Serie A Week 2: Inter Edge Catania Thanks To Two Own-Goals, Genoa Humiliate Milan
September 16th 2008 02:54
This week, both Mourinho and Ancelotti were looking for their first win of the campaign. In order to do so, both coaches made some changes to their roster to mixed results.
Inter Milan – Catania: 2-1
First up, the Nerazzurri used a 4-4-2 formation, putting Bolatelli alongside Ibrahimovic in front in order to get more attacking options. As a result, Catania were pinned inside of their own half during the first thirty minutes, facing relentless Inter attacks. Yet, the visitors were the first to score, four minutes before half-time, surprising the entire stadium. Perhaps the euphoria caused by the goal lasted a bit too long for Walter Zenga's liking because, one minute later, new signing Ricardo Quaresma's cross would get a major deflection and end up in the back of the net, tying the score at 1-1. The drama wouldn't end there however – one minute before half-time, midfielder Muntari was sent off for slapping a Catania player. Down to ten men for the second half, Inter simply had to hope for the best.
Mourinho's men didn't have to wait long to breathe a sigh of relief. Two minutes into the second half, another cross would get deflected by a Catania defender, beating Bizarri for the second time. The unlucky goalkeeper probably wondered if his defense had decided to play against him. The rest of the game was a complete waste of time as the visitors committed dive after dive, looking for that precious free-kick or penalty to salvage a point. Ibrahimovic had two clear scoring chances late in the game, but he was denied by Bizarri who didn't play badly at all – just unlucky.
Inter Milan's line-up: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Marco Materazzi, Maxwell; Luis Figo (Javier Zanetti, h-t), Patrick Viera, Sulley Muntari, Ricardo Quaresma (Mancini, 77th); Mario Bolatelli, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Genoa – AC Milan: 0-2
One day later, the other Milan club got humiliated by Genoa, putting up a performance that makes you wonder where is the team that recently won the Champions League. After last week's defeat, Ancelotti gave Shevchenko his first start of the season while Kaka got partnered with Ronaldinho to support Sheva. The result was the same as last week as the Rossoneri's sterile attack couldn't break through Genoa's defense. Here's what went wrong for Ancelotti's men.
First, Kaka seemed rushed from the infirmary to get some playing time before the Champions League. The Brazilian midfielder looked fragile as every tackle left him holding his knee in agony. Clarence Seedorf was match-fit but he only came in at half-time. Why he wasn't partnered with Ronaldinho is a mystery. Yes, technically they play on the same side but I think Seedorf could've easily played on the right side without too many problems.
Secondly, Milan's defense is getting too old. Don't get me wrong, I think Maldini is one of the greatest defenders of all-time, but there comes a point where you can't keep up with younger guys who will throw everything at you. On Genoa's first goal, the veteran was left trailing the striker too late to do anything to stop him. On the second, it was once again Maldini who tripped the striker inside the 18-yard box for a penalty. Things can't get any worse for Milan, so I think it's the perfect time to give Senderos a try. Up front, Ronaldinho had a better game than last week, only this time he couldn't seem to find his teammates. Once again, maybe Ancelotti should try something new there. Drop the lone striker thing for a while, and try a 4-3-3 like Barcelona with Ronaldinho and Seedorf on the wings and Pirlo, Flamini/Gattuso/Ambrosini, and Kaka and midfield. Heck, try a 4-4-2 while we're at it, Boriello and Pato looked good on Sunday. Or, if they keep the 4-5-1, try at least to get some more width on the wings to get a few crosses in because right now, the Rossoneri look terrible.
AC Milan's line-up: Christian Abbiati; Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Bonera, Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Favalli; Mathieu Flamini (Alexandre Pato, 68th), Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Kaka, Ronaldinho (Clarence Seedorf, h-t); Andriy Shevchenko (Marco Boriello, h-t).
Inter Milan – Catania: 2-1
First up, the Nerazzurri used a 4-4-2 formation, putting Bolatelli alongside Ibrahimovic in front in order to get more attacking options. As a result, Catania were pinned inside of their own half during the first thirty minutes, facing relentless Inter attacks. Yet, the visitors were the first to score, four minutes before half-time, surprising the entire stadium. Perhaps the euphoria caused by the goal lasted a bit too long for Walter Zenga's liking because, one minute later, new signing Ricardo Quaresma's cross would get a major deflection and end up in the back of the net, tying the score at 1-1. The drama wouldn't end there however – one minute before half-time, midfielder Muntari was sent off for slapping a Catania player. Down to ten men for the second half, Inter simply had to hope for the best.
Mourinho's men didn't have to wait long to breathe a sigh of relief. Two minutes into the second half, another cross would get deflected by a Catania defender, beating Bizarri for the second time. The unlucky goalkeeper probably wondered if his defense had decided to play against him. The rest of the game was a complete waste of time as the visitors committed dive after dive, looking for that precious free-kick or penalty to salvage a point. Ibrahimovic had two clear scoring chances late in the game, but he was denied by Bizarri who didn't play badly at all – just unlucky.
Inter Milan's line-up: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Marco Materazzi, Maxwell; Luis Figo (Javier Zanetti, h-t), Patrick Viera, Sulley Muntari, Ricardo Quaresma (Mancini, 77th); Mario Bolatelli, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Genoa – AC Milan: 0-2
One day later, the other Milan club got humiliated by Genoa, putting up a performance that makes you wonder where is the team that recently won the Champions League. After last week's defeat, Ancelotti gave Shevchenko his first start of the season while Kaka got partnered with Ronaldinho to support Sheva. The result was the same as last week as the Rossoneri's sterile attack couldn't break through Genoa's defense. Here's what went wrong for Ancelotti's men.
First, Kaka seemed rushed from the infirmary to get some playing time before the Champions League. The Brazilian midfielder looked fragile as every tackle left him holding his knee in agony. Clarence Seedorf was match-fit but he only came in at half-time. Why he wasn't partnered with Ronaldinho is a mystery. Yes, technically they play on the same side but I think Seedorf could've easily played on the right side without too many problems.
Secondly, Milan's defense is getting too old. Don't get me wrong, I think Maldini is one of the greatest defenders of all-time, but there comes a point where you can't keep up with younger guys who will throw everything at you. On Genoa's first goal, the veteran was left trailing the striker too late to do anything to stop him. On the second, it was once again Maldini who tripped the striker inside the 18-yard box for a penalty. Things can't get any worse for Milan, so I think it's the perfect time to give Senderos a try. Up front, Ronaldinho had a better game than last week, only this time he couldn't seem to find his teammates. Once again, maybe Ancelotti should try something new there. Drop the lone striker thing for a while, and try a 4-3-3 like Barcelona with Ronaldinho and Seedorf on the wings and Pirlo, Flamini/Gattuso/Ambrosini, and Kaka and midfield. Heck, try a 4-4-2 while we're at it, Boriello and Pato looked good on Sunday. Or, if they keep the 4-5-1, try at least to get some more width on the wings to get a few crosses in because right now, the Rossoneri look terrible.
AC Milan's line-up: Christian Abbiati; Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Bonera, Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Favalli; Mathieu Flamini (Alexandre Pato, 68th), Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Kaka, Ronaldinho (Clarence Seedorf, h-t); Andriy Shevchenko (Marco Boriello, h-t).
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