Posts Tagged ‘Ronaldinho’

Palermo 3-1 Milan: Rosanero >>> Rossoneri at Stadio Barbera (Serie A Matchday 14)

Monday, December 1st, 2008

Carlo Ancelotti has a plan for December. His plan is to catch up to Inter before the Christmas break, so that his team can go on holiday with a good psychological advantage.

After the events on Sunday evening, it seems like Carlo should think of a “plan B”.

AC Milan got litterally trampled on Sunday, besieged and mocked by the best Palermo side of the season. Even though the goals were all scored in the second half, the Rosanero dominated all of the 90 minutes of play, eventually piercing through the (weak) Rossoneri defenses with Miccoli, Cavani and Simplício. Milan’s late reaction (Ronaldinho P.K.) was thoroughly insufficient as Ancelotti’s team repeated (and even amplified) all of the limits shown in the draws against Lecce and Torino.

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Filippo Inzaghi sends Milan to the Next Round (UEFA Cup Group Stage, Matchday 3)

Friday, November 28th, 2008

After triple and double wins on Matchday 1 and Matchday 2, the Serie A wave of success came to an halt in the UEFA Cup Group Stage.

With Udinese taking a break this round, both AC Milan and Sampdoria couldn’t do better than 2-2 and 1-1 draws vs. Portsmouth and Stuttgart on Thursday. However, while the Blucerchiati’s future in Europe still remains uncertain, Milan mathematically achieved their ticket to the next round thanks to a dramatic last-minute come-back, courtesy of the one and only Pippo Inzaghi.

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Torino 2-2 Milan: Rossoneri “Hand” Granata a Draw… (Serie A Matchday 13)

Monday, November 24th, 2008

What is a handball? What is not a handball? How to define intention? These are just a few of the questions to be raised, once again, after a doubtful night of refereeing in the Serie A. Torino vs. Milan serves as a good example that even an experienced ref like Stefano Farina can sometimes reduce the difference between a good and a bad call to a very thin line.

Was Pratali’s handball on Ronaldinho’s cross a penalty? Was Kaladze’s handball unintentional? The two offenses were probably of equal entity, yet what could have been a nail-in-the-coffin in favor of the Rossoneri rapidly transformed into an equalizing spot-kick for the Granata. All in all, based on both team’s performances tonight, the 2-2 draw was not a scandalous result. Although Khaka Kaladze won’t quite see it the same way…

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Lecce 1-1 Milan: Ronaldinho Gives Hope, Set Pieces Shatter It (Serie A Matchday 11)

Monday, November 10th, 2008

AC Milan‘s stay on top of Serie A standings lasted merely a week, as the Rossoneri drew 1-1 away to Lecce, the home side making use of the one thing that still continues to be the bane of Carlo Ancelotti’s team: defending set pieces.

The 93rd minute goal scored by the Giallorossi, after Milan had dominated proceedings in their best away display so far this season, looks like a slap in the face for Ronaldinho & friends, especially since Borriello and Kaká had contrived to miss a flurry of chances for the visitors. The positive news for Galliani & Berlusconi, while they still wait for Shevchenko, is that their bet on Ronaldinho seems to be really paying off, the ex-Barcelona forward scoring the Rossoneri’s only goal from an assist by Pato (just on in place of Mathieu Flamini).

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Quagliarella Inspires, Dinho Follows (UEFA Cup Group Stage, Matchday 2)

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Surfing the wave of success from matchday 1, Serie A clubs continued their good run of form on matchday 2 of UEFA Cup Group Stage. With Sampdoria taking a break this round, both AC Milan and Udinese came out victorious of their encounters vs. Sporting Braga (1-0) and Spartak Moscow (2-1).

While Udinese achieved their result thanks to a 60th minute penalty of Fabio Quagliarella, the Rossoneri had to patiently (frustratingly?) wait until stoppage time of the second half, before a Ronaldinho-powered blast gave Milan the late victory.

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