Serie A 2011/2012 Thread

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AC Milan vs Internazionale Milano preview

TEAM NEWS
Alexandre Pato is likely to make way for compatriot Robinho. Pato pledged his future to the club on Thursday after being heavily linked by French and Italian media with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window.

Inter Milano playmaker Wesley Sneijder could make a dramatic return to action against joint-leaders AC Milan in Sunday's derby. The Dutchman, who has been out since 2 November with a pulled muscle, is included in a full strength Nerazzurri squad with defender Andrea Ranocchia and midfielder Dejan Stankovic also back from injury.

MATCH FACTS

This will be the 155th derby of Milano in the modern Serie A era (since 1929/1930): the record sees the Nerazzurri leading by 56 wins to 49, with 49 draws completing the record.

Overall, AC Milan and Inter have met 200 times in official competitions: the Rossoneri lead by 70 wins to 69, with 61 draws.

These two sides have not shared a draw in their last 13 league meetings.

Over the past 3 seasons there have been 8 red cards in the games between AC Milan and Inter, 5 for the Nerazzurri and 3 for the Rossoneri.

AC Milan have lost only 2 of the last 9 derbies played as the home side, winning 6.

Massimiliano Allegri's side are unbeaten in their last 12 Serie A games (10 wins) and managed to score 2 or more goals in 11 of these games.

AC Milan boast the best attack of this competition: 37 goals, 10 more than the Nerazzurri.

By beating Parma 5-0 last Saturday, Inter have notched up 5 wins in a row for the first time since the departure of Jose Mourinho: the last time was between April and May 2010.

Inter have scored 13 goals over their last 5 games, they had scored just 14 in their previous 12 fixtures.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his last 6 Serie A appearances (7 goals in total, 5 of which have been penalties).

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Serie A - Team of the Week 18


Frey (Genoa)



Lichtsteiner (Juventus) - Antonsson (Bologna) - Samuel (Inter) - Nagatomo (Inter)



Zanetti (Inter) - Bradley (Chievo) - Cossu (Cagliari)



Palacio (Genoa) - IL PRINCIPE - Adrian Mutu (Cesena)

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De Rossi injury lay-off continues

AS Roma will not be able to call upon Daniele De Rossi against Cesena on Saturday as he continues to recover from a thigh injury.

The Italy international has suffered a knock to his right leg and it has been confirmed that his progress has not been sufficient to see him run out at Stadio Olimpico at the weekend.

"De Rossi's situation is stable", club doctor Francesco Colautti told the Roma Channel.

"On Thursday he underwent specialist tests, then a dynamic ECG that showed the presence of a problem in the right thigh that Daniele had already suffered from in the past."

"The player has started a specific treatment programme and intensified the physiotherapy. Based on how these treatments work, we'll evaluate when he can resume full training with the rest of the squad."

The 28-year-old is also a doubt for the capital city side's Coppa Italia tie against Juventus on Tuesday.

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Totti breaks scoring record



REZUMAT

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti made history by breaking Gunnar Nordahl's 210-goal record with one Serie A club.

Totti, 35-year-old, struck twice in the opening minutes of Roma's 5-1 win over Cesena at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Totti scored his 211th goal in 486 league appearances for AS Roma, boasting a strike every 0.43 games, as Roma went 3 goals ahead within 8 minutes of the kick-off.

Daniele Arrigoni's men endured a day to forget as they slumped to a heavy defeat, continuing what has been an appalling run of form of late - recording 5 defeats in their past 6 games.

AS Roma move into the top 5, having played a game more than Inter, who face Lazio on Sunday.

"Lazio tougher than AC Milan"

Claudio Ranieri has hit out at rivals AC Milan, stating that their clash with Lazio will be more testing than a derby.

Inter defeated Massimiliano Allegri's men 1-0 last weekend and are looking to extend their 6-game winning streak in Serie A with victory over Lazio.

"What we achieved against Milan is now history and we must put that in the past. What counts now is Lazio who are a dynamic team. It'll be a far more complicated game than the derby", Ranieri said during a press conference.

"As for Inter, we've made giant leaps forward, but now face a tough obstacle and our concentration must be at 100%. I always try to field the most competitive line-up, so everyone is needed."

The victory over AC Milan marked the return of Wesley Sneijder who had an injury-plagued campaign, yet Ranieri believes the Dutchman's arrival back into the team can be like a new signing.

"After 2 months I saw his first game, in which he was determined and confident. He inevitably lacks match fitness, but I remember I made a mistake with Sneijder at the start when I played him regularly so he could get back into shape. Instead, that prompted a relapse", Ranieri said.

"This is why he will now be slowly introduced back into the side. Sneijder will play when I believe the time is right. Along with Diego Forlan, Cristian Chivu and Dejan Stankovic, he'll be our big January signing."

A win over Edy Reja's men at Meazza would see Inter leapfrog Lazio into 4th spot in Serie A.

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Serie A - Team of the Week 19


Pegolo (Siena)



Lichtsteiner (Juventus) - Silva (AC Milan) - Chiellini (Juventus) - Armero (Udinese)



Nainggolan (Cagliari) - Pirlo (Juventus) - Pjanic (AS Roma)



Totti (AS Roma)



Zlatan (AC Milan) - Miccoli (Palermo)

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Forlan facing further month out

Internazionale Milano are likely to be without Uruguayan international Diego Forlan for the next 4 weeks after the striker injured his right thigh in training.

Since moving to Inter last summer, the 32-year-old former Atletico Madrid forward has made just 9 Serie A appearances - scoring once - as a result of another muscular injury to his left thigh, which he suffered on international duty in October.

Though the exact length of Forlan's latest lay-off remains unclear, the 2010 Europa League winner is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.

Inter face Olympique Marseille in their Champions League round of 16 first leg at Stade Velodrome on 22 February, with the return game taking place at Meazza on 13 March.

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Filippo Inzaghi se pregateste sa plece de la Milan.

Atacantul de 38 de ani e dorit la Siena de vicepresedintele Valentina Mezzaroma si agreeaza ideea unei mutari in Toscana. Reprezentantii fostului international negociaza in aceste zile salariul pe care Inzaghi ar urma sa-l primeasca la Siena.

MACCARONE S-A INTORS LA EMPOLI

Dupa ce a jucat la Middlesbrough, Parma, Siena, Palermo si Sampdoria, Massimo Maccarone a acceptat sa se intoarca la echipa unde a dat cel mai bun randament in cariera. Atacantul de 33 de ani a fost imprumutat pana in vara la Empoli, locul 19 in Serie B, si trebuie sa contribuie la salvarea echipei de la retrogradarea in liga a 3-a.

Cagliari transfera un campion mondial!

Echipa sarda a ajuns la un acord cu Juventus pentru transferul veteranului Luca Toni. Atacantul de 34 de ani nu a mai jucat din mai si isi cauta de o luna echipa. Pretentiile sale salariale nu sunt mari pentru Italia. Cere 400 de mii de euro al Cagliari!

DRAXLER IN VIZORUL LUI INTER !

Moratti s-a indragostit de un pusti de la Schalke. Julian Draxler le-a sucit mintile italienilor de la Inter. Mijlocasul de 18 ani este monitorizat si de Wenger pentru un transfer la Arsenal. Schlake il pretuieste pe Draxler la 25 de milioane de euro!

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AMAURI APROAPE DE FIORENTINA !

Fiorentina face pressing la varful lui Juventus, Amauri. Italianul nascut in Brazilia vrea sa scape de Juve si are mai multe oferte, dar cea mai importanta este de al Fiorentina

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Maxi Lopez alesul lui Allegri

Transferul lui Tevez la Milan e istorie! Allegri a reusit sa ia alt argentinian in atac. Fostul jucator al Barcei, Maxi Lopez e alesul Milanului.

Cavani la Liverpool ?

Tuttomercattoweb.com scrie ca Liverpool il vrea pe Cavani. Patronul lui Napoli, De Laurentiis, a declarat cand Cavani era dorit de Milan: "Pentru 50 de milioane de euro nici nu ma ridic din pat".

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Matri happy with Juve character



REZUMAT

Alessandro Matri has praised his side's character after they defeated Udinese 2-1 on Saturday.

Matri gave Juve the lead shortly before the break, but the guests levelled 11 minutes into the second half via Antonio Floro Flores.

Matri's second goal, just after the hour mark, was enough to seal all 3 points for the Serie A leaders, and the 27-year-old praised the squad's mental application.

"It was an important test, in which we showed great character for the way in which we managed to react to Udinese's equaliser", Matri said.

"It's been a year packed full of emotions. Last year didn't end as we'd hoped, but now things are going well."

"The manager's doing a great job and even when we change our formation we're able to express ourselves to our best."

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Juve signs Padoin

Serie A leaders Juventus moved to strengthen their midfield on transfer deadline day by signing Simone Padoin from Atalanta and have also shipped 2 strikers out of the club.

A club statement said versatile 27-year-old Padoin had signed a 5-year deal.

Ajax's 18-year-old midfielder Ouasim Bouy was also a late arrival at the club as he signed just before the close of the window.

Juve also pruned their large squad, with Vincenzo Iaquinta and Ciro Immobile following Luca Toni out of the door.

Toni signed for Al Nasr on Monday and now fellow World Cup winner Iaquinta has moved on relegation-battling Cesena until the end of the campaign.

Immobile has left Turin permanently, signing for Genoa for around £6.7 million.

Midfielder Michele Pazienza was also on the move, joining Udinese on a 6-month loan deal. He only signed from Napoli in the summer.

Bojinov rejoins Lecce on loan

Sporting Lisbon striker Valeri Bojinov, who angered fans in a controversy over a penalty, has rejoined Serie A club Lecce on loan until the end of the season.

Bojinov, who turns 26 next month, incurred the wrath of Sporting fans when he shoved aside his team's usual penalty-taker and insisted on taking the injury-time shot himself, only to see it saved, in a Cup game with lower-tier Moreirense on 19 January.

The Bulgarian made his debut in Serie A, playing for Lecce at the age of 15 years 11 months in 2002, to become the youngest foreign player to appear in the Italian top flight.

He was sold to Fiorentina for a fee of around €11 million in 2005.

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PIPPO S-A RAZGANDIT

Atacantul echipei AC Milan, Filippo Inzaghi, a declarat pentru postul Milan Channel ca a refuzat oferta venita din partea clubului AC Siena si va ramane la formatia pregatita de Massimiliano Allegri pana la finalul sezonului.

Palombo la Inter

Inter l-a adus pe Palomobo de la Sampdoria. 1 milion vor plati in schimbul jucatorului de 30 de ani care a evoluat la Sampdoria din 2002.

Milan aduce brazilieni

AC Milan l-a transferat pe Lucas Roggia de la Internacional Porto Alegre. Atacantul abia a implinit 21 de ani zilele trecute

Lazio a renuntat la Honda

Lazio a renuntat la transferul lui Honda! "Am facut o oferta insa, din pacate, TSKA Moscova a respins-o" a spus Igli Tare, directorul sportiv al italienilor.

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Gasperini expected Motta sale

Former Inter Milano boss Gian Piero Gasperini has revealed the club tried to sell now-departed Thiago Motta in the off season.

The Brazilian-born midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday's transfer deadline day, despite coach Claudio Ranieri's apparent desperation to retain the Italy international.

Gasperini, who was sacked in September after failing to register a win from 5 matches in charge, claims Motta's departure has been a strong possibility since his ill-fated tenure.

"Last summer, Inter wanted to sell him, but I insisted that he stay", Gasperini told L'Equipe.

The 54-year-old believes Inter have lost a player of the highest quality.

"Congratulations to PSG; they've made a very good choice", Gasperini said.

"Motta is the best midfielder in Italy along with Pirlo and Marchisio."

Motta played a key role in Inter's Treble success of 2010, but was reportedly aggrieved by the club's failure to offer him a new deal last summer.

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Serie A - Team of the Week 20


Benassi (Lecce)



Nesta (AC Milan) - Biava (Lazio) - Barzagli (Juventus)



Schelotto (Atalanta) - Van Bommel (AC Milan) - Montolivo (Fiorentina) - Cuadrado (Lecce)



Zlatan (AC Milan) - Matri (Juventus) - Palacio (Genoa)

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Pirlo predicts Siena challenge

Andrea Pirlo has predicted a tough battle with Siena when they clash in Serie A on Sunday.

The Turin giants are a point ahead of Scudetto holders AC Milan going into the fixture, but the Italy international said that recording a victory will not be a formality.

"It will be a tough game against an organised team that plays good football, so it will be hard, as all the matches are", he told Juventus Channel.

Pirlo was also full of praise for coach Antonio Conte, with the team looking to secure their first Italian title since 2003.

"Conte is a very good coach who can give so much to the team", Pirlo said.

"We are first in the standings and we hope to stay like this."

Juventus are unbeaten in 20 league games this season, whilst Siena are in need of points as they sit precariously above the relegation zone in 17th position.

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Serie A - Team of the Week 21 & 22


Frezzolini (Atalanta)



Jose Angel (AS Roma) - Lisuzzo (Novara) - Rossettini (Siena) - Pasqual (Fiorentina)



Jankovic (Genoa) - Pjanic (AS Roma) - Lulic (Lazio)



Borini (AS Roma) - IL PRINCIPE - Miccoli (Palermo)

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Rocchi injury blow for Lazio

Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi will be sidelined for at least 3 weeks with a muscular injury.

The Italian striker sustained the problem during Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Genoa.

"Tommaso Rocchi underwent an MRI that revealed a second degree lesion in his left thigh", read a statement from Lazio.

The 34-year-old will miss his team's next 3 Serie A games as well as the Europa League last 32 tie against Atletico Madrid.

Rocchi, who has scored 8 goals in 18 appearances for Lazio so far, could recover in time for the derby against AS Roma on 4 March.

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Gilardino to miss a month



Alberto Gilardino has been sidelined for a month with a calf injury.

A scan on Wednesday revealed an injury to the soleus muscle of the 29-year-old's calf, a problem that could see him miss 4 weeks, according to Genovatoday.it.

Gilardino is expected to miss the club's Serie A matches against Catania, Atalanta, Chievo, Parma and Lecce.

The news comes as a blow to the former Fiorentina striker, who signed for Genoa in January, and has scored once in 5 Serie A appearances so far.

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Meciul Bologna - Juventus a fost amânat

Temperaturile polare, zapada si viscolul din nordul Italiei au mai facut o noua victima in ceea ce priveste programul campionatului italian de fotbal.

Dupa ce ieri au fost deja amanate 2 meciuri din Serie B (Pescara-Juve Stabia si Modena-Padova), de aceasta data si Serie A se afla in imposibilitatea de a se desfasura normal, iar Juventus are din nou nesansa de a fi trebuit sa se deplaseze in regiunea cel mai puternic afectata de conditiile meteorologice nefavorabile la momentul respectiv.

Cele doua cluburi au cerut initial disputarea partidei de la ora 16:00, insa cantitatea mare de zapada cazuta in ultimele zile, precum si previziunile deloc diferite pentru urmatoarea perioada, au facut ca decizia finala sa fie cea de amanare a confruntarii de pe stadionul Renato Dall'Ara.

Situatia cea mai critica are loc chiar in zona Emilia-Romagna, astfel ca pentru Juventus problemele nu se opresc aici, deoarece pe 15 februarie bianconeri ar trebui sa se deplaseze pe stadionul Ennio Tardini din Parma, oras situat in aceeasi regiune.

Inclusiv partida de maine dintre Parma si Fiorentina sta sub semnul incertitudinii, iar daca previziunile meteorologice se vor confirma pentru urmatoarele zile, meciul dintre Parma si Juventus risca sa nu se poata disputa pentru a doua oara.

[FREAKTUNING]

mai bine ca si asa juve in ultimul meci de campionat nu a miscat nimic, desi in cupa am batut ac milan