Serie A Preview: Milan - Catania

Posted Friday, April 09, 2010 by Goal.com

Leonardo's side will be confident of garnering maximum points from this fixture.....

Kick-Off: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 15:00 CET.
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan.

Scudetto Still In Sight

Three matches without a win in Serie A had left Milan's Scudetto dreams in tatters as the chance to close the gap on league leaders Inter appeared to have vanished. However, last weekend's slender 3-2 win against Cagliari in Sardinia did eventually put the Rossoneri's title hopes back on track.

At the moment Milan are third in the league standings with 63 points from 32 matches, two points behind second-placed Roma and three behind Inter. Leonardo's side have a strong home record too as they have won 10 and lost just two league matches at the San Siro.

Surviving The Drop

Catania's 2-0 victory over Palermo in the Sicilian derby has done a world of good to their chances of surviving the drop to Serie B at the end of the season. At the moment the Rossazzurri are 13th in Serie A with 38 points from 32 matches.

Catania are seven points clear of the relegation zone and the Sicilians will be pardoned to believe that they are safe now. However, that shouldn't stop them from getting a point at least from their game against mighty Milan on Sunday afternoon.

FORM GUIDE

Milan

April 3 v Cagliari (A) - WON 3-2 (Serie A)

March 28 v Lazio (H) - DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

March 24 v Parma (A) - LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

March 21 v Bari (A) - DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

March 14 v Atalanta (H) - WON 1-0 (Serie A)

Catania

April 3 v Palermo (H) - LOST 2-0 (Serie A)

March 28 v Bologna (H) - WON 3-1 (Serie A)

March 24 v Genoa (A) - DREW 2-2 (Serie A)

March 20 v Inter (H) - DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

March 14 v Udinese (A) - LOST 3-2 (Serie A)

TEAM NEWS

Milan

Beckham, Onyewu, Nesta, Bonera, Pato, Mancini, Jankulovski, Abbiati and Adiyah are out while Pirlo and Zigoni are reportedly struggling.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dida, Zambrotta, Thiago Silva, Favalli, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Huntelaar, Borriello, Ronaldinho

Catania

Llama, Plasmati, Martinez, Sciacca and Augustyn are unavailable for the trip to Milan while Ricchiuti, Andujar, Lopez, Biagianti and Mascara are reportedly doubtful. Silvestri is suspended.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Andujar, Potenza, Spolli, Tarlizzi, Capuano; Ricchiuti, Carboni, Biagianti; Izco, Maxi Lopez, Mascara

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nelson Dida (Milan)

Dida has been off-colour for several months now but the Brazilian had an excellent game last weekend when he made a number of great saves against Cagliari. Dida is often criticised for his blunders but against Catania with Alessandro Nesta out, the Brazilian custodian could again prove to be vital.

Maxi Lopez (Catania)

The 26-year-old scored two great goals last weekend against Palermo in the Sicilian derby and won maximum points for the relegation battlers. Maxi Lopez has scored six goals in 11 matches for Catania so far and he will be the main player that the Milan defence will have to watch out for.

PREDICTION

Milan should be wary of what Catania did to Palermo last weekend but the Rossoneri should still collect maximum points from this fixture on Sunday afternoon.

Milan 3-0 Catania