Serie A Genoa derby enriched by Cassano and Milito

godtabh

Preview

Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano and Genoa striker Diego Milito can each claim to be the revelations of Serie A this season even if their clubs have been more inconsistent.

The in-form pair will be on opposing sides on Sunday in the hotly-contested Genoa derby, a rare occasion for the two famous Italian clubs to snatch back some of the limelight from the dominant trio of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

Genoa are the oldest surviving Italian soccer club having been founded in 1897 while Samp shook up the Serie A order by winning the 1991 title and reaching the 1992 European Cup final.

Sampdoria finished sixth last term and reached this season's UEFA Cup, where they still have a chance of going through to the knockout phase despite Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Standard Liege.

Their success last term was largely down to playmaker Cassano, who joined from Real Madrid and was so influential that he bagged a late spot in Italy's Euro 2008 squad.

Many wondered if the colourful 26-year-old could continue his fine form this season, but he has again wowed fans with his close control, beautiful goals and creative spark.

"He is the one who can break the deadlock, by creating and finishing," Genoa midfielder Thiago Motta, who will have to mark Cassano, told reporters.

Despite Cassano's contribution, Samp are languishing in the bottom half with 16 points from 13 games and look up at seventh-placed Genoa with envy.

Genoa have won six and drawn one of their seven home league games thanks to the goals of Argentine Milito, who joined from Real Zaragoza despite interest from a host of bigger clubs.

He is Serie A's top scorer with 11 goals but Brazilian Motta, another surprise close-season signing having played for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, thinks teamwork is the key.

"Diego is showing that he is an extraordinary player, born to score goals. But to arrive at that level, believe me, even he needs the help of his team mates," he said.

Genoa have not won away this term and on Sunday they are the visitors at the Marassi, which they share with Samp.

Juventus fans will argue that Alessandro Del Piero, who scored his 250th club goal in last weekend's 4-0 win over lowly Reggina, is the real revelation of the season at 34-years-old.

Juve, joint-second with Milan and six points behind leaders Inter, visit struggling Lecce on Sunday.

Milan, beaten by Lazio in Wednesday's Italian Cup last 16 having lost 3-1 at Palermo in the league on Sunday, host Catania while Inter have a tricky trip to Lazio on Saturday.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
17:00 UK Chievo Verona v AS Roma Stadio Marc`Antonio Bentegodi
19:30 UK Lazio v Internazionale Olimpico
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
14:00 UK Atalanta v Udinese Stadio Azzurri D`Italia
14:00 UK Cagliari v Palermo Sant'Elia
14:00 UK Lecce v Juventus Stadio Via del Mare
14:00 UK AC Milan v Catania Giuseppe Meazza
14:00 UK Napoli v Siena San Paolo
14:00 UK Reggina v Bologna Stadio Oreste Granillo
14:00 UK Torino v Fiorentina Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
19:30 UK Sampdoria v Genoa Comunale Luigi Ferraris

Inter Lazio looks good tonight

eZe^

I take back what I said about Huntelaar being the best striker sold in the past 6 months. That was DEFINITELY Milito, what a player, only cost like 7 million too.

Mr. Presentable

Millito 11 from 14!

I'd say Inter will sign him and he'll never be seen again

Mr. Presentable

with 68% of possession Roma finally score through Menez - pops his cherry!

Bateman

I see Inter are one up through Walter Samuel, haven't been able to see much of them apart from the odd live game on betfair, but they look like they are going to win the league this year without actually being very good.

eZe^

Bateman wrote: »

I see Inter are one up through Walter Samuel, haven't been able to see much of them apart from the odd live game on betfair, but they look like they are going to win the league this year without actually being very good.

Hasn't it been a similar situation since the Calciopoli, Inter have been winning by default really.

Bateman

Yeah that's probably true. Bit like Madrid in Spain the past 2 seasons in a row as well though. There has been no calciopoli there, yet the rot at Barcelona in the last 2 years of Rijkaard's reign allowed Madrid to win the league with a team that wouldn't have competed in other seasons. A bit of competition would be nice, in both cases. Having said that, it's not Inter's fault that Roma can't seem to find the necessary consistency, and it certainly isn't Inter's fault that Milan are relying on an ancient defence.

Raskolnikov

Cassano? What a waste of space. An Italian friend was telling me about his autobiography. The guy has absolutely no interest in football. Has an incredible ego and practically slates everyone who has ever tried to help his career.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/cassano-tells-everything--in-controversial-biography-1540674.html

Probably found his level at Sampdoria.

godtabh

A last-gasp goal by Brazilian striker Amauri gave Juventus a 2-1 win at Lecce on Sunday while injury-ravaged AC Milan beat Catania 1-0 at the San Siro thanks to a Kaka goal.

Amauri nodded home in the 90th minute after Lecce's Daniele Cacia had cancelled out a fine 57th-minute free kick by Sebastian Giovinco.

Kaka's 65th-minute header from a corner, which took a touch from Catania defender Lorenzo Stovini on the way into the net, was enough to end Milan's four-match winless run in all competitions.

Second-placed Juventus and third-placed Milan, who meet in Turin next weekend, both have 30 points from 15 games, six behind champions Inter Milan, who won 3-0 at Lazio on Saturday.

Juve had plenty of possession in the first half but posed little threat to the tidy hosts.

They looked more dangerous after the break when Italy under-21 forward Giovinco, standing in for injured captain Alessandro Del Piero, drove into the top corner to score his first goal in Serie A with Juventus.

Lecce responded well to falling behind and Jose Castillo wasted a great chance before Cacia levelled with a delightful volley.


AMAURI WINNER

But Amauri's goal meant it was all to no avail for the southern side, who have not won a league match since September.

"This win is worth a lot because we knew this would be a difficult, hard-fought match," Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri told Sky television.

"We were overconfident. They scored a great goal, but luckily this team never give up and we got a goal in the last moment."

Milan made a bright start at the San Siro despite being without a host of injured regulars, including forwards Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello and midfielders Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini.

Andriy Shevchenko, Paolo Maldini and Emerson all came close early on and Kaka had a shot pushed onto the post shortly after Catania forward Giuseppe Mascara had hit the woodwork at the other end.

Milan suffered after taking the lead in the second half. Mascara had a header well saved in the closing stages, when the visitors also had a penalty shout for handball by Kakha Kaladze denied.

Fourth-placed Napoli beat Siena 2-0 at home thanks a second-half blitz that produced goals by Christian Maggio and Argentine striker German Denis.

Fiorentina thrashed struggling Torino 4-1 to consolidate fifth place with the help of a brace by Italy forward Alberto Gilardino, who joins Genoa's Diego Milito at the top of the Serie A scorer standings with 11 goals.

The home defeat leaves Torino boss Gianni De Biasi in grave danger of losing his job.

Nice win for Inter. Sets up nicely for this weekends game. Which I'm going to so cant wait

Seaneh

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Cassano? What a waste of space.

would wlk onto any team in the world given his form over the last year, FACT.

Mr. Presentable

Seaneh wrote: »

would wlk onto any team in the world given his form over the last year, FACT.

Autobiography! Footballer is petulant and likes sex - quelle suprise!

Anto is top quality technically, and would, as you say Seaneh, be welcomed just about anywhere. Temperament is a wee bit suspect but improving.

carlop

nipplenuts wrote: »

Autobiography! Footballer is petulant and likes sex - quelle suprise!

Anto is top quality technically, and would, as you say Seaneh, be welcomed just about anywhere. Temperament is a wee bit suspect but improving.

+1.

Having spent last year in Italy I saw a good bit of him. He really is an incredibly talented player, and if his temperament was a bit better would be recognised as one of the best in the world by now.

Xavi6

Anyone see Zlatan's pass at the weekend? :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlEpbNKL6Qo

Jazzy

milito has scored 6 league goals and 4 of them where penos. not all that impressive tbh, good but not amazing.

and wow, brilliant pass by ibra. fekin love that lad