MILAN (4-3-2-1): 1 Dida, 2 Cafu, 13 Nesta, 3 Maldini, 19 Favalli, 8 Gattuso, 21 Pirlo, 23 Ambrosini, 10 Seedorf, 22 Kaka`, 11 Gilardino.

Reserve: 16 Kalac, 17 Simic, 4 Kaladze, 27 Serginho, 32 Brocchi, 20 Gourcuff, 9 Inzaghi.

Coach: Ancelotti.

TORINO (4-3-2-1): 1 Sereni, 2 Comotto, 14 Natali, 15 Dellafiore, 23 Lanna, 27 Zanetti, 5 Corini, 7 Motta, 10 Rosina, 17 Di Michele, 9 Ventola.

Reserve: 31 Fontana, 22 Di Loreto, 29 Bottone, 34 Nitride, 20 Bjelanovic, 77 Stellone, 92 Malonga.

Coach: Novellino.

ARBITER: Tagliavento di Terni.

Preview

Milan have been on a seesaw all season, with the results being good one match and bad the next.  The 5-1 crushing of Lazio in Rome was followed by a 1-0 home loss to Empoli.  Then came last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Roma, which was succeeded by a 5-0 away win against Sampdoria.   

This has caused much consternation for the supporters, as they have been rendered useless as far as the supposed advantage of having the crowd behind you goes.  It really doesn’t make much sense for the defending European champion to go goal crazy in other teams’ stadiums, and then hardly show up when they have tens of thousands of ardent supporters cheering them on.   

The crowd has turned on the squad in recent matches, with striker Alberto Gilardino being the most heavily criticized member of the team.  But his upturn in fortune since the beginning of October has given him a new lifeline in the eyes of the manager, and he has been the featured striker as of late.  

Torino’s three match unbeaten run was broken on Wednesday in the loss to Udinese, by a score of 2-1.  They had aspirations of getting a good result on the road from this match, but those thoughts went out the window when midfielder Tommaso Vailatti was shown a red card for an off the ball incident.  

Things are not going to get any easier for Torino, either.  Numerous injuries to key players have decimated the side, and they go into this encounter with a barebones lineup.  The only positive they can take into this match against an improving Milan side is that striker Nicola Ventola is gaining in form, and should be able to bear the brunt of goal-getting.      

FORM GUIDE (last five fixtures)

Milan

10/7     Lazio 1-5 Milan                        Serie A

10/21   Milan 0-1 Empoli                      Serie A

10/24   Milan 4-1 Shakhtar Donetsk     Champions League

10/28   Milan 0-1 Roma                       Serie A

10/31   Sampdoria 0-5                         Serie A

Torino

9/30     Torino 0-1 Juventus                  Serie A

10/7     Torino 1-0 Sampdoria              Serie A

10/21   Atalanta 2-2 Torino                  Serie A

10/27   Torino 2-0 Cagliari                   Serie A

10/31   Udinese 2-1 Torino                  Serie A

TEAM NEWS

Big news on the injury front for Milan: Ronaldo may finally be nearing fitness.  He has returned to training with the ball, after having only previously done rehabilitation work.  It is now possible he will play in this match, albeit only as a second half substitute.  

Also, Massimo Ambrosini returns from his one-match suspension for the red card he received against Roma last weekend.   

As far as Milan’s lineup goes, the Rossoneri may use the same group that smashed Sampdoria 5-0 on Wednesday.  This could be the beginning of more playing time for Yoann Gourcuff, after the young Frenchman has spoken several times this season publicly about his yearning for more minutes.  

For Torino, the injury list continues to grow.  Squad mainstays such as Ivan Franceschini, Vincenzo Grella, Alvaro Recoba, Simone Barone and Matteo Rubin are all very doubtful for this match.  Add to that list the exclusion of Tommaso Vailatti, who is serving a suspension for a red card in the midweek loss to Udinese.  

These injuries have placed a great strain on the squad, and manager Walter Novellino will need to draw on all of his resources to put out a quality side.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alberto Gilardino (Milan) – While enduring the boos and jeering of the home crowd for the opening part of the season, he steadily got himself back into form, and has now begun scoring goals with regularity in the last month.  A continuity of Gilardino scoring goals will be essential to Milan playing consistently well.

Alessandro Rosina (Torino) – He can score goals of the highest class, but will need to do more industrious work in order for Torino to get a positive result at the San Siro.  Nevertheless, he could well be the key to the Granata cause.