Italian Serie A Preview: AS Bari – AC Milan
Relegation beckons for Galletti
Bari played some truly attacking football last season that earned them a 10th placed finish. With the sale of some top class players, Galletti are now feeling the heat of a competitive Serie A. Eight points from
nine games has condemned Giuseppe Ventura’s side to bottom of the league. However, Bari are just three points below 10th placed Palermo had some inspired victories could get them clear of the relegation zone.
On a less positive note, Ventura’s side have failed to achieve a result in their last four league outings and have recorded only two victories so far this season; their last victory came on September 26th.
On back of such poor form, Galletti line up against a Milan outfit hungry for points. Rossoneri tend to struggle on their travels and Ventura must look to attack a shaky Milan rearguard.
Rossoneri Scudetto ambitions
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi expects his ageing squad to fight for both domestic and continental honours and judging by the inconsistency shown by the team so far, they will end up winning neither.
The inconsistency continued on the midweek as Rossoneri drew against Real Madrid at San Siro. Allegri must count himself lucky for coming out with a point as his squad was second best for most of the encounter. Indeed it was the legendary
Pippo Inzaghi who got them so close to a scarcely deserved victory. Pedro Leon exploited Milan’s knack of throwing away leads with a dramatic injury time equaliser.
Rossoneri now travel to Bari on the back of a draw and a defeat. A victory will see Allegri’s side leapfrog Inter Milan in the table – always a bonus.
Team News
AS Bari
Ventura’s side will be significantly weakened by the absence of several key players. Jaime Romero, Andrea Raggi, Salvatore Masiello, Abdelkader Ghezzal and Jose Ignacio Castillo are all out injured.
AC Milan
Allegri will have his own share of injuries to cope with. Latest reports indicate that the Brazilin full back Thiago Silva will not feature because of an injury. Rossoneri already have Luca Antonini, Daneile Bonera and Massimo Oddo out
injured. Robinho is likely to start as the shadow striker ahead of Ronaldinho. The former Barcelona ace was extremely poor against Real Madrid and Allegri seems to have lost faith in the Brazilian.
Key Players
Robinho
The Brazilian prodigy is yet to make an impact on the Serie A. The player is slowly finding his feet and forming some sort of chemistry with his partner upfront, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. With Allegri resting the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Pato,
Robinho will be the creative fulcrum for the Rossoneri.
Vitali Kutuzov
The Veteran striker has already the experience in the world to upset a Silva-less Milan backline. Kutuzov has been showing his class only in flashes and the Belarus International will have to be on the top of his game to put one over Alessandro
Nesta and co.
Prediction
With numerous key players being rested for the match, Milan would be a significantly weakened side. However, Bari’s form at home hasn’t been impressive either and Rossoneri should eke out a narrow victory. Milan to win 2 – 1 with Robinho
making the headlines!
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