Two of the most entertaining football teams in Italy will go head-to-head tonight at Stadio San Siro in Milan. Despite Milan being a perennial Scudetto contender, Rossoneri have won just one of their last six games against Giallorossi.
AC Milan and AS Roma share a historic rivalry but in recent years, the clubs have come close with late Franco Sensi befriending current Milan president Silvio Berlusconi. AC Milan and AS Roma locked horns in Paolo Maldini’s last home game and Giallorossi
players paid a tribute to the legendary Milan captain with the words ‘Grazie Paolo, Grande Capitano’. Such an act of generosity has brought the two clubs even closer.
The match will be the last game before winter break and both the sides will be looking for a victory to end the year on a high.
Rossoneri soaring high
Silvio Berlusconi has taken a lot of slack in recent years for his inability to invest in the club but this year, old Silvio pulled out not one but three rabbits out of the hats. The arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Kevin-Prince Boateng have brought
a new era to the club.
Rossoneri struggled to make an impact in the early goings but once Massimiliano Allegri found the right combination with the squad, Milan have been unstoppable. Rossoneri are current league leaders with 36 points from the opening 16 games. They have recorded
11 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats.
Rossoneri were handed a 2-0 home defeat by Ajax Amsterdam in the last group stage game of the Champions League and many were worried that Milan will lose the tempo. However, the Daviolo returned to winning ways with an excellent 3-0 victory over FC Bologna
away from home.
When the two sides go head-to-head tonight, it will be more than three points for the two giants. A game of this scale has tide-changing magnitude and will be a morale booster for the winner. With Rossoneri finally having forged a winning side, Massimiliano
Allegri will be confident of his side winning the three points on the night.
Scudetto hopes linger
AS Roma were expected to launch a genuine title challenge prior to the start of this season. However, a disastrous start to the campaign has left Giallorossi 10 points adrift from the top. Ranieri’s men have recovered to some extent for they had failed to register
a victory until match day five.
While Giallorossi have given up on Scudetto dreams, a title triumph is still a mathematical possibility. Having said that, a defeat tonight at the hands of Rossoneri will put a full stop to their Scudetto ambitions.
The biggest issue plaguing the Giallorossi has been a porous defence that has shipped in 20 goals from just 16 games. With an average of more than a goal per game, Giallorossi will have trouble finishing in the top four let alone a Scudetto triumph. Ranieri
will also have to deal with the inconsistency of his troops as they have drooped points to weak oppositions along the road.
Roma’s inability to dispatch weaker oppositions came to the fore when Giallorossi had trouble taking the three points against bottom-placed AS Bari at home. Despite a faithful Lupi crowd roaring in full, Romans were given a rough time by the Galletti.
However, a victory tonight will be a huge step for Giallorossi as it will go a long way in winning Lupi a Champions League spot.
To be continued…
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