Kaka winning the FIFA world player of year is the latest in a string of successes for AC Milan in 2007…if you ignore Serie A.
May’s European Cup triumph and victory in the Club World Cup final on Sunday contrast markedly with Milan finishing fourth in the league last season after a points deduction and languishing in 11th spot this term.
Milan face injury-hit Serie A leaders Inter in the city derby on Sunday, but are at least glad they are designated as the away team at the San Siro, which they share with their rivals.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have failed to win at home in the league this season, drawing five and losing two. Attendances have started to dwindle and the groans have got louder from those that have remained. A full house is guaranteed for Sunday though.
After beating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the FIFA prize on Monday, Kaka was in no doubt about the key battle of the week.
“Now the most important challenge is the derby with Inter. We have to win.”
Defeat would leave Milan 25 points behind Inter and almost certainly out of the championship race before Christmas.
The Milan derby is not the only big European match this weekend. Barcelona host Real Madrid in Spain following England’s ‘Super Sunday’ last weekend when Arsenal won 1-0 at home to Chelsea and Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 away.
AC Milan also crave an ‘away’ win, but can they make the San Siro feel like home again?
Mark Meadows, Milan
PHOTO: AC Milan’s players celebrate their victory over Argentine club Boca Juniors at the FIFA Club World Cup final in Japan Dec 16 REUTERS/Toru Hanai
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9 comments so far
Europe’s ‘Super Sunday’ knocks the much-hyped one in England last weekend into a cocked hat.
- Posted by KevIndeed. The football world has gone upside down. Now Italian and Spanish sides are playing reasonably open games with English teams sneaking 1-0 wins.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsMilan could either burst into form on Sunday and test Inter for the first time this season or look lost as they have so often at home this term. Whichever way it goes I doubt it will be low scoring as many of the big games so far in Serie A (Roma v Inter, Lazio v Milan etc) have been high scoring affairs
“Defeat would leave Milan 25 points behind Inter and almost certainly out of the championship race before Christmas…” 25 points? Almost certainly out of the title race? You don’t say…
Seriously, though, why Milan are so crap in the league is beyond me. Like Liverpool, but even more dramatically not good enough. Another Milan v Liverpool Champions League final anyone? Roll on Moscow.
- Posted by LondonYes 25 points is obviously a lot but how many points were Newcastle ahead of Man Utd under Keegan all those years ago?
- Posted by Mark MeadowsI also should have added above that Milan have two games in hand, hence a win over Inter and two wins in the spare games would make it only 13 points.
Impossible? Milan and especially their colourful owner Silvio Berlusconi have not given up yet
Well, I hope it’ll be as entertaining as last season’s seven-goal thriller.
I have a feeling inter will edge it - just!
http://www.footballitaliano.tv/derby-fev er-hits-milan-336/
- Posted by Andy BDraw, is a fair result… After last year defeat against Inter, Milan record is alrady vanished. Since many years before, Inter really mess up when meet Milan in any competition.
Even rossonero’s win this game, the meaning is only for pride, nothing more… They just focused on another Champions League Trophy
- Posted by Andy Gultomit’s gonna be a close game. i know inter are in better form but they will miss viera and dacourt. on the other hand, ibrahimovic will be a threat for milan defence. i think team’s mentality will be a key factor.
- Posted by european football blogMilan lost at home again on Thursday to Catania in the Italian Cup last 16 first leg. Ancelotti played a reserve side (including Kaka’s brother Digao, who made two big errors in defence)and they went down 2-1. The boss really needs a result against Inter now
- Posted by Mark MeadowsLet’s see . . . uhhhh . . . . NO, they cannot break any jinx against this Inter team. Champions of the World? What world is that? World of Legos?
- Posted by Mitch Agana