AC Milan have come a long way from docked points and proven guilty of match fixing in the 2006 season, a time when Milan had been dominating Italian football, and their age old city rivals Inter Milan were handed the title, and since then Inter have kept a hold of Serie A winning 3 consecutive domestic league titles. While Milan’s approach to the game has been dented to a great degree since then, as winning the title was the only thing fans would settle for before 2006 but now even qualification in Europe is a big incentive for the former European champions. This Saturday’s game against firoentena is believed to be a crucial one for Ac if they are to take the final champions league spot. Defender Thiago Silva has branded the match with Fiorentina at the San Siro as their most important of the season. Victory would take Leonardo's side to the brink of Champions League qualification, and could even guarantee it if other results go their way.
Milan's form has been poor of late, though. They have lost their last two games to Sampdoria, their rivals for third place, and Palermo, while a run of just one win in seven since mid-march has ended their Serie A title hopes.
A report also emerged this week suggesting the Rossoneri are set for a coaching change over the summer, with owner Silvio Berlusconi said to have told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper Leonardo will be leaving after just one season in charge.
Milan, who are still without Alexandre Pato and Alessandro Nesta through injury, Dutch striker Jan Klas Huntelar may be the one leading the line in attack, alongside filipo Inzhagi, while tried and test midfield of Andre Pirlo, Gatuso and Sedorf would be a key when it comes to holding up play or triggering attacks from the middle, Milan won 2-1 at Fiorentina in the reverse fixture back in February thanks to two goals in the last nine minutes Thiago Silva insists he is not getting distracted by the thought of playing in the World Cup in South Africa, even though just three games of the campaign remain.
Fiorentina, who like Milan were knocked out of this season's Champions League in the last 16, go into the game in ninth place, seven points adrift of seventh-placed Napoli. Former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino admits Europa League qualification from that position is a very tall order, but is determined to end the season on a high. Fiorentina went down 2-1 at Atalanta and 2-0 at home to Chievo in their last two outings.
While neither team has much left to play for but European qualification, AC Milan has the advantage with the match being played at the San Siro. Their home record is one of the best in the Serie A and Fiorentina has only four away wins this season. Milan have not been convincing in recent weeks to it any result would not be surprising but the three points should be theirs.
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