Yesterday was a bad day for Serie A in the Champions League.  Roma lost 3-1 at home to FC Basel to fall into last place in Group E, but level on points with Basel and Cluj.  But the big story of the night was AC Milan’s first trip back to the Bernabeu since their shock 3-2 victory there last year.

This year’s trip was quite different, and the major difference was the two men on the sidelines.  Jose Mourinho, now the manager of Real Madrid, got a chance to face an opponent he almost owned in Serie A over the past few years.  And his managerial expertise and genius was seen from kickoff.  Madrid dominated action for the first twenty minutes and consistently threatened the Milan goal, scoring twice in the first fifteen minutes.

The first goal was part Ronaldo’s skill, part Milan failure.  After Alexandre Pato made a poor challenge outside the box that was called, Ronaldo drilled the free-kick into the corner in an absolutely brilliant shot through a Milan wall.  Replays showed, however, that the gap was created by Clarence Seedorf stepping back and a few teammates pivoting away from the shot.  About sixty seconds later Madrid added a second goal.  Mesut Ozil’s quality chance inside the area was put into the net by deflecting off of Daniele Bonera’s head as keeper Amelia watched from the ground.

Milan, while having a few chances throughout the match, was generally dominated by Madrid.  Coming in everyone knew that Madrid had only allowed three goals this season, and they showed their prowess by limiting Milan to only a few legitimate chances to score.  Allegri is rightly receiving criticism from Milan fans for his lineup with eschewed defense and looked to score as often as possible.  That meant starting Seedorf and Ronaldinho, as well as Ibrahimovic, Pato and Pirlo.  Ronaldinho, while a few times looking quality, was generally a non-factor, while Pato played a poor match and Ibrahimovic was shut down by the defense.  Seedorf, in addition to creating a hole in the wall in the fourteenth minute, had an open chance later in the first half that he completely botched.  Allegri looked lost in this match while Mourinho again put out a perfect lineup and his club had the better gameplan.

So Milan is back to the drawing board but still has three points in Group G.  Today’s Champions League match is a real treat as Tottenham travels to Milan to face Inter in a match that has some interesting storylines.  It is up to Rafa’s club to prevent Serie A from going 0-3 in the Champions League this week.

The importance of Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic to AC Milan goes beyond the simple statistics – 6 total matches for AC Milan, five goals.  On a team full of high-profile talent and scoring ability, Ibra has stood out early in the season as the player who has carried Milan offensively and helped them remain in the hunt for both the Champions League and Serie A titles.

Yesterday is a perfect example of his value to the club.  Playing in the hostile Amsterdam Arena and already down a goal, Ibrahimovic made his former club pay.  Off a good pass by Seedorf into the box, he used his height to collect the ball off his chest and fire home a strike to tie the game at one.  If you watch the highlight, the goal was not an easy one but he shows incredible ability to control the ball before putting it in the back of the net.  He almost assisted on the go-ahead goal but Kevin-Prince Boateng was denied on an amazing save by Maarten Stekelenburg late in the second half.  In the end, Ibrahimovic haunted his own club and gave Milan a much needed drawn, a result that should help them advance in the competition.

But should any Milan fan be surprised by the outcome?  Since his first match for Milan on September 11, he has become the fulcrum of the Milan attack.  All told, he has scored the goal to win or tie a match four times:

• Both goals in the 2-0 home win against Auxerre
• 66′ goal in the 1-1 Lazio draw (9/22)
• The only goal in a 1-0 versus Genoa (9/25)
• Yesterday’s goal to draw against Ajax

With Alexandre Pato returning soon, Ibrahimovic will have additional help on offense, especially if Ronaldinho is able to round back into playing shape.  But for now, let’s acknowledge that to this point Ibrahimovic has been by far the best pickup in the offseason and may be the reason AC Milan is succeeding so far in Europe and Italy.

In July, I wrote a post for this site asking AC Milan fans for calm.  The club had been quiet on the transfer market and Silvio Berlusconi had gone public in saying he intended to build his youth academy to help the team.  I said at the time that if the club did not acquire any big names, they would be title contenders but would not be favorites.

Flash forward forty plus days.  Ibrahimovic.  Robinho.  Boateng.  The club worked the transfer market hard in the waning hours and secured some of the biggest names available on the market.  They also grabbed Sokratis from Genoa, a smaller profile signing that helps their defense.  In exchange, they dumped the aging Marco Borriello, overrated Huntelaar, and backup striker Dominic Adiyah.  As the dust settles on the summer transfer dash and the ownership begins to show off the new presents to the fans, the question is:

Is Milan now the favorite to win the Serie A title?

If Allegri decided to stick to a 4-3-3, here is the lineup the club could field in coming weeks:

Keeper: Amelia

Defenders: Antonini, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Bonera

Midfield: Seedorf, Pirlo, Ambrosini

Forwards: Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Pato

Bench: Robinho, Boateng, Inzaghi, Antonini

The biggest impact the additions have on this club is to make the forward position younger and more deadly.  Ibrahimovic has the ability to dominate on the offensive end and provides a consistent scoring threat this club lacked from the forward position last season.  Ronaldinho, while at times dominant, came into camp out of shape and was disinterested at times last year.  If he is physically unfit to play or the club needs a spark, a younger Robinho can sub in or start in his place.  On the bench is the all-time leading scorer in European competition in Inzaghi.  So your front line has youth, experience, height, quickness, and speed.

A concern expressed by Niccolo in the preseason was Milan’s aging in the midfield.  Kevin-Prince Boateng, who showed great potential in the World Cup (as well as a need for his game to mature), provides that young depth and long-term starter the club was seeking in the offseason.  The unheralded signing of Sokratis also provides some talented depth for the backline, which at times struggled last year and had a penchant for allowing careless goals.  If he’s healthy, American national Oguchi Onyewu also gives the club a talented defender off the bench.

Another aspect is the emergence of Alexandre Pato.  Scoring twice on Sunday and looking very good in the preseason, this could be his breakout season and at age 20 a precursor to many successful seasons for AC Milan.  The moves this summer allow him to mature within a system where he is not the biggest name or has all the offensive pressure on him.

On the other hand, the expensive acquisition of Robinho can arguably be throwing money at an underachiever.  After excelling at a young age in Spain, the Brazilian clashed with management and the EPL culture in Manchester City, leading to his sale this transfer season.  Management likely hopes pairing him with Ronaldinho will lead to a resurgence and comfort on and off the pitch.  Also, the club’s defense is still solid but not spectacular and was a weakness last season, especially against Inter Milan.

So, does AC Milan now have the talent to be the favorites in Serie A?  Going into the season Inter was the consensus favorites and the club has kept its key players, especially Maicon.  I also give them the edge in managers with Bentiez’s experience.  I still consider Inter Milan the favorites for Serie A but the gap has closed considerably and the Milan derbies this year will be epic.

Agree or disagree?  Share your comments below or on Twitter @roberthayjr.

AC Milan fans saw the best and worst of their squad this weekend in London as the club competed in what has become a big-name tournament.  The Emirates Cup is a two-day preseason event where host Arsenal and three clubs (many of whom are sponsored by Emirates Airlines) compete to win the Emirates trophy but more importantly have the chance to play their entire squads against good competition.

The 2010 edition was won by Arsenal with eight total points, while the Rossoneri finished last with four.  Milan faced the hosts on Saturday and Ligue 1′s Lyon on Sunday, with Celtic as the fourth club.  A win was worth three points and a tie worth one, with a point awarded for each goal scored.

The first match against Arsenal could have gone spectacularly wrong for Milan on Saturday.  They fell behind early on a goal by new Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh in the 36th minute, and if it were not by some quality keeping by Christian Abbiati they could have been down by more.  Arsenal dominated possession early in the second half as substitutes like Theo Wolcott constantly threatened in the Milan half.  However, Arsenal lived up to their reputation and despite some nice passing, failed to score the decisive second goal.  Alexandre Pato made them pay in the seventy-seventh minute.  He headed in a free kick from Clarence Seedorf from just outside the box.

The second match saw new keeper Marco Amelia start in goal, as well as starters Clarence Seedorf and Marco Borriello.  It was the latter who scored the first goal of the game in the fifty-fifth minute and it was the former who again set up the scoring chance with a nice pass through to Borriello.  While both sides had excellent scoring chances and the Rossoneri played well overall, they still gave up the tying goal in the eightieth minute to deny themselves three points.

While the Emirates Cup is only two preseason matches, AC Milan fans could should feel confident about their club.  Both keepers looked quality although it helped that some serious chances hit the crossbars.  Clarence Seedorf played very well and looks to be ready for the next season.  The new defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos also contributed in the Arsenal match and looks like a good signing so far.  So although the club finished last in the standings, the experience looks to have allowed them to tune up effectively for the new season.

As always, it pays to take all off-season transfer rumors with a grain of salt.  But one rumor within the realm of possibility suggest a move of pure genius by the Rossoneri.

Yahoo Sports is reporting that Fulham star and American national team member Clint Dempsey has been targeted by AC Milan for a potential transfer bid.  The club reportedly has been impressed with Dempsey’s play in England and South Africa, enough so to pay roughly $12 million to add him to their roster.  His match-winning goal in Fulham’s defeat of Juventus in the Europa League also proved to Milan scouts that he could play against Serie A’s best.

Dempsey has been successful in his three year stint with Fulham.  Last season he scored seven goals in 29 Premier League matches, and his Juventus goal has been referred to as the most famous goal in Fulham history.  Internationally, Dempsey’s profile has never been higher, scoring the “Hand of Clod” goal against England and drawing the match-tying penalty kick in the U.S.’s loss to Ghana in this year’s World Cup.  With Roy Hodgson leaving Fulham for Liverpool, now is a good time for him to leave.

But within the context of AC Milan’s actions the past two years does it become clear how genius a signing of Clint Dempsey would be.  From a tactical perspective, Dempsey’s move to AC Milan would simply add him to a list of high-profile strikers the club already possesses.  He would battle up-front for playing time with Ronaldinho, Borriello, Pato, and maybe Huntelaar.  The midfield is equally crowded, but for a team that underachieved last year Dempsey could compete for time.

But the significance is that Dempsey is not just another striker, he is an American soccer star.  Remember that AC Milan last year signed Oguchi Onyewu, the injured American defender who is playing “for free” this year because of his injury.  A healthy “Gooch” is a valuable addition to the defensively challenged AC Milan, but more importantly he is also very popular among US soccer fans.  A Dempsey signing would mean two American stars on the pitch for AC Milan, increasing the clubs already high visibility among American fans.

American soccer fans, especially those converted by the last two World Cups, are looking for international squads to pull for and follow when the World Cup ends.  I suspect many will gravitate to teams with American stars – witness American fans of Everton.  Maybe this is not AC Milan’s primary reason for signing two Americans (they are very talented after all) but the ability to market two of the country’s most popular players could lead to tapping a new market.  Imagine the potential sales of Dempsey AC Milan jerseys.

Also factor in AC Milan’s travel schedule.  This year the club played a friendly in a near-sold out RFK Stadium against a dreadful DC United team, as well a May 30 friendly in Chicago.  Last season the club teamed up with Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Club America to play in the World Football Challenge, which allowed the Rossoneri to play in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Foxborough.  While it may be coincidence, the US friendlies combined with the signing of two American stars shows a strategy of tapping into a rich American soccer market.  And the strategy is a good one that could make one of the world’s richest soccer clubs even richer.

The most anticipated match-up of the weekend is the AS Roma-AC Milan contest to decide which club can challenge Inter for the top spot in Serie A.  While the loser still has an outside shot at the scudetto, an Inter victory over Genoa would make it a tough task.

Rather than a traditional post rehashing strengths and weaknesses, here are the quick seven keys to the match:

1. Who will step up for Pato: The loss of the young Brazilian is huge for this match.  Not only was he leading the club in goals, but he has been a key to the resurgence of Ronaldinho.  Milan has Borriello, Huntelaar, and other big names, but when that go-ahead goal is needed will they be able to be the unstoppable threat Milan may need?
2. The Milan Brazilians: Ronaldinho has been dominating the pitch as of late; even in the loss to Manchester United it could be argued that he was the best player on the pitch that day (although Wayne Rooney might argue against that).  Thiago Silva needs to have a good match to prevent scoring chances for Roma.  A major weakness this year has been the inconsistent play of Milan’s defenders.
3. Roma’s Injury Situation: Luca Toni will make his anticipated return for this match.  David Pizarro is available to play.  However, Francesco Totti will not be available.  Can Vucinic provide the scoring threat that Roma may need if Toni is still rusty?
4. Roma’s sudden defensive slip: In the Europa League last Thursday Roma gave up three goals in six minutes to Panathinaikos, leading to their elimination from the competition.  Last weekend they gave up a two goal lead and had to settle for a draw against Napoli.  Were these consecutive defensive mishaps anomalies or the sign of a bigger problem?
5. Leonardo’s game plan: He’s 0-2 versus Inter Milan.  He’s a rookie manager that has come under criticism from management.  The easiest way to ease criticism is to figure out a way to gain three critical points.  Failure to do so will only ratchet up that criticism.
6. The crowd: Stadio Olimpico is already sold out in anticipation of this match.  Roma has not lost a Serie A match at home this season and is 11-0-2 overall.  AC Milan’s away record in Serie A is an impressive 7-4-2, and how they handle the partisan crowd could carry-over to their mid-week match at Manchester United.
7. Milan facing double elimination:  One advantage for Roma is with their Europa League elimination, this match is for their season.  No points means no chance at a title.  The equation is different for Milan, however.  Will they be looking ahead to their match mid-week against Manchester United?  A loss in this match and the Champions League means no titles for this high-profile club.  Which title means more?  Will Milan be going all out, or could they want to save a bit for their United match?

As Serie A takes a quick breather for a World Cup friendly this week versus Cameroon, this past weekend once again saw changes in the standings as well as a tightening championship race.  Before we look ahead and begin debating which players deserve to make the national team, let’s take a look back at a fascinating week in Serie A.

It was the best and worst of times for AC Milan

Alexandre Pato was the star of the match for Milan, netting two first half goals for the club on their way to an easy 3-1 victory over Atalanta.  But the story coming out of this match was a thigh strain for Pato, who was carried off near the end of the match.  The severity is currently unknown, but it looks like he could miss the crucial away game versus Manchester United next week.  Milan is a talented club, but Pato has fourteen goals in 24 Serie A and Champions League matches this season and thus will be missed if he is out for the match.

The positive Juventus momentum grinds to a halt

This past week, Juventus beat Ajax in aggregate to move into the round of 16 in the Europa League.  They had also moved back into fourth place in Serie A and looked to be in control of their Champions League destiny.  Alas, their momentum came to a screeching halt with a 2-0 loss to Palermo, who replaces them in that coveted fourth place in the standings.  Juve had their chances, but only put one shot on goal in the contest.  This was their first loss under new manager Alberto Zaccheroni.

Roma and Napoli both end streaks

A Marek Hamsik goal in extra time sealed an impressive Napoli comeback and secured their first points in their last six matches.  That same goal also ended Roma’s winning streak at seven matches and, with Milan’s two victories in four days, dropped them into third in the standings three points behind Milan and seven behind Inter.  Mirko Vucinic continued to play well netting a goal in the 65th minute, but it was Roma’s defense that let Napoli back into the contest.  This bitter defeat ended a bad week for Roma – still without Toni and Totti, they had been eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday.

Lazio survives to play another day

In a match setting that ESPN described as “ghostly”, Lazio held on to a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina to pick up one point and remain three points away from relegation.  The Lazio faithful held a protest of the club’s ownership, resulting in an estimated crown of 10,000 quietly watching the match in the Stadio Olympico.  Lazio seized an early lead on a goal in the seventh minute, and their third-string keeper didn’t concede an equalizer until extra time in the second half.  It was at the same time a missed opportunity and favorable match for the home club.

Bari continues its free-fall

For a club that was considered a dark horse for a Euopra League spot, Bari has played miserably the past few weeks.  Last week, they barely put up a fight against visiting AC Milan.  This week, the gave up four goals to a Catania club that is fighting to stay up in Serie A.  Bari played well but failed to put any points on the board despite some good opportunities.  This is their fourth straight loss and they have failed to scored for the third time in those matches.

The International Break is a Welcome One for Top Squads

The 1-1 Inter-Roma draw this weekend highlighted the risk for top flight Serie A clubs participating in international tournaments; Inter has played three matches this month already and eight in the past 22 days.  Both Inter and Roma looked a bit slower and play was chippy, especially the controversial Patrick Vieira elbow on Daniele De Rossi.  The hope for clubs like Inter, Juventus, and Milan is that their top players can get a little time on the bench in international friendlies and return somewhat rested for the last month of matches in 2009.

Tardini Stadium May Be the Toughest Place to Play in Serie A

Parma notched its fifth win in its last six home matches with a 2-0 victory over Chievo Verona on Sunday.  The match, which was also the first visit back by former Parma manager Domenico di Carlo, was evenly fought with Chievo having a couple of good chances.  But it was the home crowd and timely tactical moves that secured three points and the seventh spot in the table.

Sampdoria is Slumping

Already mired in a slump, Sampdoria had to play the second half against Cagliari with only ten men as Marius Stankevicius was shown a red card for an obvious foul on Jeda late in the first half.  Cagliari notched two goals after the eightieth minute for the 2-0 victory.  Sampdoria now stands fifth in the table and eight points behind Inter.

Milan is Still Rolling

AC Milan won their fourth match in the past five with a 2-1 victory over struggling Lazio.  Thiago Silva and Alexandre Pato goals put the Rossoneri ahead early and, unlike the Napoli match, Milan held on for the victory.  The win puts Milan in third and in the thick of the race for main challenger to Inter.

Genoa’s Palladino and Crespo Key Resurgence

Raffaele Palladino was given a one-year extension this summer after a disappointing 2008-2009 season; Hernan Crespo was signed after being released by Inter.  The two scored three goals against Siena on Sunday and have combined for six on the season, keying Genoa’s rise in the standings and putting them in position for European competition qualification.  Their three goals were scored in the first 35 minutes and, besides some tense moments when Siena pulled to 3-2 in the 82nd minute, Genoa continued its impressive season with a convincing victory.

I think it is fair to say that AC Milan’s start to the season has been less than impressive to say the least.  However, victory over Roma at the weekend propelled them into the top half of the table and then last night the Rossonerri did the unthinkable and beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League.

The tie in Spain could have been oh so different.  At half time Milan trailed 1-0 after a frankly poor first half thanks largely to a mistake by Brazilian goalkeeper Dida.  With less than 20 minutes gone he fumbled a very easy catch and dropped the ball at the feet of Spanish legend Raul.  The veteran Real striker made no mistake as he slotted the ball home to hand Los Galacticos an early lead.

Some slick skills from Ronaldinho proved a highlight in an otherwise stale first half and as half time approached it looked as if Milan were going to suffer a defeat to the big-spending Spanish giants.  However, with just over an hour played Andrea Pirlo took aim and fired goalwards from at least 40 yards out.  You would expect Real stopper Iker Cassilas to claim the ball from that range but Pirlo’s effort flew into the goal to draw Milan level.  Game on.

Some may blame Cassilas for conceding Pirlo’s firecracker but in all honesty it was a great effort from range and had he got a hand to it I would have been hailing him for making a terrific save.  Pirlo’s effort brought the game to life and Milan took the lead just four minutes later.  Cassilas was certainly at fault for Alexandre Pato’s second goal, the Madrid keeper raced out of his box to intercept Massimo Ambrosini’s long ball but completely misjudged it.  He seemed to try and knock it away with his hand outside the area but then thought better of it and pulled his arm away, but Pato was there to send the ball into an empty net.

Madrid knew they needed something special and the introduction of Dutchman Royston Drenthe seemed to re-ignite the home side.  It was Drenthe who leveled matters for Real after Raul’s clever corner found him unmarked on the edge of the box.  Drenthe showed great skill to control the ball with his right foot before sending an unstoppable drive past Dida with his left – if you haven’t seen this goal by the way try and check it out because it was a bit special.

Milan weren’t to be denied a famous victory though, with just two minutes of normal time remaining former Real favourite Clarence Seedorf chipped a clever ball into Pato’s path.  The Milan striker made no mistake as he kept himself onside before volleying Seedorf’s cross beyond Cassilas to secure a famous victory for the Rossonerri.

Granted, the game was characterised by goalkeeping howlers as much as anything else but on paper Milan saw off Real Madrid 3-2 at the Bernabeu in the Champions League and that is what matters.  After their shock loss to Swiss minnows FC Zurich in Europe this result puts Milan back in contention to make it out of the group stages and continue in the Champions League.  Victories over Roma and Real have certainly improved the situation for Milan boss Leonardo, who must have been worried about his job going into that double header.  Milan must continue from here and use this as a starting point to kick-start their season – their next fixture is an infinitely less glamorous but equally as important Serie A tie against Chievo.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting tips and picks for Betfair.

Kickoff for today’s international friendly will be at 7:45 pm London time, and 2:45 pm on the east coast in North America as the Azzurri take on Brazil in a high profile friendly at the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal

Kaka will miss this encounter as well as compatriot Amauri who received a late call-up from Brazilian manager Dunga but was blocked at the club level by Juventus, as was their right to do so.

Amauri’s Juventus teammate Mauro Camoranesi travelled with the Italian side to London and will make a surprise appearance for the Azzurri. It is still unclear if Mauro will play today but good to see him back after injury and should he play he will start along side Bayern’s hitman Luca Toni and Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi both set to feature.

Four time World Cup Champions Italy will be hoping for their first win over five time Champions Brazil since the 1982 World Cup Final.

Probable line ups are,

Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Cannavaro, Grosso; Perrotta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Toni, Rossi

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Juan, Lucio, Adriano, Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Elano, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Pato

7 out of 11 of the starting eleven for Brazil currently play for Italian clubs.

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