Bologna - Milan Options

[Funki]

Short and sweet: just win the damn match.

Match preview from Football Italia

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Serie A Week 23 - 7/2/10 (14.00 UK)
Bologna - Milan

Stadio Dall'Ara

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Just when they started to look like title challengers, Milan are in need of a result against relegation battlers Bologna.

The Rossoneri haven’t won in three matches after their 2-0 defeat in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.

Leonardo’s side are still in second place, but Roma have joined them on 41 points and some fear they are heading into their clash with Manchester United later this month in the wrong kind of form.

Adriano Galliani’s decision to sign Mancini from Inter to give Leonardo another option going forward has been strongly criticised by Silvio Berlusconi, the club’s long-standing patron.

Speaking on a state visit to Israel, the Italian Prime Minister said: “I really didn’t understand that move. He is another trequartista, whereas what we need is someone who finishes things off by scoring goals.

“What’s more he has barely played in two years. I did not agree with this signing and I said so to Galliani.”

Luckily for Leonardo, Milan can field their best central defensive pairing, as Alessandro Nesta is back fit to partner Thiago Silva.

The Rossoneri have only lost one of the six games in which they have started together, so Bologna’s strikers can expect a tough day ahead of them.

The Felsinei have a right to feel confident, though, after Sunday’s 1-1 draw away to Chievo.

Franco Colomba’s side are now unbeaten in four matches and have lifted themselves to 14th in Serie A, four points clear of the drop zone.

Bologna appear to have got something going up front as Marco Di Vaio has started scoring regularly up front, bagging four goals in his last four games.

The veteran striker has formed quite the partnership with Henry Gimenez, who has scored three crucial goals in January.

Keep an eye on: Ronaldinho (Milan) – He will be out to prove that he is only back to his old ways in the sense that he is playing well again after allegations of partying. Milan need a big performance from him to stop the rot.

Last five in Serie A: Bologna (L W D W D) Milan (W W W L D)

Last season: Bologna 1-4 Milan

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Bologna (probable): Colombo; Raggi, Portanova, Moras, Lanna; Gimenez, Mudingayi, Guana, Modesto; Adailton; Di Vaio

Milan (probable): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Ambrosini, Pirlo; Seedorf; Beckham, Borriello, Ronaldinho

Ref: To follow...

[Google Bot]

[Tobinho]

milannews.it reckon Nesta is still out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Their probably formation:

Milan (4-2-1-3): Abbiati; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Beckham, Borriello, Ronaldinho.

A disposizione: Dida, Kaladze, Favalli, Gattuso, Mancini, Inzaghi, Huntelaar. All.: Leonardo

[JuveJay]

I think this game suits Milan better than the last couple, 0-2.

[hijjawi]

chance for bologna min.31
click here for the video

[hijjawi]

in the post from RONI. min.57
click here for the video

[hijjawi]

chance for Milan min.69
click here for the video

[hijjawi]

in the post from Ambrosini min.90+1
click here for the video

[il capitano]

wow seems like Milan is in the same situation as juve now, cant get a win against any team since the inter game.

[Tobinho]

Damn, hit the crossbar twice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[il capitano]

Damn

seems like uve been saying this for some time now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_mrgreen.gif)

[JuveJay]

They aren't doing as bad as Juve, let's be honest lol (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_mrgreen.gif)

[il capitano]

well, one can still hope (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_mrgreen.gif)

[Tobinho]

seems like uve been saying this for some time now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_mrgreen.gif)

Yeah it does. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Damn.

[brasil5x]

title hopes are over

[brasil5x]

Bologna 0-0 Milan: Colombo The Hero As Rossoneri Drought Continues


Bologna held Milan to a scoreless Serie A draw at the Renato dall'Ara to stretch the Rossoneri's run without a win to four games in all competitions. Goalkeeper Roberto Colombo was the home side's hero, making countless blocks and saves to hold Leonardo's side at bay.

There was surprising team news from the away side, as Alessandro Nesta again missed out due to injury and Daniele Bonera, rather than Giuseppe Favalli, was given the nod. There was also a debut from the off for Amantino Mancini after his loan move from neighbours Inter. The Brazilian started on the right of attack in place of David Beckham.

The first effort on goal came from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick 35 metres from goal, but it was a tame effort, which Roberto Colombo smothered with ease. Pirlo had another long range shot a few minutes later, but it was a speculative right-footed effort which failed to trouble the Bologna keeper.

The hosts almost forged a real chance for themselves on 14 minutes when Roberto Guana cleverly threaded a ball through the legs of Thiago Silva into the path of Marco Di Vaio, but Ignazio Abate covered well. Seconds later, Di Vaio was troubling the Milan backline once more, but his run into the box from the left was superbly cut out by Bonera.

As Milan looked to get back on top it was again Pirlo at the heart of it, as his through-ball ran well for Marco Borriello, but the striker couldn’t quite get his shot in before Vangelis Moras came in to foil him.

Mancini’s first chance to prove his worth to the Rossoneri came in the 26th minute, when he received a lovely long diagonal pass from Ronaldinho before cutting the ball back to the edge of the area for Clarence Seedorf. But the Ducthman got caught in two minds between a shot or a pass to Borriello and the chance was gone.

The Rossoblu were not without their chances, too, and Di Vaio found himself in space to the left of goal, where he drew Thiago Silva before firing in a left-foot shot which Nelson Dida parried before gathering at the second attempt.

There was controversy in the 36th minute when Massimo Ambrosini broke into the six-yard box to collect Seedorf’s pass and, after touching the ball past Colombo, went to ground. Referee Paolo Mazzoleni looked set to show the Milan captain a yellow card, but Ambrosini immediately starting wagging his finger, insisting no contact was made and that he wasn’t attempting to gain a penalty.

Within moments Bologna forced a three-on-three break, but Guana chose to feed Francesco Modesto on his right when he had men breaking to his left, and Luca Antonini was able to steal in and take the ball.

The Rossoblu started the second half as they’d finished the first, and Di Vaio won the ball from Pirlo and very nearly found Adailton, a half-time replacement for the disappointing Gimenez, with a great throughball, but the Brazilian’s attempt to get a shot in was thwarted by a two-man tackle.

The best chance of the game so far came on 57 minutes, when Colombo came charging out for a right-wing corner from Pirlo and completely lost the flight, allowing Ronaldinho to get a shot in which cannoned off the top of the bar to the relief of the Bologna goalkeeper.

Milan coach Leonardo changed things around on the hour, bringing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on for Seedorf and switching to a 4-2-2-2 formation.

The new approach helped to bring about a sustained period of play from Milan, with first Mancini on the right, then Ronaldinho on the left, making breaks into the box which Bologna had to be on their mettle to snuff out.

On 69 minutes Huntelaar looked all set to open the scoring when Borriello’s movement and Pirlo’s delicious pass sent the Dutchman clear in the 18-yard area, but Colombo did brilliantly to race out to the striker’s feet and do just enough to divert the ball away, allowing his defenders to clear.

Colombo again had to be alert to foil Mancini as the Brazilian bore down on goal, but a double stop was affected by the goalkeeper, who received a knock to the head as he claimed the ball second time around.

With just three minutes to go Colombo was called into action yet again as Borriello controlled a low cross from substitute David Beckham before turning and sending in a left-foot shot, which the Bologna shot-stopper did well to hold.

Two minutes into injury-time, the hero of the hour was finally beaten, but Ambrosini’s wonderful header from Mancini’s left-wing cross came crashing back off the bar with Colombo motionless.

It was the final chance Milan would be able to make as Bologna held on for the remainder of the four added minutes to all but extinguish the embers of the Rossoneri’s title hopes.

[Funki]

title hopes are over

Oh, FFS, don't tell us that you believed that media crap. We were never in it.

We're still in position to qualify for the CL, which was our goal, but my god those performances are so disappointing.

[brasil5x]

Oh, FFS, don't tell us that you believed that media crap. We were never in it.

you were 3 games ago

[Funki]

We were, what, 6 or 7 points behind at that particular time. I'd hardly call that a race.

[brasil5x]

thought you had a game in hand

[Tobinho]

Yeah, before the derby we were 6 behind with a game in hand so could have gone level.