Seria A: Ac Milan v Juventus

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MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A Week 26 - 2 Mar 2014 (19.45 UK)
Milan - Juventus
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Juventus
Milan

More accustomed to competing for top honours, Milan host Juventus at San Siro on Sunday with a very different agenda.

Currently lying in ninth place with 35 points - a mammoth 31 adrift of League-leaders Juve - the Rossoneri have seen an upturn in fortunes since Clarence Seedorf replaced previous Coach Massimiliano Allegri in mid-January. Having recorded four wins, one draw and one loss in their last six games, they now lie just five points from city rivals Inter, who occupy the final European spot in fifth position.

The Diavolo’s participation in the Champions League is hanging by a thread despite their positive showing against Atletico Madrid last week, and they displayed great resilience to bounce back in time for Week 25’s away trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, as they defeated Sampdoria 2-0, and put in a performance which exemplified the side’s new found identity and consistency under their rookie tactician.

January loan signings Adel Taarabt and Adil Rami were the best players in black and red, and both got on the score sheet either side of the interval to lead Milan to their second consecutive victory - the first time they have managed to string together two wins all season.

Seedorf’s arrival has undoubtedly given the club increased impetus, but even as the Rossoneri welcome back Mattia De Sciglio, Mario Balotelli, Robinho and Valter Birsa from the treatment room, they may be hard pressed to conquer the champions of Italy.

Juventus are at a distinct disadvantage though, as their ongoing Europa League commitments will see them playing five games in just 16 days, with the second leg of their Round of 32 tie against Trabzonspor having taken place just three days before the clash with Milan.

Adding to this, the Bianconeri should face an intimidating atmosphere at San Siro when they come to visit, even if they arrive on the back of an imperious run of 17 games unbeaten, and have only fallen to defeat once in the League this season.

The Piedmont-based outfit’s latest taste of victory came at home against an in-form Torino, courtesy of a sumptuous first half strike from Carlos Tevez, as they overcame the Granata 1-0 in the season’s second Derby della Mole.

Juve will have to do without key midfielder Arturo Vidal, who is serving a one match suspension, although Kwadwo Asamoah could make a return from a thigh injury to feature in the game, as the Old Lady attempt to continue their seemingly unstoppable surge towards a third straight Scudetto.

Keep an eye on: Adel Taarabt (Milan) – The 24-year-old January arrival from QPR has been somewhat of a revelation at Milanello since he swapped the English Championship for the Italian Serie A, leading the Rossoneri to seriously consider taking up their option of signing him permanently. After scoring just eight minutes into his debut against Napoli, he carried his blistering form into subsequent matches, putting in energetic, all action displays full of guile, finding the back of the net against Sampdoria last week to make it two goals in just three League appearances. The talented Moroccan clearly realises the chance he has been given, and is well and truly grabbing it with both hands.

Form Guide: Milan (W D L W W) Juventus (D W D W W)

Last season: Milan 1-0 Juventus

Stat fact: The 6-1 drubbing Juventus inflicted on the Rossoneri during the 1996-97 season is the highest scoring edition of this fixture in the last 50 years, when goals from Christian Vieri and Zinedine Zidane, amongst others, delivered a devastating away victory which many Juventini probably recall fondly to this day.

Milan (probable): Ameila; Emanuelson, Rami, Mexes, De Sciglio; Montolivo, De Jong, Kaka, Taarabt, Honda; Balotelli

Juventus (probable): Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Asamoah, Marchisio, Pogba, Lichtsteiner, Pirlo; Llorente, Tevez

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Balotelli hasnt recovered yet, Pazzini ready to step in.

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Artan alone at home 2 uhuuuuuuuuuu ghost house, anybody home?


No balotelli tonight. its pazzini instead.

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HT: 0-1 llorente

we played well, created numerous chances, didnt know to convert into goals. juve had one single shot and that went in.

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kaka has lost it all. not even a pale shadow of his former himself. had two ridiculously weak shots one after another. poli lacks vision for the position he is playing, didnt pass the ball to a free pazzini two meters away. i question seedorf's player selection for this game.

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Poli injured out
Sapponara in

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FT 0-2 LLorente, Tevez

we were good only in the 1st half. too bad in the second. Tevez proved us wrong again.

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I thought w did well mostly. Juve were very lucky not to be 2-0 down by halftime! Them they score on the break.

Kaka is 100% for effort 10% for output. He can't beat a player anymore and he should have scored a couple yesterday!

These games are showing up the cracks though which is good. GK, CB must be addressed.