Milan and Juve win to keep hold of Inter's coat-tails

Posted Monday, November 23, 2009 by AFP

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan edged Cagliari in a 4-3 thriller and Juventus laboured to a 1-0 home win over Udinese on Sunday as both Italian giants kept leaders Inter Milan within their sights.

The champions, who won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday, lead Juve by five points with Milan a further two behind.

The main excitement of the day came at the San Siro as Milan coach Leonardo's continued gamble in playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation paid off as his increasingly exciting team edged a wonderful game full of free-flowing action.

One of the main protagonists, Ronaldinho, who looked close to the form he showed during his halcyon Barcelona days, said Inter were not on their city rivals' minds.

"We're just thinking about ourselves at the moment, Inter are a great team and they have a big lead," he said.

"I've had some good weeks of work behind me, physically I feel good and what's more I'm playing in my best position (on the left of a three-man attack) where I spent many years playing for Barcelona."

Leonardo was delighted with his forwards but dismayed by his team's defending.

"Even if we lacked a bit of balance, this team is amazing. They make things a bit difficult but I'm delighted," said the amiable Brazilian.

"The whole defence played badly but in attack we put on an incredible show: Pato scored a stunner, (Marco) Borriello had a great game, (Clarence) Seedorf was a great help at the beginning and Ronaldinho is getting back to his best.

"When we achieve the balance we're missing, we'll be perfect. But right now we'll solve our problems with enthusiasm and joy."

The first half at the San Siro was exhilarating, with five goals and the lead changing hands three times.

Milan were ahead after just five minutes when Seedorf played a brilliant one-two with Borriello before finding the net with an eye-of-the-needle finish between two defenders.

The lead lasted only four minutes, though, as Cagilari hit straight back when Alessandro Matri got behind Milan's static backline to prod home Andrea Lazzari's looped cross from seven yards.

The Sardinians deservedly went in front on the half hour, however, as Jeda crossed from the right and Lazzari found himself free at the back post after more generous Milan defending, having the time to take a touch and then rifle home beyond Dida.

But seven minutes from the break Pato rose highest to meet Andrea Pirlo's corner and although his header came back off the post, Borriello was on hand to nod home the equaliser from a yard out.

And two minutes later Ronaldinho's inch-perfect pass found Pato inside the box and he hit a screamer into the top corner.

Then on the counter-attack Borriello was tripped in the box by Davide Astori and Ronaldinho lashed home the penalty on 62min.

But Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri threw caution to the wind and brought on Brazilian forward Nene for holding midfielder Davide Biondini and in the 69th minute Nene got behind the Milan backline from Jeda's pass before firing home the seventh goal of the game.

Four minutes from time substitute Joaquim Larrivey almost snatched a dramatic equaliser but his free header from Lazzari's cross lacked power.

In Turin chances were at a premium for much of a dull game but Diego stung Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's hands early on.

Amauri then failed to turn home a ball on the edge of the six yard box as the first half ended goalless.

But six minutes after the break Christian Poulsen lofted the ball into the area and right-back Martin Caceres crossed for left-back Fabio Grosso to stab home from close range.

Moments later both Alessandro Del Piero and Momo Sissoko made their injury returns to boost the Italians ahead of their crucial trip to Bordeaux in the Champions League in midweek.

"We won a very difficult match and these are three very important points and so I'm very satisfied," said Juve coach Ciro Ferrara.

"It was good to get Sissoko and Del Piero on."

In other games, Francesco Totti made a welcome injury return for Roma, scoring a hat-trick in the first half hour as the struggling capital-based side beat Bari 3-1.

And Sampdoria moved back into the top four with a 2-1 home win over 10-man Chievo.