Milan 1 – 1 Bari

MILAN failed to take advantage of Inter’s draw with Brescia as they returned to Serie A action earlier today. After the disappointment of going out of the Champions League midweek, a match against bottom club Bari seemed like a good oppertunity to get back on track, but Milan slumped to a 1-1 draw. After dominating, Milan conceded a 1st half goal from a set piece, and despite Cassano scoring off the bench, a wrongly disallowed goal from Robinho, Ibrahimovic was sent off for a petulant push and the game ended 1-1.

The Rossoneri had some positives ahead of this game, Antonini returned to play with Nesta, Thiago Silva and Abate in defence (ahead of Abbiati in goal) – after impressing off the bench midweek, Alexander Merkel returned to the starting lineup, alongside Gennaro Gattuso who was back from injury – whilst Van Bommel returned to the team to complete the midfield 3. In attack, Robinho once again Started behind Alexander Pato and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In a game which started off at a fairly lesiurely pace, there weren’t many chances early on, however, it was Robinho who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on, as Milan were settling in to the game. After a run down the right hand side of the box from Ibrahimovic, the Swede managed to cut inside with a piece of skill! His ball across just about found Robihno, and the Brazilian turned to shoot – but before he could get a decent shot away, his effort was blocked for a corner – from which nothing came.

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After dominating the opening part of the game, the scores were still level. Ignazio Abate looked very dangerous on the right and had seen a lot of the ball – he’d made a few good crosses but so far nothing had come from them. Robinho was working hard, whilst Pato and Ibrahimovic looked threatening up front, but they needed more of the ball in the final third. Meanwhile, Bari looked fairly toothless, and apart from 1 simple header straight in to the hands of Abbiati after a corner, they hadn’t really threatened either.

The Rossoneri almost took a deserved lead with just over 20 minutes gone! After Ghezzal (who was back helping out his defence) delayed on the ball for too long, Ibrahimovic was alive and alert enough to intercept the ball, however, as he looked to square the ball Gillet did well to dive on the ball to prevent a goal. Within minutes Milan could have lead again, after a dangerous breakaway left Pato with the ball on the left with Ibra running in the box – however, Pato’s attempted cross was sliced and went straight out for a goal kick.

With 25 minutes on the clock, Milan had a free kick in a very dangerous position right on the edge of the penalty area after Ibrahimovic was taken down from behind. The Swede got up and took the free kick himself – he managed to get the ball on target as he blasted it goalwards with full power around the wall, but Gillet did just enough to parry it away despite diving the other way to the ball! Unfortunately for Milan, the ball did not fall kindly to a Milan player, and Bari were able to clear it.

Disaster struck for the Rossoneri just 5 minutes before half time though. Despite being completely dominant, Milan had failed to take their chances and were made to pay with around 5 minutes to go before half time. A well worked training ground set piece from Bari undid the Milan defence. After picking up a free kick 30 yards out or so, the ball was played as a through pass for Rudolf in to the box, and he placed it perfectly in the corner of Abbiati’s net! leaving the goalkeeper with no chance! A hammer blow for Milan after making a good start!

As the half drew to a close, Milan began to get over the shock of conceding, and looked threatening. Ibrahimovic had a shot which seemed destined for the net get deflected wide by Belmonte. Pato was the next to try his luck from a free kick, in added time of the first half, but his effort was held comfortably by Gillet, despite bouncing in front of him. The half ended with Bari 0-1 up, and Milan looking in trouble!

At half time, Massimiliano Allegri brought on Urby Emmanuelson for Alexander Merkel.

Within seconds of the second half kicking off, Milan were level! But it wasn’t to count! After a long ball in to the box, Ibra sensibly headed the ball across goal between the goalkeeper and the center back, Robinho had timed his run to perfection and replays showed he was in fact in line, but as he tapped the ball in to the back of the net and celebrated, the linesman’s flag went up despite the Bari players protesting more out of desperation than actual belief he was offside. Within minutes Robinho had another effort on goal but once again, Gillet held well to keep Bari ahead.

Time went by and after 10 minutes Milan still didn’t have the lead, so Allegri decided to take off Robinho for Antonio Cassano. Within minutes of the switch Milan could have equalised, after an excellent run down the left from Urby Emmanuelson, the dutchman managed to pull it back in to the box, however, Luca Antonini completely miscontrolled it and missed the ball. With 30 minutes left Ibrahimovic brought it down after a deflection and blasted it in to the back of the net! but this was ruled out too! This time for handball, and in fairness, this decision was right.

Milan were pressing now, and piling on the pressure. After a stunning bit of play on the right, Abate fired a cross in and it almost found the back of the net! However, Gillet did well to dive across goal and keep it out. It was essentially like a training exercise – attack versus defence, and Ibrahimovic played an outstanding ball across goal with 65 minutes on the clock, but again Bari got away with it – so far, the defence was winning.

The Rossoneri were totally dominant, and with 20 minutes to go were on top by far, were piling on the pressure. But disaster struck. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for pushing a Bari defender in the side after a challenge in the box, and will now miss 3 games with suspension for a straight red card – [b]including the derby[/b] – An absolutely disastrous event. Shortly after, Pato went down after a shove in the box, but again nothing was given – it didn’t look like it was going to be Milan’s night.

Masssimiliano Allegri had 1 last throw of the dice with 10 minutes to go – Clarence Seedorf coming off the bench for Gennaro Gattuso after impressing against Spurs midweek.

A minute after the substitution and Milan were level! Luca Antonini burst down the left with pace after a fantastic through ball from Urby Emmanuelson – Antonini played the ball perfectly in to the path of Antonio Cassano who was running on to the ball, and the Italian finished calmly and collectedly to make it 1-1! Game on with Milan on top, piling on the pressure despite being down to 10 men with 10 minutes left!

With 3 minutes to go Milan were piling on the pressure, Gillet was forced to make several good saves, most notably from Thiago Silva’s long range effort, Milan were desperately looking for a winner, and Pato almsot provided one from 20 yards out, but his cross/shot wasn’t on target and Cassano was an inch away from deflecting it in! The San Siro had come to life and the fans were almost willing the ball in to the back of the net at this point – but the scores remained level!

As 4 minutes of added time were announced, Milan were on the attack, and almost scored at the end of a flowing move! But 2 Bari blocks in a row (and a save) from Ignazio Abate’s low drilled effort and Urby Emmanuelson meant the scores were still level! the ball fell out for Van Bommel who’d struck several long range efforts to no avail in the game, and again the ball went over, the ball just would not go in for Milan!

Despite having even more efforts blocked, Milan simply could not find the extra goal to take advantage of Inter’s slip up, and so the difference at the top remained 5 points. Infuriatingly, Milan would have won had Robinho’s goal not been wrongly disallowed, if they would have been able to take 1 chance, or if they would have had just 1 bit of luck, but it wasn’t to be Milan’s day, and it’s ‘as you were’ at the top of the table.

Best Moment: Cassano’s leveller

Man of the Match: Ignazio Abate, Thiago Silva just behind

By Hefin Davies, Rossoneri Blog