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Played
April 29, 2013 12:15 AM IST
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee: D. Massa
Attendance: 36335
April 29, 2013 12:15 AM IST
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee: D. Massa
Attendance: 36335
AC Milan - Catania Preview: 'Super Mario' returns for stuttering Rossoneri
Massimiliano Allegri welcomes back Balotelli as the hosts look to get their Champions League push back on track with victory over their Sicilian visitors
By Harry Slavin
AFP
Mario Balotelli will make his return to the Milan starting line-up this weekend with the San Siro side looking to get back to winning ways against Europa League-chasing Catania.
The former Manchester City star is available after a two-game suspension and is likely to be thrust straight back into the action as the Rossoneri look to kick-start their pursuit of Champions League football next season after a run of three games without a win.
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Matthieu Flamini are available once more after both missed the trip to face Juventus last weekend through injury and suspension respectively.
However, the home side will be without the services of club captain Massimo Ambrosini after he was forced off the field at Juventus Stadium with ankle ligament damage.
Daniele Bonera is expected to take the place of the suspended Cristian Zapata to partner Philippe Mexes at centre-back.
Catania, meanwhile, are forced into a defensive reshuffle after last weekend’s ill-tempered Sicilian derby.
Goalkeeper Mariano Andujar is suspended after his sending off in the final minute of the 1-1 draw with Palermo, while defenders Giuseppe Bellusci and Nicolas Spolli are missing after both picked up yellow cards that triggered bans in the tie.
Coach Rolando Maran is sweating over the fitness of his captain Mariano Izco with Lucas Castro ready to step in.| DID YOU KNOW? |
Allegri's side have failed to win any of their last three fixtures in Serie A, their worst run of the campaign since September.
- Last year's corresponding fixture saw Milan run out comfortable winners, cruising to a 4-0 victory at San Siro.
- Stephan El Shaarawy (pictured, right) scored twice as the Rossoneri saw off Serie D outfit Folgore Caratese 9-2 in a training-ground friendly this week.
- Catania haven't beaten Milan in the league since they regained promotion to Serie A in 2006.
- Gli Elifante are in a position to challenge for the best finish in their history. Their current highest finish to date is 8th place.
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The Sicilian derby last weekend at Catania's Stadio Angelo Massimino ended with a 22-man scuffle on the pitch after Josip Ilicic's dramatic equaliser for Palermo saw tensions boil over.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Milan 3-0 Catania
- 28.17 %
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Milan 2-0 Catania
- 19.96 %
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Milan 3-1 Catania
- 9.75 %
| Serie A (ITA1) | 29-Apr-2013 | Milan 4 - Catania 2 |
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| Serie A (ITA1) | 01-Dec-2012 | Catania 1 - Milan 3 |
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| Serie A (ITA1) | 31-Mar-2012 | Catania 1 - Milan 1 |
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| Serie A (ITA1) | 06-Nov-2011 | Milan 4 - Catania 0 |
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| Serie A (ITA1) | 30-Jan-2011 | Catania 0 - Milan 2 |
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Milan
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| 20-May-2013 | Siena 1 - Milan 2 | ITA1 |
| 13-May-2013 | Milan 0 - AS Roma 0 | ITA1 |
| 08-May-2013 | Pescara 0 - Milan 4 | ITA1 |
| 05-May-2013 | Milan 1 - Torino 0 | ITA1 |
| 29-Apr-2013 | Milan 4 - Catania 2 | ITA1 |
Catania
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| 20-May-2013 | Torino 2 - Catania 2 | ITA1 |
| 12-May-2013 | Catania 1 - Pescara 0 | ITA1 |
| 09-May-2013 | Sampdoria 1 - Catania 1 | ITA1 |
| 05-May-2013 | Catania 3 - Siena 0 | ITA1 |
| 29-Apr-2013 | Milan 4 - Catania 2 | ITA1 |
| 1 | Marco Amelia | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Mattia De Sciglio | Defender |
| 5 | Philippe Mexes | Defender |
| 20 | Ignazio Abate | Defender |
| 25 | Daniele Bonera | Defender |
| 8 | Antonio Nocerino | Midfielder |
| 10 | Kevin-Prince Boateng | Midfielder |
| 16 | Mathieu Flamini | Midfielder |
| 18 | Riccardo Montolivo | Midfielder |
| 45 | Mario Balotelli | Striker |
| 92 | Stephan El Shaarawy | Midfielder |
| 59 | Gabriel | Goalkeeper |
| - | Lazar Petkovic | Goalkeeper |
| 76 | Mario Alberto Yepes | Defender |
| 77 | Luca Antonini | Defender |
| 2 | Cristian Zaccardo | Defender |
| 4 | Sulley Ali Muntari | Midfielder |
| 12 | Bakaye Traoré | Midfielder |
| 21 | Kevin Constant | Midfielder |
| 7 | Robinho | Striker |
| 11 | Giampaolo Pazzini | Striker |
| 9 | L. Niang | Goalkeeper |
| 1 | Alberto Frison | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | A. Rolín | Defender |
| 6 | Nicola Legrottaglie | Defender |
| 12 | Giovanni Marchese | Defender |
| 4 | Sergio Bernardo Almiron | Midfielder |
| 10 | Francesco Lodi | Midfielder |
| 13 | Mariano Julio Izco | Midfielder |
| 19 | Lucas Castro | Midfielder |
| 28 | Pablo César Barrientos | Midfielder |
| 18 | Gonzalo Bergessio | Striker |
| 17 | Alejandro Gómez | Midfielder |
| 29 | Pietro Terracciano | Goalkeeper |
| - | Giuseppe Messina | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Alessandro Potenza | Defender |
| 18 | Blazej Augustyn | Defender |
| 33 | Ciro Capuano | Defender |
| - | E. Cabalceta | Defender |
| 24 | Adrian Ricchiuti | Midfielder |
| 27 | Marco Biagianti | Midfielder |
| 30 | Amidu Salifu | Midfielder |
| 26 | Keko | Striker |
| - | Edgar Çani | Striker |
| 35 | Souleymane Doukara | Striker |
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Edinson Cavani Striker Napoli |
29 | 7 |
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Antonio Di Natale Striker Udinese |
23 | 4 |
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Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Striker Roma |
16 | 2 |
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Stephan El Shaarawy Midfielder Milan |
16 | 0 |
|
Germán Denis Striker Atalanta |
15 | 5 |