ITALIAN SERIE A BETTING PICK - A.C MILAN V JUVENTUS

Italian Serie A

2009-05-10 - A.C Milan vs Juventus

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

AC Milan v Juventus
Football: Italy, Serie A
Sunday, 10th May 2009 - Kickoff 19:30

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This is the match of the week as AC Milan and Juventus do battle for 2nd placing in the table with Inter too far to catch. Milan will have a tough task if they are to close the seven points gap in just four matches so chances are these two teams are just aiming for the second position in the table.

It has to be said that at one point Juventus were the strongest to challenge Inter Milan at the top until their season collapse that has seen them go seven games without victory and also in-fighting, transfer gossip and even talk of a caretaker Coach to replace Claudio Ranieri should he lose this match.

For Milan they are seeking a win after the goalless draw last season here but most importantly after they were beaten 4-2 in Turin earlier in the season. Former Juve star Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off in that game after 65 minutes while Amauri hit the back of the net twice. But what was the crucial point was the injury to Kaka which meant he was out of that match.

With Kaka back in the side they won seven out of their eight games when he was in the side and his importance is crucial to the side. He has scored four goals in his last three games and has also assisted on numerous occasions.

But the man to watch for Milan will be SuperPippo Inzaghi with an astounding 11 goals from eight matches played. And playing against his former club will definitely bring the best out of him in this match for sure. With good form from the players in the side, it is little wonder Ronaldinho was warming the bench last month even.

For this match, Carlo Ancelotti could stick with the Christmas Tree formation and Clarence Seedorf, who has an excellent record against the Bianconeri. Alexander Pato will miss out as he is still recovering from injury, though his pace could come in very useful here.

Despite their good form, they still have a lenghty injury list in Gennaro Gattuso, Marco Borriello, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Christian Abbiati and Luca Antonini on one side, Momo Sissoko, Hasan Salihamidzic, Albin Ekdal, Dario Knezevic, Claudio Marchisio and Zdenek Grygera.

Juventus have problems here as Pavel Nedved and Olof Mellberg are suspended for this tie after picking up yellow cards.On the other hand, Nicola Legrottaglie and Giorgio Chiellini hopes to be fit in time to start in central back position and Jonathan Zebina is the obvious choice in defence.

Claudio Ranieri position in the side is hanging by a thread and there was also a reported locker-room bust up with Mauro Camoranesi at half-time against Lecce. Gianluigi Buffon stormed out after just three minutes and spent the break by himself on the pitch. There are rumours Buffon will request a transfer in the summer with Milan first in line to snap him up, having come so close to being signed by them in 2006. He will not be happy with his defence nor himself for conceding 11 goals in just 5 games.

For the record, Juve have not kept a clean sheet since the Turin derby on March 7 and have more often than not allowed goals in stoppage-time. If the rumours are true then Buffon could be axed for this match in favour of Marco Marchionni with Sebastian Giovinco possibly taken out of storage to replace Nedved on the left.

Alessandro Del Piero was also substituted at half-time and has had a distracting week with the birth of daughter Dorotea on Tuesday. Del Piero will start nevertheless partnering either Amauri or Vincenzo Iaquinta in attack.

As for the past results, in recent years there has not been much to separate these sides as it has been rather evenly contested. Last season it may have ended goalless, but the goalkeepers were the heroes to ensured it that way. Juve’s best memory of this stadium is on May 8 2005, when David Trezeguet’s header secured the Scudetto in a 1-0 victory. There is another more burning result as they conquered the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza 6-1 in April 1997.

However, I will be going for A.C Milan to get the win here tonight.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Take A.C Milan to win this match.