Mission accomplished. Milan conquers Genoa and secures third place, at least for today. In fact, even in the event of successes, Inter and Lazio would remain behind, which puts a lot of pressure on them. The same goes for Napoli, which at this point can no longer look only to Juventus. So the Rossoneri are smiling, good and lucky to find a success that is worth gold and which further boosts morale in view of Barcelona. “We have to try to defend third place – declared Allegri in the press conference – and if Napoli allows us, we will look even further up. We have to keep winning, but this is undoubtedly a very important victory."
Once again, however, the referee's decisions weigh heavily, in this case Damato, at the center of numerous controversies for some at least questionable assessments. "There were two penalties – said Ballardini – then if they don't give them to us, that's another matter". The episodes to which the Genoa coach refers take place in the first half, with Milan leading by one goal. The first is a touch with the arm of Niang (33rd) on a header by Borriello, the second is a contact between the same Frenchman and Granqvist. In both cases Damato lets it go: the feeling is that at least a penalty could have been in place. Also because refereeing in this way helps to create a climate of suspicion and nervousness, which then leads to high tension in a second half. The climax in the 65th minute, when Bovo enters very hard on Constant, who reacts blatantly and gets a red card. Right decision, while he leaves the yellow card perplexing for the Genoan midfielder, who deserved to leave the field.
In this "far west" we also managed to see some good football. Thanks above all to Genoa, author of a very good game but unable to exploit the numerous opportunities created. And then there are the Milan champions, those capable of changing games with the right plays. Pazzini does it, truly in a moment of grace. You know when they say that someone looks so good that he would even score with one foot? Here, the Madman took the saying literally. In the 22nd minute, after taking a stomp from Portanova which will force him out (at the moment it is not clear whether he will be able to play at the Camp Nou, like Mexes after all), the former Inter player (but also a former Sampdoria player), while limping conspicuously, he throws a right foot under the crossbar on which Frey can do nothing. It is the goal that puts the game on the right track and that forces Genoa to be more daring. In the meantime Balotelli enters, still not fully recovered from the injury suffered in the derby, and just to please he gets a yellow card after 40''. The climate is tense, the game lights up. The rossoblu press and also hit a pole with Bovo on a free kick. Milan seems to be on the ropes, but in the 61st Super Mario takes the chair. Served splendidly by a no-look from Zapata (but there is also the complicity of Immobile), the AC Milan striker chills Genoa with a precise and cutting right foot. From then on, also thanks to the expulsion of Constant, it was siege for the home team but Abbiati and the Milan defense held up well. “Genoa were very good, we weren't able to shorten the gap in midfield, we pressed little up front and defended very low – Allegri's analysis. – I thought the match was on the right track, we weren't risking that much, I thought I could take it home without excessive expenditure of energy, but Constant's expulsion could put everything at risk".
Now the head goes to Barcelona, assuming that Milan really haven't started thinking about it for a few days. Eliminating the strongest team in the world would have the flavor of a feat, and the Rossoneri, despite the perfunctory phrases, are already looking forward to it.
