Serie A Preview: AC Milan and Juventus to Fight for Second Place

Week 35 brings forth another highly anticipated clash between two of Italy’s most storied clubs. Juventus collapse in the past couple of weeks has seen Milan pass the Old Lady in the standings. Four points separate the two which  means that the encounter on Sunday will be a downright play off for second place.

Both clubs will finish the campaign empty handed despite many promises of the contrary which consequently also means that a furioclasse from each team, Pavel Nedved and Paolo Maldini will hang up their boots without any final honors.  On top of that second place will be crucial for both teams in order to avoid calling the season a complete failure.  

Claudio Ranieri and Carlo Ancelotti will be tackling with a handful injured players each  just as they have throughout the season. Juventus won the last encounter with an impressive 4-2 victory in Turin but their collapse combined with Milan’s impressive run during the past couple of weeks will most likely produce a different outcome.

Despite their different forms the clash will no doubt be another thrilling spectacle to watch.

AC Milan

The last time the two teams met Juventus thumped Milan by 4-2. The Rossoneri will do everything in their power to keep from a repeat and so it seems since Carlo Ancelotti’s men has been in brilliant form and last week recorded their fifth straight win against Catania with an impressive 3-0 victory.

After spending some time on the sidelines and struggling with form, Ricardo Kaká has once against returned to brilliance. The Brazilian playmaker has excelled in his latest outings and is sure to be a real menace against Juventus on Sunday.

Someone who is perhaps in a more impressive form is teammate Filippo Inzaghi. The veteran has been firing on all cylinders lately and has found the net on no less than 11 occasions in his eight latest outings. The Juventus hitman always relishes the chance to bag one against his former side.

Just like his Juventus counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti’s future has been one of much speculation. As oppose to Ranieri, Ancelotti isn’t facing the boot. Instead the Milan tactician has confirmed that he will remain at the club another season—at least.

Ancelotti will be without the services of Gennaro Gattuso, Marco Borriello, Alexandre Pato, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Christian Abbiati, and Luca Antonini

A win against Juventus would effectively end any hopes he Turin club has to reclaim the second place and probably also draw Ranieri’s time at Juventus closer to an end.

Probable starting XI (according to the Gazzetta): Dida; Zambrotta, Maldini, Favalli, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi

Juventus

After having spent most of the season securely in second place Juventus are suddenly in third and trailing Milan by four points. The Bianconeris poor form has seen them drop out of the title race and with the inability to collect a single win in seven tries the reports of unrest in the squad is getting all the more frequent.

Last week’s 2-2 draw against Lecce was the club’s second consecutive draw against a relegation-threatened side and has put coach Claudio Ranieri’s future at the club in immediate danger.

After going one down to Lecce at home it looked like Pavel Nedved’s brace would be enough to finally record a much needed victory. However, like several times before during this season a stoppage time collapse saw the away side force in the equalizer.

The supporters have demonstrated their frustration with how the club is being run on several occasions during the past month. Crisis meetings has taken place in the Juventus headquarters during the week and despite whispers of giving Ranieri the immediate axe, club director Jean-Claude Blanc assured the media that the discussions weren’t about a potential sacking of their head coach.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was visibly fuming during last week’s draw against Lecce and had according to teammate Vincenzo Iaquinta vented his fury in the locker room about the team’s poor performance before he stormed out.

Reports regarding the Italy No. 1 future have been appearing frequently in the media lately and whether or not the shotstopper decides to stay depends on the summer recruits.

Reports suggest that Werder Bremen’s Diego Ribas is on the verge of completing his move to the Turin side. On top if that it looks like Fabio Cannavaro is close to a return after spending a few years in the Spanish capital.

Ranieri will have to make do without the services of Mohamed Sissoko, Hasan Salihamidzic, Albin Ekdal, Dario Knezevic, Claudio Marchisio, and Zdenek Grygera. On top of that both Olof Mellberg and Pavel Nedved will sit out bans during the important clash.

The pressure will be on Juventus as a defeat against Milan would not only take away the hope of second place, but also put third place in serious jeopardy with both Fiorentina and Genoa edging closer.

Probable starting XI (according to the Gazzetta): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni, Zanetti, Poulsen, Giovinco; Amauri, Del Piero