First leg results:
Udinese 0-1 Genoa
Roma 0-0 Cesen
Bari 1-0 Juventus
Chievo 2-1 Catania
Fiorentina 1-1 Napoli
Milan 4-0 Lecce
Palermo 0-0 Cagliari
Parma 2-0 Brescia
Sampdoria 2-0 Lazio
Bologna n-n Inter (Tomorrow 12.15 IST live on neo sports)
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First leg results:
Udinese 0-1 Genoa
Roma 0-0 Cesen
Bari 1-0 Juventus
Chievo 2-1 Catania
Fiorentina 1-1 Napoli
Milan 4-0 Lecce
Palermo 0-0 Cagliari
Parma 2-0 Brescia
Sampdoria 2-0 Lazio
Bologna n-n Inter (Tomorrow 12.15 IST live on neo sports)
Highlights of Milan- Lecce match..watch out some sublime Ronnie passes..
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG4LHU5Zqz4]YouTube - Milan - Lecce 4-0 - All Goals & Match Highlights - August 29 2010 - [High Quality][/ame]
Ronaldinho and Pirlo were simply superb yesterday ..so was Pato...
With IBRA in Milan is a CL contender barring injuries.....Prince Baotang was also good even thogh he got only a cameo appearance ......Seedorf could have scored 3 goals , but he had an off day...
It's rumoured that Robinho will be signed by Milan...
Hernanes made his debut with Lazio ..Eventhogh Lazio lost after dominating the match , Hernanes was superb and certainly lived up to the expectation....
Milan lit up the opening weekend of the new Serie A season, but there are already concerns for Juventus after their defeat to Bari, writes Carlo Garganese…
You have to hand it to Silvio Berlusconi - he sure knows how to be the centre of attention. When Obama has just been elected United States president, it is not the new leader everyone is talking about but Silvio’s “tan” comments. When Inter win their first Scudetto for 18 years, Berlusconi gatecrashes the party by overseeing a Milan Champions League triumph. And on the opening day of a new Serie A season, the news is dominated solely by a Berlusconi super-signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The dazzling Adriano Galliani-inspired purchase of the Swedish superstar has provided the whole club such a massive boost that Milan have now, in many peoples eyes, overtaken Inter as the team to beat in Italy this season. Even with Ibrahimovic in the San Siro stands last night alongside Galliani and Berlusconi, it didn’t stop Milan from sending out an emphatic message to the whole of Serie A with a thumping 4-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Lecce.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Ronaldinho, who was back to his brilliant Barcelona best. In the first half, the 30-year-old was literally unplayable as he beat opponents at will and created chance after chance for his colleagues. Compatriot Alexandre Pato, who scored twice and cut a more muscular figure, was electrifying on the right.
Ronnie Was Unplayable Last Night
With Ibrahimovic to take Marco Borriello’s position in the middle of the trident, put your money on Milan breaking the 100 goal mark in Serie A this season. Only Barcelona boast a stronger attack in Europe, although some would claim Milan’s is more complete. It possesses skill, creativity, pace, strength, height, a set-piece specialist – Italian defences will be unable to cope when Ronnie, Ibra and Pato click into gear.
Of course, there are still question marks both in the full back positions and with the age of Milan’s midfield, but with such a devastating attack the Rossoneri are certain Scudetto-contenders and a threat to the whole of the continent in the Champions League. Contrary to popular belief, Milan actually contain quite a deep squad. The strength of the forward line, which should now add Robinho, is well known but even in midfield coach Massimiliano Allegri has plenty of options via Pirlo, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Boateng, Flamini, Gattuso and Abate. In defence, neither Sokratis nor Zambrotta started yesterday. The bottom line is Milan will be able to cope with two games a week, unlike last season.
Italian Defences Can't Handle Ibra
The positive vibes emanating from the red-and-black half of Milan are not emerging from the white-and-black side of Turin. The new Juventus of Gigi Del Neri, starting with six new summer signings, barely created a single chance as they lost 1-0 against a Bari side significantly handicapped by the summer sales of Andrea Ranocchia and Juve newboy Leonardo Bonucci.
While Del Neri refused to hit the panic button after week one, this is a Juventus side short of individual genius and in desperate need of a top class attacker. While 100 goals is possible for Milan, Juventus don’t look capable of scoring even half of that number. Fabio Quagliarella is talented but inconsistent and far from prolific, Alessandro Del Piero turns 36 in November and doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs, Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta are also on the wrong side of 30 and regularly injured while David Trezeguet has departed.
Juve Must Buy A Top Class Forward
Juventus MUST sign a big name forward if they realistically wish to enter the championship race. Robinho would have been perfect, and cheap, but the Manchester City man is on the verge of joining Milan. Emmanuel Adebayor would be a decent alternative, but there are few other realistic alternatives. Borriello is currently the favourite to fill the void, but he will do little to lift the fans. The fact that Juve tried to sign Antonio Di Natale last Wednesday, before turning to Quagliarella 24 hours later, illustrates their concern and desperation regarding the frontline. It is still too early to judge the defence and midfield, even if fielding Simone Pepe on the left wing doesn’t look like a winning card.
Milan were the big winners on week one – now it up to Inter tonight to rain on Berlusconi’s parade.
Milan may sign Robinho as well...Berlusconikku pettennu enthu patty????
He has taken the club seriously after 3-4 years of ignorance..good sign for Milan fans
Now Milan have some depth as well..
Flamini, Abate, Gattusso in midfield.
Yepes, Socrates,Onyewu,Oddo,Kaladze, Zambrotta in defence
Inzaghi, Borriello/Robinho in forward line..
Last year they did not have a good bench..this year it is better...They have some youth products as well in the main team...
They have the money..Berlusconi is richer than Abrahmovic..but he is the PM of Italy, so he cant splash the money as it may affect his political career...even now he is not spending too much, full bargain deals...during late 80's and 90's he set the mark for record transfer on more than one occasion with Gullit, Van Basten, Jean Pierre Papin, George Wiah etc....
But Milan does not have aany debts right now..more like Arsenal