Forget the controversy and go back to thinking about the field. Milan prepared for the away match in Palermo with the awareness of not being able to afford distractions. Do you want for the opponent, real taboo, especially at the “Barbera”, do you want for the many injured, which make Allegri's work more and more difficult every week, but today's match (18 hours) presents many pitfalls. “There are key matches for a season – Allegri said in the press conference – the one in Palermo will have great value for the championship. Remaining in the lead, even if with one more session, would be a very important fact."
The Rossoneri have not won in the Sicilian capital since 2006, when Inzaghi and Shevchenko decided. since six years have passed and at the “Barbera” Milan made up for the misery of a draw and five defeats, all consecutive. Palermo evokes bitter memories especially for Allegri: on 19 March 2011 Goian's goal called into question a Scudetto, on 10 May of the same year the 2-1 signed Migliaccio-Bovo cost an Italian Cup final. In short, the "Barbera" is anything but a land of conquest, as also demonstrated by the current rosanero roadmap: of the 34 points collected, as many as 30 arrived within the friendly walls.
But beyond the cabal, what worries Milan is the infirmary, which this year is constantly sold out. Between injuries and suspensions, 11 players are unavailable, but there is no doubt that Allegri's biggest concern regards the defence, which after Nesta also lost Mexes (disqualified for 3 days). Bonera will therefore be alongside Thiago Silva, who has also just returned to the group. No trip to Sicily also for Boateng, Aquilani and Maxi Lopez, but the most controversial absence is that of Pato. The Brazilian will have to stay in the pits for another 15 days, which inevitably fuels market rumors. The good news instead concerns Ibrahimovic, available again and very excited by the performance in Zagreb, where he led his Sweden to victory over Croatia.
In the meantime, new disagreements with Juventus emerge. After Wednesday's phone call between Agnelli and Galliani, calm seemed to have returned, but yesterday a small (?) diplomatic case arose on the contents of the call. The Juventus president said he had also received an apology for Pirlo (accused by Milan of elbowing Van Bommel twice), while the Rossoneri CEO denied everything (which is also confirmed by the club's official website). Allegri certainly didn't help to calm the climate: “I think that in terms of controversy we didn't do it either before or after. The little theater was assembled and disassembled by them, so ask them the questions…”. In short, the show goes on.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Palermo (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Munoz, Migliaccio, Mantovani, Pisano; Barreto, Donati, Bertolo; Ilicic; Budan, Miccoli.
Coach: Bortolo Mutti.
On the bench: Tzorvas, Milanovic, Acquah, Della Rocca, Vazquez, Zahavi, Hernandez.
Unavailable: Silvestre, Bacinovic.
Disqualified: Balzaretti (1 day).
AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Have you; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Nocerino, Ambrosini, Muntari; Emmanuelson; Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.
On the bench: Amelia, Zambrotta, Mesbah, Yepes, Van Bommel, Inzaghi, El Shaarawy.
Unavailable: Pato, Maxi Lopez, Boateng, Merkel, Strasser, Seedorf, Aquilani, Cassano, Gattuso, Nesta.
Disqualified: Mexes (3 days).
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio). Assistants: Batons – Padovan. Fourth man: Mazzoleni.
