol who doesn’t want to see inter lose hehe, their like the lex luthor to milans superman….ARCHRIVAL!! But mutual respect at certain points
Pazzini is more better than balotelli in my opinion.
Calculator at last, well forza milan
I LOVE ♏Ƴ MILAN ……………..forza milano
Milan should cash in on Pazzini,i agree with you Dooli,Pazzini better than Balotelli?Mario has been inconsistence sometimes,but he now has 14 goals and about 11 or 12 assists,remember the points he secured for us in the first half of the season,without Mario we would have lost so many matches,but his goals and assists,he has scored with about 6 free kicks and 3 or 4 spot kicks. However if Pazzini is our number 1 striker,bet me Matri may even be considerable,Pazzini never score or assist against top teams. Balotelli is far far far far far far more more more more better… Read more »
Thank you for your support Lumen!
Seriously how can you criticize pazzini this match? He barely played and by that time we were just trying to solidify the 1-0 victory. Theoretically if pazzini played 90 minutes every match you would see his worth as a backup or second striker. Even I can see it with the little amount of time he plays now
What is his worth as a backup?
Milan played the derby with a 4-3-1-2 formation with Taarabat as a terquartista behind Kaka and Balotelli upfront. A formation that Seedorf admitted was suggested by Berlusconi. This is the right formation for this team instead of the crazy 4-2-3-1 which makes no sense whatsoever. People on this blog accused me and others of having no knowledge of football. Really now?
we are rebuilding as it is, and i think the europa league
will be a distraction playing on Thursday. am not a fan of it at all.