Socrates

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Allegri ignores Guardiola talk ahead of AC Milan's clash with Juventus Rossoneri owner Silvio Berlusconi recently revealed a desire to bring the ex-Barcelona man to San Siro, but the current head coach insists his attentions are on Sunday's battle. Nov 24, 2012 Massimiliano Allegri is ignoring talk of Pep Guardiola being lined up as the next AC Milan coach, instead choosing to focus his energies on the club's match with Juventus on Sunday. President Silvio Berlusconi revealed his desire to bring the ex-Barcelona boss to Italy in the near future but hinted that Manchester City are leading the race to appoint the 41-year-old. However, Allegri has brushed off the comments from his superior and pleaded that his only pressing concern is trying to beat the reigning Scudetto winners this weekend. "Berlusconi always knows the right words to use; he is very charismatic," the former Cagliari coach told reporters on Saturday. "His words on Guardiola are not my problem. I'm just thinking about the game tomorrow. It’s not for me to decide who will be the next coach of Milan." Juventus, who visit San Siro on Sunday, are currently top of Serie A, while Milan languish 17 points behind them in 12th position as of Saturday night. Allegri acknowledged the point difference and added: "We face the team that is at the top, the one that won the last title. "They have good players and are well-placed in the league, but we have great self-esteem to serve up a good game and get a result. But we know that we are going to challenge a team that is stronger." Allegri also responded to a question on the situation of Alexandre Pato, who is understood to be frustrated with life under the Rossoneri trainer. "His temperament is very hot, he must understand that he only needs patience to return to his previous form," the Italian added. "It’s too premature to talk about his departure, we think just about the football that needs to be played for now. "But I know that he wants to play and I talked to him. I told him that he must be patient. Robinho? He could play tomorrow." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Vidal: Juventus will use their heads and hearts to beat AC Milan The Chile midfielder says that his side can triumph against the Rossoneri and is delighted with the nine goals he has scored, even though he tries to put the team ahead of himself. Nov 24, 2012 Arturo Vidal reveals that he is feeling confident about Juventus battling to beat AC Milan in Sunday's Serie A clash. The defensive midfielder expressed his passion for his club and went on to say that the team are starting to show the cutting edge that they possessed last season. "How do we beat the Rossoneri? With our heads, hearts and legs," Vidal told TuttoSport. "After the match against Inter we went back to do what we did last year, with the pressure and the ruthlessness that we had throughout last season. The Chile international is not known for his goalscoring abilities but he has found the back of the net nearly 10 times this season which has been a pleasant surprise for the Juve player. "I am happy about the goals that I have scored," he added. "I never expected to increase my tally to nine goals at this stage in the season, but I do not count my goals for much. "The only thing that matters is that the team wins. It is impossible to be sad here. I am happy to wear this shirt and be among these fans." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - 14^ Giornata - Andata - 25-11-2012 (ore 20:45) - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)- Milano Arbitro: Nicola Rizzoli Confronti ufficiali 209 - 154 (Serie A) - 21 (Coppa Italia) - 32 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Vittorie Juventus 73 - 53 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 13 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 72 - 54 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 9 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Vittorie Milan 64 - 47 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 10 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Juventus 293 - 212 (Serie A) - 24 (Coppa Italia) - 56 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Goals Milan 282 - 206 (Serie A) - 25 (Coppa Italia) - 50 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Milan - Juventus Serie A a Milano Confronti ufficiali 77 Vittorie Juventus 18 (L'ultima il 30.10.2010, 1-2 ) Pareggi 33 (L'ultimo il 25.02.2012, 1-1) Vittorie Milan 26 (L'ultima il 15.05.2010, 3-0) Goals Juventus 92 Goals Milan 111 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Milan a Milano 13 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 12 Del Piero Alessandro 12 Furino Giuseppe 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Salvadore Sandro 11 Scirea Gaetano 10 Leoncini Gianfranco 10 Varglien I Mario 9 Causio Franco 9 Foni Alfredo 5 goals Bettega Roberto 4 Boniperti Giampiero 4 Borel II Felice Placido 3 Anastasi Pietro 3 Del Piero Alessandro 3 Gabetto Guglielmo 3 Sivori Omar Enrique 3 Trezeguet David Sergio 2 Baggio Roberto 2 Bellini Savino 2 Jugovic Vladimir Ultimi confronti diretti 14.12.2008 Serie A Juventus-Milan 4-2 10.05.2009 Serie A Milan-Juventus 1-1 10.01.2010 Serie A Juventus-Milan 0-3 15.05.2010 Serie A Milan-Juventus 3-0 30.10.2010 Serie A Milan-Juventus 1-2 05.03.2011 Serie A Juventus-Milan 0-1 02.10.2011 Serie A Juventus-Milan 2-0 08.02.2012 Coppa Italia Milan-Juventus 1-2 25.02.2012 Serie A Milan-Juventus 1-1 20.03.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Milan 2-2 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 4 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Milan 3 - Goals Juventus 14 - Goals Milan 15

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli AC Milan's Allegri says beating Juventus would be a boost Nov 24, 2012 The match against Juventus is not the turning point for AC Milan, but beating them would "help boost our self esteem and make us forget all that has been negative so far", said AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. "In order to beat the Italian champions - he added - we must play aggressively and take great care in defence. Unfortunately, we're not first in the standings, but I'm sure we'll enjoy a comeback. A great performance would give us new enthusiasm and boost our self esteem. But we're going to need time to climb back up in the standings". http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Asamoah making the difference As Juventus go from strength to strength, Alex Mott explains why Kwadwo Asamoah is the reason behind their dominance this season.. Nov 24, 2012 The 2011-12 Serie A season was an historic one for Juventus. After the nadir of the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, last term was vindication for six years of ridicule and hard work. A succession of Coaches have come and gone since then, some good and some bad, but with Antonio Conte in charge, it was hard for Bianconeri fans to remember a time Juve dominated Italian football the way they did for the entirety of that season. The Turin giants didn't so much beat sides last term as pulverised them. 4-0 wins over Roma and Novara, plus a 5-0 victory against Fiorentina that confirmed their Scudetto credentials. It wasn't the high-scoring games that impressed fans and pundits alike though. What was most unnerving for the rest of the peninsula was the way they could dominate a game for start to finish. Of the 38 matches they played in 2011-12, 17 of them were won by a one or two goal deficit – and not once did they look like losing. It was hard to see then how they could improve on that monumental campaign, but with 13 Serie A games gone and a Champions League group stage almost complete, it seems they may just have done that with the addition of Kwadwo Asamoah. The Ghana international joined the club from Udinese over the summer in a co-ownership deal. The fact that Conte's side fought off Manchester United tells you a lot about the quality of the 23-year-old, but with his performances so far this term, it could be argued that he is now a lynchpin to the Old Lady. Alongside Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right-flank, Asamoah has made the left wing-back position his own and turned their 3-5-2 formation into a fluid and free-flowing tactical system. Fabio Capello called it 'a step back' for the Italian game, but as they proved on Tuesday against reigning European champions Chelsea, Juve have turned the formation into an entirely positive one – giving width and defensive stability all at the same time. Asamoah has been given the task of doing all these things at once, but instead of shrinking in the high-pressure environment of Turin, he has prospered into one of the best wide-men in Europe. His pace, agility, natural fitness and decision-making have seen him lay on six assists already for his teammates, and score two goals at Genoa and Pescara. Replacing Paolo De Ceglie in the position has been a massive positive for the Bianconeri, and has made them genuine contenders at home and abroad. We've seen all too often the difficulty with juggling a domestic and European campaign. Manchester City haven't been able to make it out of the group for the past two years, Borussia Dortmund were felled by Arsenal and Marseille last season. And yet, Juventus are close to doing it, thanks to the extra dimension offered to them by Asamoah. Fans and media outlets clamour over the majesty of Andrea Pirlo, the warrior heart of Arturo Vidal and the home-grown talents of Claudio Marchisio, and rightly so. But for my money, the person who has really made La Vecchia Signora tick this season has been the youngster from Africa, pounding down the wing.

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli AC Milan v Juventus – Injury News, Tactics, Lineups & Predictions Nov 24, 2012 Two of the biggest Italian sides lock horns against each other as Milan host Champions Juventus in Serie A’s main event on Sunday night. Two teams who were at loggerheads with each other last season as they fought stride for stride alongside now couldn’t be in more contrasting situations in the league. Milan have struggled to replicate last season’s form and that doesn’t come as a surprise as the club opted to balance its books – selling two of their most important players in Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to oil rich PSG. While Milan have weakened, Juventus have strengthened their squad with shrewd purchases in the summer market. The fruits of Marotta’s work are there to be seen as they look streets ahead of any team in the league. Milan head into this fixture on the back of a morale boosting away win at Brussels against Anderlecht; a win that secured their passage through to the knock-out phase of the Champions League. At the same time, the Bianconeri’s dismantling of the European Champions at the Juventus Stadium sent out a statement of intent to the rest of Europe. A point off Shakhtar is all they need to go through to the next round of Europe’s premier competition. Juventus sit comfortably at the top of the table with a 4 point lead over Inter, their nearest competitors for the title. Milan, on the other hand, occupy 12th position on the table with 15 points. Team News and Tactical Brief AC Milan While Milan may be getting their work done in Europe, it’s in Serie A where their struggles continue. Winless in their previous two encounters, Max Allegri’s head has been on the chopping block for long now and with each passing game and their inability to pick up the three points, his job at the helm of Milan comes under scrutiny. But Milan’s vice-president, Adriano Galliani, has been adamant that they will stick with Allegri through these tough times. Allegri is expected to make just one change from the side that faced Anderlecht with Antonio Nocerino making way for Urby Emanuelson in his 4-3-3 formation. Mattia De Sciglio has been one of the bright sparks in an otherwise dim season so far for Milan. His attacking forays coupled with his defensive solidity has warranted comparisons with legendary full-back Cafu. Mario Yepes will partner French International Phillipe Mexes, who seems to have taken a page out of former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s book with a spectacular bicycle kick during the European fixture. Nigel De Jong will be the screen in front of the defense while Riccardo Montolivo will act as the creative outlet from midfield. The former Fiorentina man will look to orchestrate Milan attacks and will spray out balls left, right and centre. Bojan will spearhead the attack and while he doesn’t offer a huge target to aim for, he is dynamic and his pace could trouble the Juve defence. Kevin Prince Boateng and Stephan El Shaarawy will flank him in attack. Milan may not see a lot of the ball and they may look to make the most of the high back-line Juventus will employ. El Shaarawy and Bojan have the pace to worry Juventus and as Chelsea showed, the Bianconeri back three could be troubled when counter-attacked with pace and trickery. But Milan will also have to be wary of the late runs made by Marchisio and Vidal into the box which have often gone untracked by teams. Milan have Mesbah, Strasser, Didac Vila, Antonini, Abate, Traore, Ambrosini and Bonera all on the treatment table. Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-3): Abbiati; De Sciglio; Yepes, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, De Jong, Emanuelson; Boateng, Bojan, El Shaarawy Juventus After their invincibility cloak was shrugged off by Inter, Juventus have responded with authority. Three wins and a draw against Lazio underlines their ability to recover from a rare loss. But against Chelsea, there was the urge and determination we’ve grown to familiarize ourselves with Antonio Conte’s side. The players played for each other rather than themselves and their arrogance was replaced by humility and an unwavering attitude that Conte demands. Few changes are expected from the side that was deployed against Chelsea. Giorgio Chiellini was impeccable in defence against the English side but Conte will be sweating on the fitness of his big defender. Chiellini faces a race against time to make it to the eleven against Milan but the general feeling is that Conte won’t risk him. Martin Caceres and Lucio will be vying for the Italian International’s spot in the back three with the Uruguayan looking the favorite to start ahead of the former Inter man. Leonardo Bonucci too is a doubt and could miss the game due to a fever. Should he fail to make it in time, youngster Luca Marrone will take his place in the centre of the back-line. The midfield picks itself, with the dominating trio of Vidal-Pirlo-Marchisio looking to stamp their authority on the game. Andrea Pirlo, of course, had a memorable time with Milan and will be pulling the strings from the heart of midfield. After a slow start to the campaign, Pirlo, just like his beard, has grown magnificently well into form. Mauricio Isla should return to the set-up with a break for Stephan Lichtsteiner on the table keeping in line with Conte’s rotation policy. Isla’s pace and willingness to take his man on could cause Kevin Constant a few problems but he will also have one eye set on Milan’s talisman, Stephan El Shaarawy. Mirko Vucinic is expected to continue his partnership with Juventus’ most in-form striker Fabio Quagliarella. Juventus’ midfield tussle with Milan’s three makes for an intriguing clash and it is here where the game could be decided. On paper, Juventus are more than capable of dictating proceedings owing to their superior quality and the away side will look to take advantage of Milan’s lack of quality in defence. Attacking them from the outset will be Conte’s orders but they should be wary of the threat Milan pose on the counter. The home side’s inability to convince defensively from set-pieces and aerial balls whipped into the box is an area Juventus will look to exploit as well. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Quagliarella Players To Watch Out For Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan) The shining light in a period of darkness, Stephan El Shaarawy has stood up and dragged Milan through these trying times single-handedly. The ‘Little Pharaoah’ has 10 goals to his credit in the league and his inspirational performances have been reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s displays at Milan. The Rossoneri will once again pit their hopes on the 20 year old’s shoulders in the hope of producing the goods he is well and truly capable of. Arturo Vidal (Juventus) The Chilean International is arguably the most in-form player in the Juventus roster. His all action display against Chelsea gained him many plaudits and rightly so as he announced himself on the European stage. Antonio Conte will hope for another lion-hearted display against the Milan giants as he looks to establish control over the midfield and support the Juventus attack as well. Prediction Milan 1-2 Juventus Juventus have emerged as clear favorites for this game but it’s an encounter which Antonio Conte won’t allow his side to take lightly. Milan have it in themselves to run this Juventus train off its tracks. It will be an exhilarating encounter with both the sides hunting for a win but form and sheer difference in quality should hand Juventus the three points, but only just. Blast From The Past http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus-Milan Preview: Round 14 — Dancing With the Devil Nov 24, 2012 Put the nail in Allegri's coffin? Well, a lot of Milanisti would probably welcome that, no? In the past, this matchup would be talked about just as much as the Derby d'Italia or Juventus vs. Chelsea in the Champions League. It had as much clout as any game out there in Europe. It was the meeting of Italy's two biggest teams, the two most historic clubs out there in the country. Well, maybe not this year. Juventus are still Juventus. They are the ones with the Scudetto patch in the middle of their chests. Milan, on the other hand, aren't exactly the same Milan from five or 10 years ago. Heck, they aren't even close to the same team as last season. Change is a natural occurrence. For AC Milan, club-rattling changes came in just one swift, fast-acting summer of seeing a whole bunch of players walk out the door. No more Ibra. No more Thiago Silva. They're off partying with just about half of last year's Serie A in Paris right now. Those loses, along with their Old But you know this by now. Milan's struggles this season aren't some new-found discovery that I used my investigative journalism class skills to uncover. This kind of season was kinda expected once the last few big names walked out of Milanello and went off to sign new contracts that stuffed their pockets full of cash. But to the extent of the struggles — so incredibly roller coaster-like — is a surprise to some. So, because of this, a derby that has been so important has lost a little bit of its juice. Certainly not all of it, but doesn't it seem like it's lacking that so-called flair it once did? It was so competitive, so intense last year. Now, it seems like it just needs Milan to be more like, well, Milan. Still, 1-2-3...AVANTI! GOOD NEWS For one, Juventus are back to being Juventus — crushing the opposition and allowing no goals at the same time. The post-Inter world is a beautiful one. There are wins — sans the scoreless draw with Lazio — and then there are the wins Juve have recorded the past three weeks. We need to look no further than the goal differential Juventus has put up since the loss to Inter the first weekend of November: Four games, 13 goals scored, 1 allowed. That's beautiful stuff. For somebody who loves them a combination of offense and stellar defense, that's some good lookin' stuff right there. If you need a minute, just see yourself out... BAD NEWS I want a Stephan El Shaarawy — and that's obviously because he's not on the Juventus roster. He probably won't be for quite some time — or ever — and that sucks. That just means Juventus are just gonna have to keep him from finding the back of the net, right? Yeah, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Go do that, fellas. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. What the starting defense looks like. There have been rumblings, as many of us know, that Juventus' rock-solid defense may look a wee bit different come Sunday night at the San Siro. Leo Bonucci is battling the flu, while Giorgio Chiellini is showing a few after effects — a calf strain — of is his awesome play the last few weeks. In other years, I'd be freaked the hell out if a defender was sick and/or injured. Now, with the kind of options available to Antonio Conte, things are a little bit calmer as I type this preview out for all of you. If Luca Marrone has to take over for Bonucci, so be it. If Martin Caceres has to step in for somebody, that's okay, too. While they aren't starting on a regular basis, there a still some darn good players on the Juventus bench. 2. How said defense, regardless of its arrangement, contains Sonic the Egyptian-Italian. As I said, Stephan El Shaarawy is good. Really, really good. And of all the strikers scoring a bunch of goals to start the season, he is probably the most surprising. Not because he's doing so — the boy has talent. But it's the simple fact that he's currently one of Serie A's most consistent goal scorers and he's only 20 years old. Yeah, I don't really want to imagine how good he'll be in a few years, but I guess we're going to find that out soon enough. 3.Which Milan shows up. A lot of this season at Milanello can be described with one word: Inconsistent. It's had it's moments, but also it's extremely low points. Obviously the media is going to concentrate on the valleys rather than the peaks because, well, that's what sells papers and gets ratings. But if you didn't know any better, you wouldn't know that Milan are coming off a win in the Champions League and a 2-2 draw against Napoli. So it's not all bad, I guess. 4. Strikers! Let's talk strikers! Vucinic-Quagliarella? Vucinic-Giovinco? Quagliarella-Giovinco? None of the above? Yeah, a talking point every week has become that much more important now that Mirko's kicked his cold and was back in the lineup against Chelsea. We all know about the rotation Conte employs, we just don't know the exactly details of it. Quagliarella is the in-form player at the moment and this seems like another chance for him to shine. Maybe Conte has found a situation that works for him? I dunno. I'm still trying to figure this thing out. My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco OR.... My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon, Barzagli, Marrone, Caceres; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco Gotta be prepared for last-minute changes, right? Right. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Chiellini out of Milan-Juve Nov 24, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini is out of Sunday night’s Milan-Juventus clash, but Leonardo Bonucci has recovered from a stomach bug. Chiellini was a major doubt after limping off during the final minutes of their 3-0 Champions League win over Chelsea on Tuesday. The Italian international defender suffered a minor calf strain, but it is enough to rule him out of the trip to San Siro. Bonucci was also at risk after coming down with illness, but the official Juventus website confirmed he has recovered. Juventus squad for Milan: Buffon, Lucio, Caceres, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Vucinic, De Ceglie, Giovinco, Barzagli, Bendtner, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Quagliarella, Storari, Matri, Isla, Rubinho, Marrone http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Allegri: 'New Milan against Juve' Nov 24, 2012 Massimiliano Allegri admits he’ll change for Sunday night’s Milan-Juventus, talk of Alexandre Pato’s exit “is premature” and competition from Pep Guardiola is “not my problem.” The Rossoneri were visited for the second Friday in a row by President Silvio Berlusconi, who landed at the training ground in his personal helicopter to motivate the squad. However, Berlusconi also stated Milan are battling Manchester City to sign Guardiola next season. “President Berlusconi is very charismatic and uses the right words for every individual. A positive result would help to cancel out some of the negative things,” said Allegri in his Press conference. “Guardiola? That’s not my problem. I have to focus on tomorrow’s game. I do not want to, nor can I, decide who will be the Milan Coach next year. It’s not up to me.” Among those negatives is the Pato ‘problem’ after the striker said he’ll talk to his agent about a move so he can play more regularly. “The lad was just blowing off steam in the heat of the moment. He needs to have the patience to understand that it takes time to get back to the player he was. He cannot resolve everything straight away. “It is premature to talk about Pato’s exit from Milan. We have to concentrate on Serie A, seeing as we have qualified for the Champions League knockouts.” It’s not just any Serie A game on Sunday evening, as leaders Juventus visit San Siro for a tense showdown. “It is possible there will be a few changes compared the most recent games. This match is going to feel like it lasts 100 minutes, so some figures are tired. I am thinking about some changes in midfield and will evaluate what is the right move tomorrow morning. I hope it goes well. “Tomorrow we need a perfect performance in every area, even if of course perfection does not exist in football... “Will we man-mark Andrea Pirlo? No, we didn’t do that last season and won’t tomorrow either. Of course, we will keep a special eye on him.” The tension is still dragging on from last term when Sulley Muntari’s ‘phantom goal’ crossed the line in their 1-1 draw, unseen by the officials. “There has been enough talk about this all over the world. It would be pointless discussing it again now. At least I can tell the story to my grandchildren,” smiled Allegri. “I don’t think Antonio Conte’s ban has damaged Juve, as they have 32 points and put in a great performance against Chelsea. It’s more of a trauma for him not being on the bench than it is the team.” Philippe Mexes and Kevin Constant have recovered from knocks picked up against Anderlecht, but Pato is out along with Luca Antonini, Massimo Ambrosini, Ignazio Abate, Daniele Bonera, Sulley Muntari, Djamel Mesbah and Didac Vila. “It is possible Robinho will start among the front three, yes. It’s a shame we are not higher up the table going into this game, but we have time to recover. A great performance would bring enthusiasm back to the fans and help self-confidence grow in the team. “What has changed from the last Milan-Juventus? Well, 13 players have gone, but there’s no point talking about them now. I must work with the ones we have.” Milan squad for Juventus: Abbiati, Amelia, Gabriel, Acerbi, De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Zapata, Boateng, Constant, De Jong, Emanuelson, Flamini, Montolivo, Nocerino, Strasser, Bojan, El Shaarawy, Niang, Pazzini, Robinho http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli AC Milan v Juventus: Preview Nov 24, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is urging his team-mates to carry the momentum from a memorable victory over Chelsea into tomorrow night's trip to the San Siro. The Bianconeri are on the verge of clinching a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after cruising to a 3-0 win over European champions Chelsea this week. The game took a lot out of Juve vice captain Chiellini, though, and the 28-year-old is facing a race against time to be fit to face struggling AC Milan. He told giornalaccio rosa.it: "The match against the English was the most important game of the season so far. "We knew we could not afford to go wrong and we played a great game. "The downside of a win like that is that you can only enjoy it for one night, because then you have to start thinking about the next game, especially when that game is against AC Milan. "We have to use the experience of the Chelsea game in the right way because it would be a serious mistake to relax now. "That's something you can never afford to do against Milan. "It will be an extremely intense game, between two highly motivated sides that want to win. "I'm struggling a bit but it's only fatigue. Without taking too many risks, I will do everything I can to be there.'' The Italy international has identified the Azzurri's latest star, Stephan El Shaarawy, as the man he will be marking should he play tomorrow night. El Shaarawy notched his 10th goal in all competitions against Anderlecht this week, with Chiellini noting: "He is the revelation of the season. "We could all see his potential last year, though. Now he is scoring a lot of goals and becoming a key player for Milan. "In addition to his technical quality he has the right attitude and he wants to show what he can do.'' Juventus deposed the Rossoneri as Serie A champions in 2011, and Milan's star has certainly fallen a long way since they secured 3-0 wins both at home and away in the 2009-10 season. Fast forward two years and Juve top the table with 32 points, 17 more than Milan, who are languishing in 12th place. Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, who has revealed his dissatisfaction over his current part-time role at the San Siro, will sit out tomorrow's clash with a muscle problem. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli AC Milan - Juventus Preview: Injury-ravaged Rossoneri face reigning champions Massimiliano Allegri has more than a few concerns ahead of this encounter with the Bianconeri, and given the visitors' record on the road this season, it is not going to be easy. Nov 24, 2012 PROBABLE LINE-UPS MILAN Abbiati De Sciglio, Yepes, Mexes, Constant Montolivo, De Jong, Emanuelson Boateng, El Shaarawy, Bojan JUVENTUSBuffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah Giovinco, Vucinic AC Milan are expected to be without a number of key players for the clash against the league leaders as they look to recover from their disappointing start to the season. A glance back at the team which lined-up when they met back in February tells its own story. A summer of upheaval at San Siro has done little to help the Rossoneri, who currently find themselves languishing in 12th place in Serie A. Philippe Mexes is expected to be the only survivor in defence from that match nine months ago, with centre-back Thiago Silva now at Paris Saint-Germain and Daniele Bonera unavailable. Defenders Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini are sidelined which means young full-back Mattia De Sciglio and Guinean Kevin Constant continue at the back for Massimiliano Allegri's side. Nigel de Jong is expected to play alongside Riccardo Montolivo and Urby Emanuelson in the centre of the park, while the hosts continue with Kevin-Prince Boateng, Stephan El Shaarawy and Bojan upfront. Brazil striker Alexandre Pato, who is rumoured to be unhappy at the club, is a doubt for this match while Robinho is again expected to start on the bench. Juventus head into the clash boosted by their dismantling of Champions League holders Chelsea. The Bianconeri are four points clear at the top of the Serie A table and have yet to lose on their travels this season. Coach Antonio Conte has no real injury concerns either, and though Giorgio Chiellini picked up a knock against the Blues he is expected to recover in time for Sunday's encounter. Mauricio Isla could replace Stephan Lichsteiner in a bid to freshen up the side, while Sebastian Giovinco, who scored against Chelsea as a substitute, may get the opportunity to start here. DID YOU KNOW? • AC Milan lost six times already this season, this equals their total for the whole of the previous campaign. • Kevin-Prince Boateng has attempted 42 shots on goal this season but has yet to find the net. Incredibly, Stephan El Shaarawy has had the same amount of efforts and has netted 10 times. • Milan have won three and lost four of their seven home games this term in Serie A. • Juventus have been scoring for fun in recent weeks. In their last four matches they have struck 13 times. • The Bianconeri have a very strong away record. From their six matches on the road they have won five and drawn one while are also the joint-highest goalscorers away from home with 16. • Juve are unbeaten in their last three trips to the San Siro. Head to Head Coppa Italia ‎- Mar 20, 2012 - Juventus 2 - AC Milan 2 Serie A ‎- Feb 25, 2012 - AC Milan 1 - Juventus 1 Coppa Italia ‎- Feb 8, 2012 - AC Milan 1 - Juventus 2 Serie A ‎- Oct 2, 2011 - Juventus 2 - AC Milan 0 Club Friendlies ‎- Aug 21, 2011 - AC Milan 2 - Juventus 1 Last Five Matches AC Milan Nov 21, 2012 - Anderlecht 1 - AC Milan 3 - UCL Nov 17, 2012 - SSC Napoli 2 - AC Milan 2 - Serie A Nov 11, 2012 - AC Milan 1 - Fiorentina 3 - Serie A Nov 6, 2012 - AC Milan 1 - Malaga 1 - UCL Nov 3, 2012 - AC Milan 5 - Chievo 1 - Serie A Juventus Nov 20, 2012 - Juventus 3 - Chelsea FC 0 - UCL Nov 17, 2012 - Juventus 0 - Lazio 0 - Serie A Nov 10, 2012 - Pescara 1 - Juventus 6 - Serie A Nov 7, 2012 - Juventus 4 - FC Nordsjælland 0 - UCL Nov 3, 2012 - Juventus 1 - FC Internazionale 3 - Serie A Players to Watch Stephan El Shaarawy Arguably the one positive to come out of Milan's disappointing campaign. Has displayed a maturity which belies his years often being the one to dig Massimiliano Allegri's men out of a hole by scoring some crucial goals. Will be up against an experienced Juve backline and this will be a real test of his ability but one he can pass with flying colours. Andrea Pirlo It is difficult to find superlatives which have not been used for this man. Confident, assured on the ball, neat and tidy in possession, always seems to have that extra yard of space which no one else has. He may be coming towards the end of his career, but he is still arguably the Bianconeri's most important player. Oh yes, and he is not so bad at set-pieces either. Prediction Both teams will be in confident mood after their midweek heroics but Antonio Conte's men have yet to be defeated away from home this term and, given the problems that the Rossoneri have been having all season, it looks as though that will continue on Sunday at San Siro. Editor's Prediction Milan 1 - 2 Juventus http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Bojan eyes permanent AC Milan stay The striker has not made the best of starts to his time at San Siro - scoring just once all season - but hopes to impress between now and the end of the season. Nov 24, 2012 Bojan Krkic wants to make his loan move to AC Milan permanent in the summer. The 22-year-old forward joined the club on a season-long loan deal from Roma in August, and hopes to do enough between now and the end of the campaign to convince the Rossoneri of his worth. "My mission is to be kept on by Milan. Nobody wants to stay with the Rossoneri for only for one season," he told Corriere dello Sport. Bojan has scored just once in 14 appearances for the club - his solitary strike coming in the 5-1 demolition of Chievo - but he believes he should be judged on his all-round game and not just his goals tally. "I miss scoring lots of goals, but I have always thought that a striker should not be judged just by the amount of goals he scores. The work he does for the team is also important," he added. Milan take on Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday on the back of a 3-1 Champions League victory over Anderlecht on Wednesday and the former Barcelona man believes he and his team-mates will be high on confidence going into the game. "This match comes at the right moment. We got a draw in Naples after a positive performance, then we secured Champions League qualification," Bojan continued. "Our confidence has increased and for us this game is a great opportunity. Every match is worth three points, but to beat Juventus would be a huge boost for us." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli El Shaarawy: 'Beating Juve? Priceless' Nov 24, 2012 There’s no stopping Stephan El Shaarawy at the moment and “beating Juventus would be priceless,” said the Little Pharaoh who still lives with his parents. The 20-year-old is Capocannoniere and has scored 16 goals in all competition this season, winning a bet he made with teammate Massimo Ambrosini. “I haven’t decided where I’ll take my vacation that Ambrosini will pay for, but it’ll certainly be somewhere warm by the sea,” he told the Corriere della Sera. “I have to thank Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who had a fundamental part in my growth and was impeccable in my first season, knowing exactly when it was best to use me. “What would I have done if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano had remained? I cannot know, but the fact is with their departure two places opened up at Milan. I haven’t heard from Ibra since he left.” He may only be a young man, but the Little Pharaoh is not feeling the pressure ahead of tomorrow’s Milan-Juventus match. “Tomorrow is a super-important game for the table, but also for our growth as a team. A victory would be priceless, but we need to give 150 per cent to achieve that. To win and score under the Curva Sud would be fantastic. The Juve player I admire the most is Gigi Buffon, who is great both on and off the field. “Responsibility motivates me and I do not feel pressure. My teammates, the club and fans all have faith in me. It’s all happening so quickly and everything a 20-year-old dreams of. It’s very gratifying especially for my parents, who made so many sacrifices to help me. “My mother lives with me in Milan, while my father travels to and from Savona. My parents take care of my money too. I don't go out clubbing and I don't have a girlfriend, as I just want to focus on football right now. “I am tied to my father’s land and am happy to visit relatives in Egypt, but I feel Italian and was never remotely tempted when Egypt asked me to play for them. My dream is to take part in the 2014 World Cup and hopefully win it.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Montolivo: 'Milan hit rock bottom' Nov 24, 2012 Riccardo Montolivo feels Milan will learn after they “hit rock bottom” and become stronger for it against Juventus tomorrow evening. “Let’s just say when we hit rock bottom, it did us good,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “We were able to overcome the difficulties together and in situations like this a group of players emerges stronger at the end. “Was the side suffering after so many leadership figures left? Of course you’re going to miss characters like that, but the gap must be filled. Have I filled it? It’s too early to say. I am at the disposal of the Coach and the team. I think a leader should set the example more than order people about.” President Silvio Berlusconi visited the training ground last week and noted Montolivo reminded him of Andrea Pirlo. “I am not worried by the head-to-head with Pirlo, because we are different players. He is more of a director of operations, while I also try to win back possession. Andrea is untouchable for all he did at Milan, so I won’t even worry about comparisons with him.” The Rossoneri have a new superstar in their midst, as Stephan El Shaarawy is Capocannoniere despite turning 20 this month. “Nobody expected such a strong season, not even him, but I have always liked El Shaarawy. He has pace and a real ability to split defences. He also shoots with power and precision.” On the other hand, Alexandre Pato declared this week he wants to leave Milan in order to play more regularly. “It is an unusual situation,” mused Montolivo. “You need patience with him, but it’s worth the wait. He is an amazing player and I have never trained with one so talented. It’d be a shame if he left.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli El Shaarawy: Beating Juventus would be priceless The 20-year-old believes a win for AC Milan against the reigning Serie A champions could kick-start the club's season, but is realistic over the size of the task ahead. Nov 24, 2012 Stephan El Shaarawy says victory over Juventus on Sunday would be "priceless". The highly-rated youngster has netted 12 goals in all competitions so far this season, but has been a rare ray of sunshine in what has been an otherwise disappointing season for AC Milan. The Rossoneri have taken just a point from their last two league games, but after beating Anderlecht 3-1 in Belgium on Wednesday, the Italy international is determined to build on that result by taking all three points against the Bianconeri. "Tomorrow is a super-important game in terms of the league table, but also for our growth as a team," he told reporters at a press conference. "A victory would be priceless, but we need to give 150 per cent to achieve that. To win and score under the Curva Sud would be fantastic." The 20-year-old has fast become Milan's talisman with several high-profile team-mates enduring inconsistent campaigns, but he says it is a responsibility that brings the best out of him as a player. "Responsibility motivates me and I do not feel pressure," he added. "My team-mates, the club and fans all have faith in me. It's all happening so quickly and it is everything a 20-year-old dreams of. It's very gratifying especially for my parents, who made so many sacrifices to help me." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli AC Milan - Juventus Betting Preview: Rare gulf in class between sides should see Bianconeri home Massimilano Allegri was boosted by Milan's win in Europe in midweek but Adam Bate expects that to count for little when in-form league leaders arrive at San Siro. Nov 24, 2012 Juventus resume the defence of their Serie A crown after ending Roberto Di Matteo’s reign as Chelsea manager with an emphatic 3-0 win over the European champions on Tuesday. The Bianconeri travel to Milan on Sunday to take on the team they deposed as champions of Italy and will start as heavy favourites at San Siro. Juve have won 10 of their 13 league games this season and their form is in stark contrast to a stuttering Milan side that finds itself in turmoil languishing in the bottom half of the table. Juventus are 13/10 (2.30) favourites with Marathon Bet. The Rossoneri did at least have a morale-boosting win at Anderlecht on Wednesday with Philippe Mexes stealing the show thanks to a sensational overhead kick. With their place in the last 16 of the Champions League now secure, it may be time to expect an upturn in league fortunes as they focus on domestic matters until the spring. The visit of the champions certainly represents an excellent opportunity to assert themselves. Milan are 12/5 (3.40) underdogs with Marathon Bet to claim three points here. The draw is available at 47/20 (3.35). But the best bet is to back Juventus at 13/10 (2.30). Milan may have home advantage but history suggests that is no stumbling block for Antonio Conte’s men – they have not lost away since May 2011. In terms of other bets, there are some great options relating to the champions. They are available at 77/100 (1.77) to score in the second half of this game and, if previous encounters are anything to go by, then, this suggests that it is highly likely to happen. Juve have scored after the break in 10 of their 13 Serie A matches this season and that looks great value. But for better returns, it is important not to be fooled by the famous Milan name here. The gulf in quality between these two teams means it makes sense to back the visitors to get the job done. They have the class - and the star names, including ex-Milan man Andrea Pirlo - and have had that extra day of rest. Back Juventus to win both halves of this one at a chunky 31/5 (7.20) with Marathon Bet. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli MATCH PREVIEW Nov 23, 2012 The protagonists in last season’s Scudetto race, Milan and Juventus resume their rivalry with very different objectives in mind. This fixture provided season 2011-12’s most controversial moment, the ruling out of Sulley Muntari’s ‘ghost goal’ in a 1-1 draw at San Siro. It was the most notable flashpoint in what proved to be quite a bitter title race, with opposing Coaches Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte regularly taking verbal pot-shots at one another. This year there doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as much antipathy, Juventus President Andrea Agnelli even making a point of congratulating Milan for their qualification to the Champions League last 16 in midweek. Of course it’s easier to be friendly towards an opponent that no longer constitutes a threat. The Rossoneri start the weekend 12th in Serie A, a whopping 17 points behind League leaders Juve. They have lost six times the amount of games the Bianconeri have, won less than half as many, and conceded twice as many goals. That said, there’s been enough improvement in the recent displays of Allegri’s men to suggest that, whilst they may be unable to mount a Scudetto challenge of their own, they are capable of knocking La Vecchia Signora’s off course. Both clubs did their duty for Italy with midweek European wins, Juventus bringing about the sacking of Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo by trashing the Londoners 3-0 and Milan defeating Anderlecht 3-1 in Brussels. “This is an important game against a side that right now might not be among the top teams, but has a squad of great quality,” said Conte in a rare interview earlier this week. “We are the leaders, but mustn’t forget we haven’t done anything yet.” “Sunday’s match against Juventus will be tough, especially with what happened last year,” stated young Milan fullback Mattia De Sciglio. “We’ll give 100 per cent to cause them as much difficulty as possible.” Milan’s monstrous injury list includes Muntari, Djamel Mesbah, Didac Vila, Luca Antonini, Ignazio Abate, Bakaye Traore, Massimo Ambrosini, Daniele Bonera and Alexandre Pato. Juve miss only one player but he’s an important one – Giorgio Chiellini. Keep an eye on: Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan) – Not to go all Star Wars on you, but there is a sense that the Little Pharaoh is Milan’s only hope. “Is El Shaarawy the Milan team?” Juve’s Sebastian Giovinco wondered aloud. “He’s the one making the difference for them so yes, I’d say he is.” After his strike against Anderlecht, the 20-year-old has accounted for 12 of the Rossoneri’s 27 goals this season. Form guide: Milan (W D W L D) Juventus (W W L W D) Last season: Milan 1-1 Juventus Stat fact: Juventus have lost just one of their last six visits to Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza. Probable line-ups Milan: Abbiati; De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant; Montolivo, De Jong, Emanuelson; Boateng, Bojan, El Shaarawy Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Preview: AC Milan vs. Juventus Nov 24, 2012 AC Milan host reigning champions Juventus on Sunday, with both sides fresh from important Champions League victories in midweek. Juve will look to pick up where they left off on Tuesday when they crushed Chelsea in a dominant display. Antonio Conte's side are four points clear in Serie A and scored six in their last away match, a 6-0 thrashing of Pescara. Milan will look to build on their win over Anderlecht as they welcome the reigning league champions to the San Siro. Massimiliano Allegri is sweating on the fitness of Philippe Mexes, who limped off late on Wednesday after scoring a memorable overhead kick. Recent Form: Milan: DWDLDW Juve: WLWWDW Possible lineups: Milan: Abbiati, De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant, De Jong, Montolivio, Nocerino, Boateng, Pato, El Shaarawy Juve: Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal, Asamoah, Liechtensteiner, Giovinco, Quagliarella Sports Mole says: 0-1 http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Pato to be fit for Juve Nov 23, 2012 Alexandre Pato's injury picked up in AC Milan's 3-1 Champions League win against Anderlecht on Wednesday is not as serious as first feared and the striker is expected to be fit for this weekend's clash with Juventus. The Rossoneri take on the Serie A Champions at the San Siro on Sunday evening and expect to have the Brazil international available after releasing a statement on their official website. It read: "AC Milan announce that Alexandre Pato, during the game in Brussels, reported a blow to his left thigh. Medical examinations showed no muscle damage." Milan also went on to say the injury was only a "small bruise". Elsewhere, reports have also indicated that Philipe Mexes suffered no prolonged effects to the knock he picked up in the same match against Anderlecht. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Rivalry rekindled as Old Lady visits Milan Nov 23, 2012 As the title race neared the final stretch last season, the Rossoneri were denied a legitimate and potentially decisive goal after Sulley Muntari's header was deemed to have not crossed the line despite having clearly done so. With Juventus returning to San Siro on Sunday night, all concerned will hope for a less controversial clash, one remembered for what did happen, rather than what didn't. These are two of the most decorated clubs in Italy, something which should be respected and appreciated each time they share a pitch. The gap between the two clubs has grown since, but meetings between the pair are always highly anticipated. The admirable 49-game unbeaten run may have ended, but Juventus arguably remain the strongest side in Italy, and demonstrated that strength in Europe in mid-week. Meanwhile the Rossoneri have suffered since, with Christian Abbiati, Philippe Mexes and Antonio Nocerino potentially the only survivors from that clash in February likely to start this weekend. However, trying to avoid reverting to the usual excuses, Milan will have reason to be confident ahead of the Bianconeri's visit having secured their place in the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night. Nocerino's attitude after the Anderlecht game was exemplary, admitting his thoughts had already switched to Sunday while declaring, "we have to be humble and continue to live like this was our last chance". With the media picking up on the expected presence of Marco Van Basten, the Milan legend will merely be in attendance hoping to see his former club secure all three points having dismissed speculation he could return to the club as a coach. The Dutchman returns to San Siro twenty years to the day from that magical night which saw him score four against Gothenburg. Like many others in the stadium on Sunday night, Van Basten will be eager to see the development of Stephan El Shaarawy. The 20-year-old is surprising even his most ardent enthusiasts, taking his goal tally to unexpected levels so early in the season. Deemed a mark of 'greatness', it will be interesting to see whether the youngster can cope with not only the added pressure of being Milan's main threat, but his reaction to the quality of the opposition he will likely face. The Rossoneri were criticised for being 'Ibra-dependent' last season; have they replaced the big Swede with the young Italian? It will undoubtedly be a battle on the pitch on Sunday night, with the midfield perhaps the key to success. Juventus boast three midfielders matched by few in the 'MVP' trio of Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal and of course, Andrea Pirlo. Should Allegri similarly opt to deploy a three-man midfield, Nocerino, Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel de Jong must produce their best performances of the season thus far and lead Milan to victory. Where will the game against Juventus be won and lost? Can Milan secure a win against the Old Lady? http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus out to bring Milan back down to earth Nov 23, 2012 AC Milan’s joy at qualifying for the Champions League could be tempered by a desperate need for points in Italy’s Serie A, and the formidable challenge of on-form visitors Juventus tomorrow. Seven-time winners Milan beat Serie A champions Juventus into the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition with victory over Anderlecht on Wednesday. But the Rossoneri’s feat in Brussels will do little to hide the fact their domestic form, compared to the Turin giants, leaves a lot to be desired. After 13 games, Milan sit in the bottom half of the table with a 17-point deficit on Juventus (32), who have a four-point lead on Inter Milan with Napoli and Fiorentina a point further adrift in third and fourth. Indeed, if not for the goalscoring talents of forward Stephan El Shaarawy, who has a league-leading tally of 10 goals — half of Milan’s total — the red and black would be in even worse shape. “Is El Shaarawy the Milan team? He’s the one making the difference for them so, yes, I’d say he is,” Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco told juventus.com. Juve, on the other hand, could not be more comfortable. Since suffering their first defeat in 50 games nearly three weeks ago, they have accounted for Pescara (6-1), dominated Lazio in a scoreless draw and left Chelsea’s Champions League hopes hanging by a thread after a 3-0 rout on Wednesday. In the corresponding fixture with Milan last year Juventus prevailed 2-1 at the San Siro, with Milan holding the Old Lady to a 1-1 draw in Turin in February. Milan defender Mattia De Sciglio said: “Sunday’s match against Juventus will be tough, especially with what happened last year. They’re one of the best teams in Italy.” Since their 3-1 reverse at home against Inter Milan, Juventus have been virtually unbeatable. But what is billed as one of the biggest derbies in Italian football will be hard to predict. In their 77 previous Serie A matches at the San Siro Milan have won 26 times with Juve winning 18 and 33 matches ending in draws. Coach Antonio Conte, whose lengthy touchline ban ends next month, is taking nothing for granted. A Juventus win tomorrow meanwhile, would extend their lead over Inter to seven points ahead of the Nerazzurri’s trip to Parma on Monday, when Cagliari host Napoli. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Serie A Preview: Away sides to have a great weekend Nov 23, 2012 Milan v Juventus It seems crazy to think that these two teams were battling for the Scudetto last season, given how Juve have progressed and how Milan have fallen backwards. This was the match which gave us last season's big flashpoint, the ruling out of Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' in a 1-1 draw at San Siro, but this could be a realtively anodyne renewal, with Juventus simply a far better team than the awful Rossoneri. Milan start the weekend 12th in Serie A, 17 points behind League leaders Juve. They have lost six games to Juve's one, and conceded twice as many goals. Milan have improved, but given the way that they started the season, that wasn't exactly difficult, and it would be dangerous to believe that they're suddenly good enough to beat Juve. Juventus are without Giorgio Chiellini for the match on Sunday night, but their squad is big enough to cope with that, and the key to the match is the visitor's ability to cope with the threat posed by Milan's Stephen El Shaarawy. He is by far and away their best player, and has scored 12 of Milan's 27 official goals this season. I think that, even without Chiellini, Juve can deal with him, and that means that they are a solid bet to come away from San Siro with a win. Milan cost us last week by coming back against Napoli, but can they produce three massive performances in the space of seven days? I'm not sure. Juve are trading at 2.3 to win, and that's more than fair. Stick with the League's proven quality to come away with three points, and complete our trio of away wins. Recommendation: Back Juventus to beat Milan @ 2.3 http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Bianconeri Should Not Take Struggling Rivals Lightly Nov 23, 2012 Oh, how the mighty have fallen. On Sunday, Juventus will travel to Milan to take on an AC Milan team experiencing their worst season in recent history. And that's not an overstatement. The perennial powerhouse is ranked 12th in the league after 13 games, with a lowly 15 points. That's less than half the amount of points current league leaders Juventus are sitting on. Both teams are coming off wins in the midweek UEFA Champions League fixtures, but while the Bianconeri dominated current European champions Chelsea, the Rossoneri needed a strong second half to narrowly dispose of Belgian champions Anderlecht—a side that hasn't survived the Champions League group stages since 2001. Juve have continued their great form that saw them win the domestic title last year, going unbeaten in the process. They've lost just a single game so far this season, at home against Inter Milan. They've scored 13 times in their last four games and have conceded only once, a 1-6 beatdown of Pescara. Fans are already looking ahead at the showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk in two weeks, that will decide the Bianconeri's fate in the Champions League. The general consensus seems to be that Juve will easily dispose of their struggling domestic rivals and will add to the Rossoneri's misery. Not so fast, my friend. A golden rule in sports is that you should never overlook a rival, no matter what their current form may be. When it comes to rivalry games, you can throw all statistics out of the window. Juventus play two in a row, at Milan and at home against cross-town rivals Torino. Milan might be struggling, but they are far too talented to be ranked this low in the Serie A table. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva may have departed the club for greener pastures (and a lot of oil dollars) but stars like Kevin-Prince Boateng and Nigel De Jong still don the red and black, while new players are emerging in the form of Stephan El Shaarawy and Mattia De Sciglio. Juve might be favourites going into this game, it's the Rossoneri that need this win badly. They need to get some momentum going, and there's no better way to start than knocking off the league leaders and arch rivals in a game you're expected to lose. Every fan knows the phenomenon of kick-starting. A team is having a bad run of games, not catching any breaks, and then they unexpectedly get a big win. Suddenly, they become invincible. They find their swagger, start beating opponents into the ground and have luck on their side. The Bianconeri are coming off two high-paced games against Lazio, Roma and Chelsea that saw their starters play with high intensity for 180 minutes. Players are looking ahead at Shakhtar and the return of their head coach, Antonio Conte. No one will think of Milan as some lowly team, but given both team's current forms, victory is expected. In case you haven't noticed yet, Juve is starting to resemble something like the Empire from Star Wars around Italy: An unbeatable giant the little guy doesn't like rooting for. Momentum might be with the Bianconeri, the people want to see the Rossoneri win. Massimiliano Allegri might be able to save his job with a win in Turin, and you can bet he's been preparing his team for weeks going into this game. Add to that the feelings of injustice Milan still harbour towards Juve, and you get an idea of what kind of game this will be. The referee needs to have a perfect game, because Milan will call out every bad decision as typical Juventus bias and the Bianconeri will call it overcompensating. Odds are the pattern of officials being afraid to give Juve an advantage in the Serie A continues. The stage is set for a massive upset, with Milan fighting for their lives and their 2012-2013 campaign. Juventus have enough quality in their squad to overcome anything the Rossoneri can throw at them, but they will have to be at their best and play a very focused game. This is still the game of the week in the Serie A, and for all of the trouble that Milan is going through right now, they should not be underestimated. It's 2010-2011 all over again, but this time the roles have reversed. Juve should be careful not to fall into the trap Milan will present. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Milan vs. Juventus PREVIEW: A Derby By Any Other Name… Nov 23, 2012 Chelsea, Pescara and Nordsjælland have already felt it and it took the performance of a lifetime from Federico Marchetti to prevent Lazio from being befallen by the same fate. Ever since you-know-who came to Juventus Stadium and removed the aura of invincibility from Antonio Conte’s team, the players appear to have been on a mission to prove that facing them should still be a fearsome prospect. Seemingly far less imposing this season is a trip to San Siro to take on Milan and, having seen Sampdoria, Atalanta, Fiorentina and their bitter cross-town rivals already take maximum points from away games against them, a confident and in form Juventus should have far less cause for concern than almost any previous trip to the famous cathedral named after the great Giuseppe Meazza. And yet that feeling remains, the unshakable doubt that – much like the aforementioned Biancocelesti stopper – Milan will pull out all the stops for this one. Viewed by many as the real Derby d’Italia ever since Milan overtook them as the second most decorated team in the league, matches between these two clubs have always felt like truly great events. Often they have been; witness the 2005 match in which Alessandro Del Piero’s overhead bicycle kick assist secured the Scudetto or the 2003 Champions League Final and each has had their entirely one-sided victories such as Milan’s 7-1 win in 1950, or Juve’s stunning 6-1 sacking of San Siro in 1997. That great history has never really exploded into the kind of bitter war usually expected when two such superpowers clash. There is none of the animosity that is on show in Spain’s el Clasico, the Manchester United-Arsenal showdown or even PS-G v Marseille in Ligue Un, all of which made the vitriol of last season seem so misplaced. The war of words between the management of the two club’s descended to frankly pathetic levels as they fought it out for the Scudetto and Adriano Galliani’s mobile phone was filled with incidents nobody needs repeating here. MILAN Having twice been visited at Milanello by Italy’s dirtiest of old men recently, Massimiliano Allegri and Milan perhaps have more reason than most to be wary of a visit from Turin’s Old Lady this coming weekend. The Coach’s job is undoubtedly on the line, a week-to-week consideration from Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi after a start to the season which can, at best, be described as inconsistent. Overall they have lost seven games with six of those defeats coming in Serie A and sit a lowly twelfth place, a ranking completely at odds with the history of one of Europe’s grandest clubs. They are, more pertinently some twelve points away from a Champions League berth and what must be their minimum objective of a campaign which began with the sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. That Juventus are a further five points ahead of third place even before this match will be an even greater dagger to Rossoneri hearts and they will be seeking to cut that deficit on Sunday evening. However, they must do so with an ever lengthening injury list which now sees them come into the match without seven players, the most notable of which are Sulley ‘Ghost Goal’ Muntari, Luca Antonini and Ignazio Abate. Allegri wil most likely – although in his ever more erractic state of mind it is hard to predict – stick with the 4-3-3 seen in recent weeks, employing a tactic which fits his midfield resources but is far from ideal for his forwards. A trio of Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino and Nigel De Jong seem more than a match for many they will come up against but will still be facing an uphill struggle against Juve’s M-V-P triple threat. Their defence can be vulnerable, although Kevin Constant has done a passable job at left back and Mattia De Sciglio continues to impress on the opposite flank. It is through the centre where they appear incapable of holding teams and, with Marchisio and Vidal looking to burst beyond the strikers they could be swamped early just as Chelsea were on Tuesday. Probable Formation: (4-3-3) ABBIATI; DE SCIGLIO, MEXES, ACERBI, CONSTANT; MONTOLIVO, DE JONG, NOCERINO; BOATENG, BOJAN, EL SHAARAWY JUVENTUS Boosted by those three big wins, the Bianconeri have seemingly dusted themselves down after that first loss in fifty matches, putting on four displays of such dominance that has reassured fans that the defeat has not taken the self belief away from the squad. It has seemingly recharged their batteries, instilling a new found determination to prove they are the very best the peninsula has to offer as well as serving notice to the rest of Europe that La Vecchia Signora truly has returned to the top table of the continental game. The new mini-streak has also happily coincided with the emptying of the treatment rooms at Vinovo as Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic returned to action following their injuries and, while the return of the former was not in time to partake in his bi-annual dissecting of Lazio, it will provide Antonio Conte with yet more versatility and depth whilst also bringing his unique personality back into the locker room to entertain and enthuse his fellow players. He still appears unready to start matches and the only changes made by Conte are likely to be to rotate Stephan Lichtsteiner once again in favour of Mauricio Isla and his tireless running could really cause problems for Constant on the Juventus right. The other change could be up front where Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic are currently battling for the two attacking spots. Probable Formation: (3-5-2) BUFFON; BARZAGLI, BONUCCI, CACERES; ISLA, VIDAL, PIRLO, MARCHISIO, ASAMOAH; QUAGLIARELLA, GIOVINCO http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Conte wary of Milan Nov 23, 2012 Juventus boss Antonio Conte has warned his side not to take AC Milan lightly when the pair face off at the San Siro on Sunday. The Turin club are four points clear at the top of the Serie A table and travel to the San Siro to take on a Milan side struggling in 12th place. "Sunday we will play an important game against a team that are currently not around the top of the standings, but have great quality," Conte told the club's official website. "We are first in the standings, but remember that we have not done anything." Midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo is equally wary and determined that his side emerge victorious. "It's a special game as far as I'm concerned," he said. "We know we've done well up until now and that Milan have had a few difficulties, but we just want to remain focused on ourselves." Juventus should have Giorgio Chiellini fit for the clash after the defender complained of a leg injury following their 3-0 win over Chelsea. "It's only a hardening of the calf should not be anything serious," he said. "Two or three days of rest and I should recover for Sunday. "Winning helps you win. And to win a big game like against Chelsea puts you in such a mindset that we could take the field immediately, without waiting for Sunday night. The game against Milan is always a great challenge that we will prepare for as best as we can. " Allegri intrigued Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri saw his side qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League last night after they won in Belgium against Anderlecht, but in the league they have not been as successful, already registering six defeats. "Sunday will be a fascinating game even if we're so far from Juventus," said the boss. "They're the strongest team and that's where we want to be." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/