When Associazione Calcio Milan are at their best, so is football.

It feels as if centuries have passed since AC Milan‘s prestigious red-and-black stripes were relevant; winning Serie A in 2010/11, their five-year decline (marginal at first, then dramatic) has coincided with Juventus‘ rise to prominence and, in turn, something of an economic nightmare at the San Siro. 

Only Real Madrid (10) have more European Cup/Champions League crowns than Milan’s seven, but recent years have made that history a stark reminder of how far they have fallen, not necessarily a beacon of hope.

Despite their present regression, though, the Rossoneri could be in the midst of a slight resurgence.

After losing four of their opening seven matches this season, manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has rebounded. In Milan’s last 15 Serie A fixtures, they have lost just two—both 1-0 losses to Juventus and Bologna. In 19th place after the first match, the former superclub are now sixth, and six points from Champions league qualification (just two from the Europa League).

Napoli and Juventus are in a competition for the Scudetto all their own, but the next four cubs (Fiorentina, Inter Milan, AS Roma and AC Milan) are playing a venerable game of musical chairs for the last Champions League place.

Fiorentina, Inter and Roma have led Serie A during this campaign for a collective of 14 matchdays, but they were either overtaken by the top two or simply imploded.

Barring a rampant Juve, Milan are arguably Italy’s in-form club, meaning the misery of others could lead to their fortune.

For nearly three seasons that formula has been reversed—other clubs have used Milan’s valley against them. Football, however, is a cyclical sport, so it stands to reason the San Siro‘s red half will return, many just weren’t expecting 2015/16 to be the season.

Handling Roberto Mancini’s Inter 3-0 in the Milan derby, Mihajlovic‘s men dismantled their in-town rivals with relative ease.

An Alex header, Carlos Bacca volley and M’Baye Niang finish—combined with a competent defensive performance—displayed the club’s growth since the season opener. The 3-0 result was Milan’s best overall performance in 2015/16, and it should foster confidence moving forward.

Milan’s next three league fixtures—the latter two at home—come against the current 14th (Palermo), 15th (Udinese) and 16th (Genoa) sides in the division. Nine points before their trip to Naples on 21 February would likely have the Rossoneri already in the Europa League places, with Napoli their largest test since losing to Juve on 21 November.

If the current pattern persists over the next three months, and Milan find themselves in the top three, the scope of world football will shift.

A massive club with staying power—and supposedly using their finances in a more responsible fashion—2016 might be the improbable, yet welcome, year Milan return to the precipice of European prominence.

Boasting legendary names (too many to list) from eras past, the current edition cannot compete with their former firepower, nor silverware output, but the carrot of Champions League football tends to attract world-class names who can start the process of continental domination.

If Mihajlovic gets the Rossoneri into the Champions League, the rest will take care of itself (provided ownership stewards the club responsibly).

AC Milan’s 3-0 trouncing of Inter is comforting in that regard, but there is still a mountain of food left to eat from this particular plate: namely 16 Serie A fixtures and 48 possible points.

Follow @danieltiluk

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1WX5SX8
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

As Juventus took on Chievo this weekend, they were blessed to have a number of players deliver excellent performances. From Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata in attack through the midfield influence of Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio, it was a superb team display that led to the comprehensive 4-0 victory.

The defence went practically untested throughout, but every other department of Massimiliano Allegri’s team functioned perfectly, with the coach once again able to rest and rotate his squad in order to cope with a congested fixture list.

Making no fewer than five changes to the side which won their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Inter Milan at a canter, it was one of the men who featured in that first leg who was arguably the team’s most influential player against Chievo.

From the opening minute, Paul Pogba played with an energy and determination that had been missing in recent weeks, looking much sharper at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi and repeatedly opening up the Veronese side.

Indeed, their overwhelmed opponents had no answer to Juventus in general, but Pogba ran riot in the middle of the pitch, breaking up attacks before launching the Bianconeri on their way with his incredible blend of pace, power and technical ability.

Chievo simply could not cope with the 22-year-old, and—even just looking at the raw statistics—his contribution to the win was staggering.

The graphic in the tweet below showcases the breadth of Pogba’s performance, and breaking it down into various categories highlights just how complete a display he turned in.

He grabbed the headlines with a goal and an assist, but he also connected with 62 of his 70 pass attempts (88.6 percent), which is 15 successful passes more than his usual average, according to WhoScored.com.

As can been seen below after some great work from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Pogba’s awareness to find the on-rushing Alex Sandro for Juve’s third goal was excellent, knowing the Brazilian was arriving and managing to get him the ball despite close attention.

Also completing four of the six take-ons he tried, the Chievo defence was often left chasing shadows, quite the contrast to Pogba’s own defensive effort. Over the course of the game, the aforementioned graphic shows he won three tackles, two aerial duels while making one interception and 10 ball recoveries.

Again that is a markedly improved contribution to the one he normally makes, with figures from WhoScored showing Pogba is averaging just 1.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game thus far in 2015/16.

In an unsurprising piece of analysis, Allegri asked for even more from the France international and others, telling reporters at his post-match press conference that they could have won by an even wider margin.

“There’s room for improvement both on an individual and collective level, whether physically or mentally,” the Juve boss said. “Pogba’s final effort on goal is a case in point, when he struck the crossbar by hitting the ball too hard. Instead, he might have opted to place his shot to better effect.”

That effort can be seen above and, despite now having added six goals and seven assists in all competitions, it must be noted that Pogba took no fewer than nine shots against Chievo, per WhoScored.

It is an area of his game he can certainly put more effort into in the coming weeks, but the frightening thing for opponents is that Pogba is almost certain to do so, after discussing the club’s work ethic in an interview with La Stampa last month.

“People ought to know that it is not easy at Juve,” the Frenchman said (h/t Football Italia). “There is a culture of work that is different to anything else abroad.”

Whether that is true or not, the presence of talents such as Pogba means his team are certainly a different class to their domestic opponents, as he proved against Chievo.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1PLBadz
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

AC Milan claimed bragging rights over city rivals Inter Milan with a resounding 3-0 triumph in Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina.

The Rossoneri avenged a 1-0 loss at the hands of the same opponents on Sept. 13, 2015, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games in the process.

A header from Alex broke the deadlock after 35 minutes, but the defender looked to have turned from hero to villain when he gave away a penalty in the second half.

However, forward Mauro Icardi—who had started the game on the bench—saw his spot-kick kept out by a post. Just three minutes later, AC Milan doubled their lead when striker Carlos Bacca converted M’Baye Niang‘s cross.

Niang turned from provider to scorer for the game’s third goal, the forward finding the net at the second attempt after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had saved his initial effort.

The result still leaves AC Milan in sixth spot in the table, although they are now just five points behind their fourth-placed opponents.

Here, Bleacher Report has picked out the winners and losers from what turned out to be a one-sided derby.

Begin Slideshow

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1PrHviu
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

AC Milan booked a huge 3-0 win over Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday, beating their city rivals after 90 minutes of scintillating football. The win sees the Rossoneri climb to sixth place in the Serie A standings.

Alex opened the score with a powerful header in the first half, and Carlos Bacca and M’Baye Niang scored within four minutes of each other after the break. Just before Bacca’s goal, Inter forward Mauro Icardi missed a penalty.

Sunday’s derby proved to be a fantastic encounter for neutral fans, as it was filled with great attacking football, rough challenges and plenty of controversy. Inter certainly had their chances, but ultimately, Milan proved to be the more efficient team.

As shared by Squawka Football, Inter manager Roberto Mancini dropped star striker Icardi to the bench and instead opted to field Stevan Jovetic and new signing Eder:

Right from the start, the Derby della Madonnina produced fireworks, with Niang running right at the Inter defence and nearly getting off a shot. Ivan Perisic played in Eder, who could have tried his luck himself but instead failed to find Jovetic.

Eder should have opened the score after seven minutes but somehow missed a wide-open header from just five yards out after a superb cross from Juan Jesus. Copa90 thought the new signing looked primed to make life hard on the Rossoneri:

The official then stole the show with a controversial decision just 10 minutes into the match, awarding Milan a free-kick after Luca Antonelli clashed with Eder. The defender seemed to commit a last-man foul on the Inter man, however, and replay confirmed the visitors should have been handed the free-kick and Antonelli was lucky to still be on the pitch.

Juraj Kucka was by far the best man on the pitch for the hosts in the opening stages, and he set up Niang with a clever nutmeg, with the striker forcing Samir Handanovic into a first good save. ESPN FC’s Michael Cox enjoyed what he was seeing:

Inter were given even more reasons to be frustrated with the official, as Giacomo Bonaventura accidentally caught Perisic’s eye after flying into a challenge, but it didn’t result in a free-kick. Alessio Romagnoli then did well to break up a promising Inter attack, forcing Perisic out wide.

Milan started to take control of the ball and the tempo dropped midway through the first half, but Inter looked threatening on the counter-attack. Alex nearly fluffed a clearance straight into his own net, but fortunately for the defender, the ball sailed over Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal.

Donnarumma made a strong impression in the first half, with a number of key saves, while Miranda was forced to make a last-ditch tackle on the other side of the pitch. A goal seemed imminent, and the hosts finally broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time.

Keisuke Honda fired a free-kick into the box and Alex timed his run to perfection before powering a header past Handanovic. As shared by Bet365, the goal looked a lot like Mark Hateley’s iconic goal in the 1984 derby―one the home fans happened to celebrate with their pre-match choreography:

Inter came close to tying things up just before the end of the first half, as Donnarumma’s clearance fell to Jesus. The defender tried to work the ball into the open net with the help of Jovetic, but somehow, the Nerazzurri failed to take advantage of the situation.

Tempers flared early in the second half, as Donnarumma made contact with Eder while trying to clear the ball. Inter wanted a penalty, but instead, the official handed Milan a goal kick. Mancini and his players were furious, and the incident resulted in the manager being sent to the stands.

Copa90 started getting into the derby spirit:

The Rossoneri aimed for the counter-attack and could have doubled their lead after 55 minutes, but Kucka and Bonaventura weren’t on the same page, with the latter starting his run to the centre just as the ball was played wide.

Inter were fortunate Bonaventura couldn’t fire the ball through a forest of legs after great work from Romagnoli, as momentum was now squarely with the hosts. The Nerazzurri responded by taking off Jovetic for Icardi, and the former was visibly upset with the decision as he walked toward the sidelines.

Icardi had an immediate impact, winning a penalty after Alex brought him down inside the box. The Rossoneri were furious with the decision, but their fury quickly evaporated when the Argentinian struck the post with his spot kick. The Guardian‘s Paolo Bandini couldn’t believe it:

And things got even worse for the visitors just minutes later, as Bacca, who had been virtually invisible up to that point, pushed home Milan’s second after a lovely ball from Niang.

Inter now imploded completely, and Niang grabbed a well-deserved goal of his own with 13 minutes left on the clock, blasting the ball past Handanovic in two tries. Anthony Lopopolo of theScore thought the youngster silenced the critics in a big way on Sunday:

Niang made way for Mario Balotelli, who found a way to get booked less than 60 seconds after coming on, but by that time, the match had already lost its intensity, as Milan controlled the ball and Inter no longer believed in their chances. Honda came close to a fourth goal for the hosts, who deservedly walked away with the three points.

The win is a huge result for Milan, taking the Rossoneri up to sixth place in the standings. The team has some ground to make up for the final UEFA Champions League ticket, but with a trip to Palermo on the schedule, the opportunities are there for Milan.

Inter’s slump continues, and the Nerazzurri title challenge is all but over after the derby loss. Mancini’s men must turn to the battle for Europe, and they’ll have a great chance to return to their winning ways when they take on struggling Chievo.

Post-Match Reaction

To follow…

Follow @ReverschPass  

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1nGFxRc
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

AC Milan and Inter Milan meet in the second Derby della Madonnina of the Italian season on Sunday.

The city rivals go into the Serie A fixture off the back of contrasting first-leg results in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

While Mario Balotelli’s goal gave the Rossoneri a 1-0 away win over Lega Pro team Alessandria, the Nerazzurri were thrashed 3-0 at in-form Juventus.

The game kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT (2:45 p.m. ET). Join Bleacher Report for updates around 30 minutes prior to the action getting underway at the San Siro.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1P5VB5A
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Juventus travelled east to Verona for Serie A’s Sunday lunchtime match, taking on Chievo at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. The Bianconeri would equal their all-time best winning streak by recording a 12th consecutive victory, eventually recording a 4-0 scoreline which perhaps failed to underline their dominance.

Hitting the bar twice, the Turin giants could’ve scored even more goals but will be more than satisfied with a result that temporarily sent them to the top of the league table for the first time in 2015/16.

It was a result that piled on the agony for their opponents, Chievo having lost 4-1 to Lazio in their last outing, and they will need to put these results behind them before their midweek clash with Inter Milan.

What follows is a look at the winners and losers from this encounter for the Old Lady, highlighting the best and worst performances from what finished as a routine victory for the reigning Italian champions.

Begin Slideshow

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1RTZVe5
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Manchester United have reportedly missed out on two of their January transfer targets, as Fulham starlet Moussa Dembele and Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega have agreed to deals with other clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly pay just £5 million for Dembele, a 19-year-old striker who was also being followed by the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Juventus, per Football Insider (h/t Liam Spence of the Daily Express).

According to Sky Sports, he had a medical on Saturday, and an official announcement could arrive soon. Simon Peach of the Press Association believes he’ll return to Fulham on loan for the rest of the season, a move the reporter likes:

Fulham have endured a nightmare season in the Championship and desperately need to keep hold of their top talent, and the reported deal gives the club the chance to field Dembele in an attempt to avoid relegation.

Fans may be reminded of former Premier League star Nicolas Anelka when they watch Dembele play. Like his compatriot, the teenager combines excellent athleticism and strength with solid vision, and he’s both capable of playing inside the box and on the counter attack.

He moves very well in space, and while he can miss the odd sitter, he has a solid scoring record at every level he’s played at―indicating he’ll continue to score freely in the Premier League.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

For the reported fee of £5 million, Dembele is a steal, and United have to be frustrated a Premier League rival is on the verge of stealing him for such a minor fee. But Dembele‘s chances of earning playing time in the near future are likely far greater at White Hart Lane, explaining why he would pick Spurs over the Red Devils.

The likes of James Wilson and Will Keane continue to receive few chances with United’s senior squad, and both are established youngsters who have impressed with the academy for years. If they have to wait such a long time for their chance, things likely won’t be any different for Dembele, who is a solid but raw prospect.

Anthony Martial may have been dropped into the starting XI almost immediately, but he was one of Europe’s top teen prospects when he moved to Old Trafford. Tottenham have shown more of a willingness to give young talent a chance, so for the sake of his development, Dembele is probably making the right move.

Meanwhile, Sevilla star Banega has reportedly agreed to a pre-contract with Inter Milan, and the midfielder could move to Italy before the end of the window if the Nerazzurri are willing to pay £3.8 million for his services, per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Daily Star‘s Alex Wood).

Per the report, the Sun previously said United manager Louis van Gaal was hoping to bring the 27-year-old to Old Trafford as a free agent, with his contract set to expire in June.

Banega only moved to Sevilla in 2014, but after playing a big role in their run to the 2015 UEFA Europa League title, he now seems determined to cash in with an even bigger club.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

The Argentinian was once regarded as one of the top talents in all of football, but it took him a long time to make good on his potential. He played a massive role in Sevilla‘s strong form last season, but while he’s an excellent player, he may not be have what it takes to be a regular starter for a top club like United.

A move to Inter is perfect for Banega, as he will be surrounded by young talent in Italy and should be able to lead the side back to the summit of Serie A.

Follow @ReverschPass

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1Uyx64R
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Arsenal could sign Inter Milan midfield star Marcelo Brozovic for a bargain £15.2 million, after reports suggested the Nerazzurri are prepared to cash in on the Croatia international.

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato) said Inter are ready to move the player on. Tom Olver of Metro added the Serie A giants will first trigger their contractual option to buy the midfielder from Dinamo Zagreb after his 18-month loan stint at the San Siro ends and then sell the 23-year-old to the Gunners. 

Olver claimed Manchester United and Chelsea also have ambitions to pursue the box-to-box player, who would be a steal at the stated price. 

Calciomercato explained Inter are ready to welcome Sevilla kingpin Ever Banega, who is a free agent in the summer, opening the door for a quick profit on a Brozovic sale in June.

The Croatian has steadily improved during his short time in Italian football and has played 31 times in Serie A for his loan club, according to WhoScored.com.

However, the expected addition of Banega will squeeze Brozovic‘s opportunities in Milan, and a quick move to the Premier League could be more tempting than sitting on the Inter bench next term. 

Italian football writer Richard Hall recently highlighted how much Inter miss the player when he doesn’t start:

Speaking recently to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato), the player’s representative Miroslav Bicanic refused to rule out a transfer to England, saying:

Brozovic is part of the group of the new top players on the transfer market. We hope that he will continue this way and that he will do very well in 2016. Will he remain at Inter at the end of the season? This depends from the market and from the eventual offers. Last week I was in England, but I promise not to reveal the names of the clubs interested.

Brozovic is a fresh talent who is built for the rigours and pace of the Premier League. He would suit the current needs of Arsenal, United or Chelsea, with all three clubs having space in their squad for a player with the Croatian’s skills.

Inter boss Roberto Mancini recently said Brozovic could become “one of the best ever,” per Football Italia, and if he truly believes this assertion, he will not want to see the midfielder depart in the summer.

Here is a video of the player nicknamed the Maestro: 

In other news, Serge Gnabry is on his way back to Arsenal after his failed loan spell at West Bromwich Albion.

ESPN FC’s Mattias Karen confirmed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he will recall the German player after he failed to break into the Baggies side. 

Wenger commented about Gnabry after the Gunners defeated Burnley in the FA Cup, per Karen: “I am tempted to let him go somewhere [on loan], to do with him what I did with [Francis] Coquelin—to go somewhere for a month or two and then come back.”

Gnabry was impressive during his earliest appearances in Arsenal’s first-team, but he desperately needs a run at another club in the Premier League in order to improve.

He has an impressive set of skills and genuine power, but he cannot fulfil his potential in Arsenal’s reserve team, with the Gunners’ under-21 side residing in Division 2.

The player has found life on loan difficult, as many do when they leave their parent club for a less glamorous environment.

West Brom are a team that defend from the front, and Gnabry‘s agenda is not in tune with the Baggies’ mandate to stop the opponent with little flair or attacking prowess.   

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/20egHt1
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Nemanja Vidic announced his retirement from football on Friday, ending an outstanding career that saw the Serbian defender excel at the highest levels of club football.

Although Vidic also played for Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow and Inter Milan, he’s best known for his brilliant work with Manchester United, where he won loads of trophies and earned several individual accolades.

In recent years, injuries severely limited the Serb’s time on the pitch, and with hernia and back issues plaguing him this season, he decided to call time on his career. Via a statement on Manchester United’s official website, Vidic said: “The time has come for me to hang up my boots. The injuries I have had in the last few years have taken their toll.”

He added, “I would like to thank all the players I have played with, all the managers and staff I have worked with, and say a big ‘thank you’ to the fans for their support over the years.”

Here, Bleacher Report remembers Vidic’s fine career with five of his most magical moments with Manchester United.

Begin Slideshow

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1WSoyal
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic suffered a calf injury during the Coppa Italia triumph over Inter Milan and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Continue for updates.

Mandzukic Suffers Calf Tear

Friday, Jan. 29

As revealed by Juventus’ official website, Mandzukic is expected to miss up to a month of action after tearing his gemellus muscle, which is a big blow to Juventus’ bid to win major silverware in 2016.

The Croatia international has been in strong form since moving to Turin from Atletico Madrid and has struck a solid partnership with fellow summer arrival Paulo Dybala.

The news he’s set to miss up to four weeks of action couldn’t come at a worse time for Juventus, who are on an impressive domestic winning streak and will face his former club Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. 

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1Pnb9Wi
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J