AC Milan vs. AS Roma Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan 2:45 PM Sunday October 18, 2009
by Jason Green at Predictem.com
In a match between a couple of clubs that are used to battling for the Italy Serie A league title AS Roma visits San Siro to take on AC Milan. Currently AC Milan is in 12th position with 9 points and AS Roma is in 9th place with 11 points.
Maybe the break for World Cup qualifying games will help Milan out, as they can look to see what is broken and hopefully fix it. Milan is having problems in the attack, as in their last 4 matches they have only scored one goal. They were even upset, big time, in their last Champions League match falling to a somewhat weak FC Zurich squad at home. This is Milan’s first big test since the derby, which they lose to Inter and they have to right their ship since their next Champions League match is at Real Madrid.
After another horrible start of the league season Roma hired former Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri and under him they have yet to lose a match. They are also the only team in the league that has scored at least one goal in every match. Roma has not lost in their last 5 matches and they are starting to creep up the league table with their solid play. Roma has had Milan’s number in the past few years, as Milan has not beat them since back in 2006, which includes 6 league matches and 2 Copa Italia matches.
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AC Milan are the home favorites in this match posted at 2.15 with AS Roma as the away underdog posted at 3.50 with a draw at 3.30.
AC Milan Recent Form:
10/4/2009 Atalanta 1 AC Milan 1 (Serie A)
9/30/2009 AC Milan 0 FC Zurich 1 (Champions League)
9/27/2009 AC Milan 1 Bari 1 (Serie A)
9/23/2009 Udinese 1 AC Milan 0 (Serie A)
9/20/2009 AC Milan 1 Bologna 0 (Serie A)
AS Roma Recent Form:
10/4/2009 AS Roma 2 Napoli 1 (Serie A)
10/1/2009 AS Roma 2 CSKA Sofia 0 (Europa League)
9/27/2009 AS Roma 1 Catania 1 (Serie A)
9/23/2009 Palermo 3 AS Roma 3 (Serie A)
9/20/2009 AS Roma 3 Fiorentina 1 (Serie A)
AC Milan may play a 4-4-2 formation in this match to help provide more offense. Their offense may get a lift since Marco Borriello and Thiago Silva are returning from injuries.
The big news for AS Roma is that Francesco Totti will not play in this match and that will hurt, as he has 16 goals in 12 matches this season. Marco Motta will also miss this game due to an injury.
With Totti out both Mirko Vucinic and Stefano Chuka Okaka, who scored his first goal of the season recently, have to step up in his return. Vucinic has yet to score this season and he has been battling injuries all season. Roma is hoping this break will help him focus on finding the back of the net and not sitting on the bench with various injuries.
Milan has only scored 4 goals in 7 matches and a lot of the pressure to reverse that falls on young Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato. He has to get back on track. Now is the match to do it, as even though Roma is hot they have given up the most goals in Serie A this season (13).
Milan’s Ronaldinho and Clarence Seedorf have not looked like their former brilliant selves this season and if they do not turn it around Milan will not be able to climb up the league table.
The Roma defense has to clamp down and not let give up goals in bunches like they have this season, especially since Totti cannot bail them out being out for this match.
Since Totti is out the midfield of Roma has to create chances for the front 2 strikers. David Pizarro is a creative midfielder and he will have to help Roma win the midfield battle in this match.
Jason’s Pick: Milan really needs a win and if they do not I would not want to be at San Siro, as fans are already ready to tear apart the stadium if they lose another home match. With Totti out I think that Milan will have the advantage since the Roma D has been weak this season. A score of 2-1 or 2-0 AC Milan is my call for this match.
