AC Milan seemed to have found the right combination in the Champions League against Auxerre. A simple 2-0 win with Ibrahimovic scoring both goals supposedly solved all the problems around the rossoneri. But after the match, Ibrahimovic decided to insult Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and show everyone what a difficult character he is to deal with. His debut at the San Siro can be described as disappointing, and a 1-1 draw against a resolute Catania side can’t be seen as a positive result for this Milan side.

Fiorentina also experienced some disappointment in their home stadium, the Stadio Artemio Franchi. A 2-1 loss against Lazio continues Fiorentina’s poor run this season, and fans are beginning to get impatient with Mihajlovic. Three matches in the Serie A, one draw, and two losses, a very bad run for a group of fans who were hoping that the team could return to the Champions League.

The match started well with Jovetic’s replacement, Adem Ljajic, tucking away a penalty with ease. The 18 year-old Serbian was on our list of the 8 best prospects of the Serie A. Then, Lazio struck back with Ledesma, the Argentinean’s shot was deflected leaving Fiorentina’s keeper, Sebastian Frey, out of position. Then Lazio found the winner with 21 year-old Libor Kozak (another one on the list of the 8 best prospects of the Serie A) tapping in a great shot by Hernanes. Fiorentina were unable to equalize, and this loss leaves them with only one point in the Serie A out of a possible nine.

As for AC Milan’s result, things looked to start just like they did last week against Cesena, Catania were in front 27 minutes in. It was a truly spectacular volley which gave Catania the lead, Capuano directly hit the ball with force into the bottom right-hand corner. It was truly an unsaveable shot, and Abbiati already looked shaky on Catania’s previous chances on goal. The rossazzurri played smart, defensive, counter-attacking football against an AC Milan side which had trouble creating chances.

It wasn’t Ronaldinho who grabbed the equalizer, and it wasn’t Ibrahimovic either. It was the indomitable Filippo Inzaghi who salvaged a point for AC Milan. His impeccable positioning provided him the tap-in from Ronaldinho’s pinpoint pass. The rest of the match was disappointing to say the least for any AC Milan fans, you’d think that the rossoneri, in their home stadium could find a way to score a winner, but they didn’t. Catania fought well and earned an important point away from home.

What were your thoughts on AC Milan’s loss? Share your thoughts by commenting below!

Catania has always had to battle relegation, some years they went down, some they stayed up. When their wonder-coach Walter Zenga left them for Palermo after saving them last season, Catania were left with a large hole to fill. While Atzori tried, his inexperience led to results that were not good enough, leading to his eventual replacing. With Mihajlovic at the helm, Catania has changed into a different team full of attacking flair and fighting spirit wihch will be playing in the Serie A next season.

Mihajlovic came in at the beginning of December, and the second game in Catania pulls out a shock result against title aspiring Juventus; a 2-1 win for Catania. And now, this weekend, Mihajlovic’s Catania pulls out another result out of the bag against Juventus drawing 1-1, securing an important point which takes them to 41 points. In Italy, the magic number for salvation is around 40 points, and having reached this important benchmark with still two games left is a great achievement for this Catania team. Not only has Catania escaped relegation, but it’s also sitting very comfortably in the table at 15th, very few points from mid-table, and very far away from the bottom three. While of course we can attribute this to their large amount of wins (like against the current champions Inter Milan), but we also have to look at the group of players which Mihajlovic is using.

Very few signings come off as well as Maxi Lopez has, especially when they come from another country and culture. The big Argentinean striker has truly been a key element in Catania’s tactical make-up, not only has he netted 9 goals in 15 matches, but he’s also added another way of playing. Catania have always played with smaller strikers, like their creative veteran Mascara, and the young Japanese talent (being looked at by Manchester United) Morimoto. So adding a player who is tall and can use his physicality to win more aerial battles adds a layer of depth to the way Catania can score. Instead of having to work the ball through the midfield, and in the box with players like Martinez and Delvecchio, they can now use Maxi Lopez as a reference point to swing in crosses and high balls. To put it simply, Maxi Lopez was a signing by Mihajlovic which changed the entire team, giving an important boost towards their survival hopes.

And as the season ends and Catania is safe from relegation, Mihajlovic is starting to raise his reputation as a coach. While other lower league Serie A teams will surely be looking at him, the Serbian has said that he targets Inter Milan’s bench. Surely Mihajlovic would be great to build a future for Catania, but it seems unlikely that he will stay, so it seems like Catania will have to worry about relegation yet again next season with a new manager.

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Catania striker Gianvito Plasmati, dropped his shorts at Torino goalkeeper Matteo Sereni, as team-mate Giuseppe Mascara scores on a free-kick during the Southerner’s 3-2 win.  

Dreamed up by former Italian national goalkeeper Walter Zenga, this tactic was employed to great success against the visitors. Chief executive Pietro Lo Monaco speaking yesterday to RAI said, “This is a strategy that (Catania coach Walter) Zenga tries continually in training.”

Former referees coordinator Paolo Casarin called the move “unsportsmanlike and in bad taste. “It’s a trick that should not be tolerated anymore by the referees” 

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(AP photo by Francesco Pecoraro)

Saturday November 8th

Torino 1 – 0 Palermo
Bologna 1 – 1 AS Roma
 
 Sunday November 9th 

Catania 2 – 1 Cagliari
Chievo 0 – 2 Juventus
Fiorentina 2 – 1 Atalanta
Genoa 4 – 0 Reggina
Inter Milan 1 – 0 Udinese
Lazio 3 – 0 Siena
Napoli 2 – 0 Sampdoria
Lecce 1 – 1 AC Milan

Roma come up short again and I’m not too pleased about that so listen to the The Third Half or World Soccer Daily for more discussion. 

Juventus get the business done and are on a roll while Inter have fallen into a goal drought in Serie A being extremely lucky to nip victory from Udinese in the final moments. 

The Nerazzurri find themselves in the same position Juventus was in several weeks ago.  Mr. Mourinho fix that frontline or it will be your doom!

Biggest winners are southerners Napoli and Captial side Lazio both comfortably winning and still running with the big boys.   Catania also in reach at the top came from behind to beat Cagliari while AC Milan fell off their pedestal, allowing cross-town rivals Inter to take back first place.

 Another one bites the dust as Silvio Baldini is no longer manager at Catania, becoming the twelfth managerial departure this season.

In losing to Torino 2-1 on Sunday Catania have lost their manager Baldini and find themselves in the heart of a relegation battle.
The Sicilians are third from bottom on 29 points, tied with Livorno, Parma and Cagliari. In their last 10 starts the southerners have only managed to win once against fellow relegation candidates Cagliari, taking away a mere 6 points from a possible 30. More…

The club has announced former Inter Milan and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga as their new coach but even with this last gap measure time is running out for team and manager who will face stiff competition in their last 7 Serie A matches including Roma, Juventus, Udinese and Lazio. Catania are also up against Roma in Coppa Italia action, not a pretty schedule.

Remaining Catania Fixtures

Apr 06, 2008 Catania vs. Napoli
Apr 13, 2008 Palermo vs. Catania
Apr 16, 2008 Roma vs. Catania [Coppa Italia)]
Apr 20, 2008 Catania vs. Lazio
Apr 27, 2008 Udinese vs. Catania
May 04, 2008 Catania vs. Reggina
May 07, 2008 Catania vs. Roma [Coppa Italia]
May 11, 2008 Junventus vs. Catania
May 18, 2008 Catania vs. Roma

Serie A Managerial changes in 2007-08

Livorno [9/10/07] Fernando Orsi replaced by Giancarlo Camolese
Reggina [1/11/07] Massimo Ficcadenti replaced by Renzo Ulivieri
Siena [12/11/07] Andrea Mandorlini replaced by Mario Beretta
Cagliari [13/11/07] Marco Giampaolo replaced by Nedo Sonetti
Palermo [26/11/07] Stefano Colantuono replaced by Francesco Guidolin
Empoli [26/11/07] Gigi Cagni replaced by Alberto Malesani
Cagliari [29/12/07] Nedo Sonetti replaced by Davide Ballardini
Reggina [03/03/08] Renzo Ulivieri replaced by Nevio Orlandi
Parma [10/03/08] Domenico Di Carlo replaced by Hector Cuper
Palermo [24/03/08] Francesco Guidolin replaced by Stefano Colantuono
Empoli [31/03/08] Alberto Malesani replaced by Gigi Cagni
Catania [31/03/08] Silvio Baldini replaced by Walter Zenga

Matchday 31 Results

Saturday March 29th

Cagliari 1 – 1 AS Roma
Lazio 1 – 1 Inter Milan

Sunday March 30th
AC Milan 1 – 2 Atalanta
Catania 1 – 2 Torino
Empoli 0 – 2 Sampdoria
Genoa 2 – 0 Reggina
Juventus ? – ? Parma Postp.
Livorno 0 – 0 Siena
Udinese 3 – 1 Fiorentina
Napoli 1 – 0 Palermo