Preview: Torino - Milan

Sunday 23th November 2008, 20:30 CET - Stadio Olimpico, Turin

Torino are currently wallowing in sixteenth position in the Serie A table, with just three points separating them from the drop zone. With this match against second-place Milan, and then Fiorentina and Napoli still to play in December, it does not seem as though things are going to improve any time soon; at least not if they continue to play like they have so far.

Their 3-2 loss away to Catania last Sunday was a perfect example of what this side is capable of doing, both good and bad. They took the lead after five minutes through Riccardo Colombo, who guided in a cross from Matteo Rubin.

However, their good start was squandered when their defense was carved apart only two minutes later, as Giuseppe Mascara scored to level the affair. Mascara then bettered his first effort with a brilliantly taken free-kick a handful of minutes before halftime that snuck inside the far, lower corner of the goal.

Torino tied the score just five minutes after the restart, and Colombo was a main part once again. He was taken down in the box, and Nicola Amoruso stepped up to deposit the ball into the net.

Sadly, however, Torino’s defense was cut a third time with ten minutes remaining in the match. Mascara got his hat-trick when he scored right in front of goal.

This latest capitulation leaves Torino licking their wounds with a side coming to town that boasts one of the most attractive attacking lineups in all of Europe. But that doesn’t mean that all is lost. They have won their last two home matches, against Atalanta and Palermo.

Said defender Matteo Rubin, “We know very well that our position is not good, but that doesn't mean we will face Milan with fear. Playing against a team of that level always gives great motivation, but their names must not intimidate us.

“We will go on the pitch to put them in difficulty, and if we do it with the determination we showed against Palermo, helping each other, we can get some points.”

Keep On Rollin’

Milan have not lost, in any competition, since their second match of the season, a 2-0 defeat away to Genoa in September. Since that time, a noticeable change has occurred in both the team and in certain players.

The biggest change for the team has been in the last few seasons where they might lose a match or draw scoreless in difficult away encounters (or home matches, for that matter) to smaller sides, they have been able to squeak out the results, winning no less than four matches by a 1-0 score this season.

That might not seem like much progress, but believe me, it is incredibly important to the club that they challenge for the Scudetto this season, and pulling out the tough matches is usually what separates the contenders from the pretenders.

As far as the members of the squad are concerned, the most-improved player has to be Ronaldinho; although, he wasn’t with Milan last season. Many supposed experts in the game questioned why Milan wanted ‘Ronnie’ so much this past summer, seeing as he was clearly out of form. Some even went as far as to say that he was past his best, and his career was definitely on the downturn.

Well, suffice to say, that has not turned out to be the case. Ronaldinho has regained form, and he may not even be at peak fitness yet. He leads the club in goals scored this term, with five tallies to his name in domestic competition.

Regarding the table, Milan are in second place at the moment, just one point behind local-rivals Inter Milan. With Inter playing at home this weekend against third-place Juventus, Milan could possibly move into first place with the result for Inter still in question.

FORM GUIDE

Torino

25/10 (Serie A): Juventus 1-0 Torino

29/10 (Serie A): Torino 2-1 Atalanta

02/11 (Serie A): Sampdoria 1-0 Torino

08/11 (Serie A): Torino 1-0 Palermo

16/11 (Serie A): Catania 3-2 Torino

Milan

29/10 (Serie A): Milan 2-1 Siena

02/11 (Serie A): Milan 1-0 Napoli

06/11 (UEFA Cup): Milan 1-0 Braga

09/11 (Serie A): Lecce 1-1 Milan

16/11 (Serie A): Milan 1-0 Chievo

TEAM NEWS

Torino

The Granata are without the services of Eugenio Corini, Ignazio Abete and Dominique Malonga, all through injury. Marco Di Loreto is suspended for this match.

Torino (4-4-2): 1 Sereni, 19 Diana, 14 Natali, 50 Pratali, 3 Pisano, 32 Colombo, 4 Dzemaili, 8 Barone, 33 Rubin, 30 Stellone, 11 Amoruso.

Panchina: 99 Calderoni, 6 Ogbonna, 24 Saumel, 27 P. Zanetti, 10 Rosina, 9 Abbruscato, 90 Bianchi). All.: De Biasi.

Milan

The Rossoneri are without Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo, who are not fit to play; although, Pirlo is getting close to returning to full fitness. Paolo Maldini is also out for this match. Massimo Ambrosini, Marco Borriello and Gianluca Zambrotta probably will not be fit for this encounter.

Milan (4-3-1-2): 12 Abbiati, 15 Zambrotta, 25 Bonera, 4 Kaladze, 18 Jankulovski, 8 Gattuso, 21 Pirlo, 10 Seedorf, 22 Kakà, 9 F. Inzaghi, 7 Pato.

Panchina: 1 Dida, 77 Antonini, 24 Senderos, 23 Ambrosini, 84 Flamini, 80 Ronaldinho, 76 Shevchenko). All.: Ancelotti.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Torino

The home side will rely on Nicola Amoruso to provide attacking punch, as he is there leading scorer on the season with four goals. Rolando Bianchi, should he get the start, will be able to use his height to trouble the Milan defense.

Milan

Ronaldinho and Kakà are working very well in tandem at the moment, and look like a match made in heaven. Mathieu Flamini continues to impress in the midfield, so much so that Gennaro Gattuso has been able to move further up the pitch on occasion to help out in attack.