Serie A Preview: A.C Milan vs. A.C Cesena- Can the Champions get back on road?
Champions, A.C Milan will host Cesena in a Serie A encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 19:45 GMT.
Milan are desperately in need of a win after a poor start to their 2011/12 Serie A campaign. The Rossoneri have not won a game in their opening three encounters of the season and have drawn two and lost the other.
On the other hand, Cesena, lie on the bottom of the league table after suffering three defeats from as many games.
A.C Milan
Despite a poor start to the campaign, Massimiliano Allegri is content with his team’s performances and believes that his players will get back to winning ways after one win. The Italian Champions cannot get a better fixture given their injury crisis and poor form.
Milan defeated the Seahorses 2-0 in the corresponding fixtures at San Siro last season but lost with the same score-line in the game played at Stadio http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dino-c11319 Manuzzi. Allegri will know that the opposition can surprise them and will take a cautious approach to the game.
Cesena
Marco Giampaolo’s men have always struggled on the road and had one of the worst defensive records in the 2010/11 season. Cesena lost 10 of their 19 games on the road last season and conceded 29 goals in all games on the travel. Despite that, last season’s win over the Champions will give them the self belief that they can beat any team.
Cesena have been vulnerable in defence this season too and have conceded 6 goals in three games thus far, while their attack force has also struggled to make a mark.
Team News
A.C Milan
The injury list keeps growing for the hosts, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Cassano-c6302 remains the only fit striker along with rookie star, Stephan El-Shaarawy, who scored against Udinese in the last game.
Expected line-up: Abbiati; Abate, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Silva-c34903, Nesta, Zambrotta; Nocerino, Van Bommel, Seedorf; Aquilani; El Shaarawy, Cassano
Cesena
The Emilian outfit has no major injury worries to deal with and is only missing the veteran shot-stopper, Francesco Antonioli. The 22-year-old, Nicola Ravaglia, is likely to continue in goal for the visitors.
Expected line-up: Ravaglia; Ceccarelli, Von Bergen, Rossi, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lauro-c21758; Parolo, Colucci, Guana; Eder, Mutu, Candreva
Players to Watch
Antonio Cassano (A.C Milan)
Milan will pin their hopes on former Sampdoria star to deliver in the absence of other first-choice strikers. Cassano’s partnership with El-Shaarawy will also be interesting to watch because he formed an ill-matched strike partnership with Pato. The former Real Madrid star has been one of the most consistent performers for Milan this season and he needs some goals to speak for his performances.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrian-Mutu-c3742 (Cesena)
The former Fiorentina star silenced the critics by scoring a lovely goal against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 during the midweek. Mutu moved to Cesena before the start of the ongoing season and was under so much pressure to carry the responsibility for his team. The Romanian international will be hoping to inspire his team in taking all three points against the Italian Champions.
Prediction
Despite the injury concerns and poor form, bettor.com predicts Milan to win the game comfortably by at least two goals. Verdict: 2-0
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