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0 vs 2
Played
January 29, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Stadio Angelo Massimino — Catania
Referee:‬ P. Tagliavento‎
Attendance:‬ 20000‎
 
 
Robinho 58′
 

Serie A Preview: Catania - Milan

The Rossoneri will confront one of the toughest away fixtures in Serie A as they travel to Sicily to take on Catania...

By Subhankar Mondal

Diego Pablo Simeone - Mascara - Parma-Catania - Serie A (Getty Images)
Counting On Home Form

Catania boast one of the best home records in Serie A as the Sicilian side have proved again and again that they are a formidable side in their own backyard. So far this campaign the Etnei have lost just twice at the Stadio Angelo Massimino and those defeats came at the hands of Juventus and Inter.

However, Catania's terrible away results (or lack of them) have pushed them to 16th in the league standings on 22 points from 21 matches, just three above the relegation zone. Diego Simeone's side have yet to register a victory in the league this new year as they have lost three of the four Serie A encounters and also bowed out of the Coppa Italia after going down 2-0 to Juventus in Turin in the Round of 16.

It's desperate time for Catania as they need maximum points against Milan to continue their fight against survival in the Italian top flight. In the reverse fixture at San Siro in September the Rossazzurri collected a point after drawing 1-1 and this weekend they will be trying to achieve at least a similar result.

Coach Simeone has urged his players to forget last weekend's defeat to Parma and concentrate on the encounter against Milan. The Argentine said,"We made too many sloppy mistakes and I can't allow that. We must correct that.

"There was also a drop in concentration and you cannot afford to do that in this competition. We will have to play a perfect game against Milan if we are to get a result.''

Back Up And Running

Milan's start to the new year had been somewhat stuttering as after a late goal secured them a 1-0 victory in Cagliari, they failed to win against Udinese and Lecce, allowing the other Scudetto challengers to close the gap.

However, Massimiliano Allegri's side have since turned the tide and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Having dismissed Bari 3-0 in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, the Diavolo defeated Cesena 2-0 at San Siro last weekend and in midweek got the better of Sampdoria 2-1 in Genoa to force their way into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup.

Milan lead the Serie A standings by just four points from second-placed Napoli and are themselves on 44 points after 21 matches. Having gone six competitive matches in 2011 without suffering a loss, the former Italian and European champions will be hopeful of a positive result in Catania.



TEAM NEWS

Catania


Biagianti, Potenza, Llama and Izco are injured and will miss the visit of Milan.

Milan

Boateng, Zambrotta, Inzaghi, Amelia, Pirlo, Jankulovski, Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf, Flamini, Strasser and Abate are injured and will miss the trip to Sicily.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Apr 28, 2013 AC Milan 4 - Catania 2
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Nov 30, 2012 Catania 1 - AC Milan 3
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Mar 31, 2012 Catania 1 - AC Milan 1
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Nov 6, 2011 AC Milan 4 - Catania 0
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Jan 29, 2011 Catania 0 - AC Milan 2
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Last Five Matches
Catania
May 19, 2013Torino 2 - Catania 2ITA1
May 11, 2013Catania 1 - Pescara 0ITA1
May 8, 2013Sampdoria 1 - Catania 1ITA1
May 5, 2013Catania 3 - Siena 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013AC Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
AC Milan
May 19, 2013Siena 1 - AC Milan 2ITA1
May 12, 2013AC Milan 0 - Roma 0ITA1
May 8, 2013Pescara 0 - AC Milan 4ITA1
May 5, 2013AC Milan 1 - Torino 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013AC Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
21Mariano Gonzalo AndújarGoalkeeper
18Blazej AugustynDefender
6Matías SilvestreDefender
3Nicolás Federico SpolliDefender
33Ciro CapuanoDefender
-Ezequiel CarboniMidfielder
8Pablo LedesmaMidfielder
8Fabio SciaccaMidfielder
17Alejandro GómezMidfielder
10Maxi LópezStriker
9Giuseppe MascaraStriker
-Tomáš KošickýGoalkeeper
12Giovanni MarcheseDefender
-MartinhoMidfielder
22Simone PesceMidfielder
24Adrian RicchiutiMidfielder
-Takayuki MorimotoStriker
32Christian AbbiatiGoalkeeper
25Daniele BoneraDefender
76Mario Alberto YepesDefender
4Thiago SilvaDefender
77Luca AntoniniDefender
23Massimo AmbrosiniMidfielder
-Mark van BommelMidfielder
-Alexander MerkelMidfielder
7RobinhoStriker
18Zlatan IbrahimovicStriker
99Antonio CassanoStriker
30Flavio RomaGoalkeeper
22Sokratis PapastathopoulosDefender
-Massimo OddoDefender
-Marek JankulovskiDefender
-Simone CalvanoMidfielder
8Urby EmanuelsonMidfielder
7Alexandre PatoStriker
Probable Lineups
Mariano Gonzalo Andújar 21
Blazej Augustyn 18
Matías Silvestre 6
Nicolás Federico Spolli 3
Ciro Capuano 33
Ezequiel Carboni 0
Pablo Ledesma 8
Fabio Sciacca 8
Alejandro Gómez 17
Maxi López 10
Giuseppe Mascara 9
Christian Abbiati 32
Daniele Bonera 25
Mario Alberto Yepes 76
Thiago Silva 4
Luca Antonini 77
Massimo Ambrosini 23
Mark van Bommel 0
Alexander Merkel 0
Robinho 7
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 18
Antonio  Cassano 99
Prediction
Catania are strong at home and will have the confidence of getting at least something from their encounter against Milan. The Rossoneri, though, are back in form but one suspects that the Sicilians could just about pull off a surprise.

Editor's Prediction
Milan 2
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma
16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan
16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta
15 5