Champions League Preview: FC Zurich - Milan

The Swiss caused a major stir by defeating the Rossoneri in Matchday 2, but they seem unlikely to repeat that famous feat…

Dec 7, 2009 1:31:44 PM

More On :  AC Milan, FC Zurich, FC Zurich vs AC Milan
Alexandre Pato - Milan-Zurich - Uefa Cup (Grazia Neri)
Kick-Off: Tuesday, December 8, 2009. 20:45 CET
Letzigrund, Zurich

On A Downbound Train

FC Zurich may only boast three Champions League points, but what a memorable way to have claimed them. In one of the great shocks in European football history, the Swiss minnows travelled to the mighty San Siro and claimed a shock 1-0 success courtesy of a Hannu Tihinen goal, which placed home coach Leonardo’s job in severe jeopardy.
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While the Rossoneri have since bounced back impressively, the same cannot be said of FCZ, who have toiled on all fronts since that great night in late September. One win in five domestic league matches sees them seventh in the rather modest Swiss league, while their Champions League adventure has seen three defeats, one of them heavy.

For a period against Marseille at home, Zurich gave the French club a fright, before eventually losing 1-0. In the south of France it was a very different story, with an abject defensive performance contributing heavily to a 6-1 loss. At the Bernabeu a fortnight ago, Zurich steadied themselves but still lost out narrowly to a complacent looking Real Madrid team.

It seems that Bernard Challandes’ team will slide back into relative obscurity after one final glamour tie on Tuesday evening. Though there is no prospect of reaching even the Europa League, the home players will doubtless be going out to prove a point against their illustrious opponents.

Heading For Perfection

Milan’s defeat against Zurich sent the club into something of a tailspin, but thankfully for coach Leonardo, that proved to be a bottoming out for the Rossoneri, who have since impressed greatly in Serie A, in which their newly adopted offensive tactics have helped them record five consecutive wins, and seven from their last eight.

Now second in the Italian top flight, Milan have already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League and are even being touted as potential winners of the competition in some quarters. Such statements are probably a little optimistic, as the Rossoneri’s 1-1 draw with Marseille last time out perhaps hints at.

But after a famous 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in Spain – a game that was the exact antithesis of the Zurich debacle – it is easy to see why such comments are being passed.

The weekend win over Sampdoria has only added more weight to Milan’s claims of once again being a true European heavyweight, and there was certainly a degree of swagger in the comments that Leonardo made to the media after the 3-0 win, which was sealed as early as the 23rd minute, when Alexandre Pato added to goals already scored by Marco Borriello and Clarence Seedorf.

“Our approach was perfect,” he told the press. “We wanted to start well in order to immediately find the right tempo in midfield and we managed to do so. The team did everything I asked them to, the performance was extraordinary and our second goal was absolutely perfect.”

‘Perfect’ is clearly the watchword of the week for the Brazilian, so Zurich beware.

FORM GUIDE

Zurich

LOST 1-0 (a) Grasshopper (Super League, December 5)

WON 2-0 (h) Aarau (Super League, November 29)

LOST 1-0 (a) Real Madrid (Champions League, November 25)

LOST 1-0 (a) Luzern (Super League, November 8)

LOST 6-1 (a) Olympique de Marseille (Champions League, November 3)

Milan

WON 3-0 (h) Sampdoria (Serie A, December 5)

WON 2-0 (a) Catania (Serie A, November 29)

DREW 1-1 (h) Olympique de Marseille (Champions League, November 25)

WON 4–3 (h) Cagliari (Serie A, November 22)

WON 2-1 (a) Lazio (Serie A, November 8)

TEAM NEWS

Zurich

Long-term injury issues Yassine Chikhaoui and Eric Hassli persist for the Swiss champions. Johan Vonlanthen, Philippe Koch and Silvan Aegerter have all recently returned after brief layoffs.

Florian Stahel is banned.

Probable Starting XI: Leoni; Lampi, Barmettler, Tihinen, Koch; Aegerter, Okonkwo; Vonlanthen, Margairaz, Djuric; Alphonse

Milan

There are several injury concerns for Leonardo to take into account ahead of this fixture. Massimo Oddo injured his thigh in the recent encounter against Marseille and will not play again this year, while Oguchi Onyewu, Marco Storari, Marek Jankulovski and Gennaro Gattuso are all on the treatment table.

Davide Di Gennaro and Marco Storari were both on the bench at the weekend and could feature.

Filippo Inzaghi can play after a weekend suspension. Gianluca Zambrotta is banned, though.

Probable Starting XI: Dida; Abate, Nesta, Silva, Kaladze; Ambrosini, Seedorf, Pirlo; Pato, Borriello, Ronaldinho

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zurich

The hero in the first meeting between the teams, Hannu Tihinen will do his utmost to replicate his performance at the San Siro. Not only will FCZ need his muscle in the opposing penalty box from set plays, they desperately need him to show the kind of defensive form he mustered in northern Italy. Zurich have found clean sheets hard to come by of late, and they certainly need one on Tuesday if they are to claim anything significant.

Milan

Striker Marco Borriello looked very lively against Marseille, and after bagging a quick fire goal at the weekend will be hungry for more. Though injury has prevented him appearing particularly regularly for the Diavolo as yet this term, he is already their second top scorer with four strikes to his name.

PREDICTION

This will be a mission for vengeance on Milan’s part, and they are certainly playing well enough to achieve it. With the need to secure top spot also in their minds, the Italians should have few problems overcoming a side who have greater worries than Tuesday’s fixture.

FC Zurich 0-3 Milan

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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