AC Milan put a huge dent in AS Roma’s Champions League aspirations with a 2-1 victory at the San Siro.
On loan midfielder Marco van Ginkel gave AC Milan the lead at half time. In the second period Mattia Destro came back to haunt his parent club, extending Milan’s lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute. Francesco Totti scored a late penalty for Roma but it was too late for the Giallorossi who have been beaten at the San Siro twice in the last three weeks.
The Honda show
Keisuke Honda was bought by Milan with a wave of publicity. The most recognised football player in Asia was signed to take Milan to the next level. Yet, Honda has been disappointing for the Rossoneri. Injures and a lack of form have held back the Japanese player, who has failed to live up to his high billing. But there were signs on Saturday night that this might be changing. Two assists and a classy display was exactly what Milan fans have been expecting of the playmaker. The key question now is can he produce these types of performances on a consistent basis?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0B329L8xQ4
The ghost of Mattia Destro
Mattia Destro scores goals, and his record proves it. He has averaged a goal every three games for both Roma and Siena. Not prolific but a reliable goal scorer none the less. Roma let Destro go out on loan in January to Milan. Not seen as a rival and with attacking players coming in, the club felt it no longer required the Italian’s services. In fairness, Destro has not been at his best for the Rossoneri, only netting two goals in 15 appearances. But to score against his parent club was, in his own words, “important”. It seems certain that Destro will be sold by Roma in the summer, but he gave them a reminder of what they will miss.
Big game disappointments for Roma
Roma has had a habit this season, and a pretty poor one too. The club has not won against any big teams in the Serie A this season. Two home wins against Inter and Napoli have been the exception, not the rule. Roma has failed to beat Lazio, Juventus or Milan this campaign, or any of the top sides outside of Rome. With Roma hoping to secure Champions League football for next season, this trait has to stop. Roma play Lazio in the derby in two weeks time, with the result vital for the top three equation. The Giallorossi must put to bed their inability to beat the bigger teams if they are not to have a disappointing end to their season.
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Huge summer ahead for Milan
Despite the win against Roma, these are still worrying times for Milan. The official attendance for the game was 35,000, but in reality that was not the case. A figure of around 18,000 is more accurate. There is a real sense of disillusion among the Rossoneri faithful over current events at the club. Silvio Berlusconi’s ownership of Milan is another big talking point at the moment, with reports that Berlusconi is in talks with Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol to sell his share of the club. In addition, several players are rumoured to be leaving the San Siro, many with their contracts due to run out at the end of the season. However, the biggest situation to be sorted at Milan is the managerial position. Filippo Inzaghi has disappointed in his first senior managerial role. With no prospect of European football, the knives are out in Milan. These issues must be ironed out at Milan if it is to avoid another terrible season.
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