Saturday April 16th 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)
As has been the case for two of their last three games, AC Milan must prepare for this weekend’s game without the services of their top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimović after the Swede was shown another red card last week at Fiorentina. Fresh from a three-match ban which was reduced to two on appeal, Ibrahimović now begins a new three-match ban amid surprising rumours of a Summer swap deal with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko.
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| Zlatan is becoming too fond of having the showers all to himself |
Luckily for Milan, their opponents on Saturday are unlikely to prove much of an obstacle to their quest for this year’s Scudetto. Sampdoria have been on a terrible run of form lately, and the sacking of coach Domenico Di Carlo in early March has done little to improve matters.
His replacement, Alberto Cavasin, has produced one draw and three defeats from his four games in charge. Sampdoria’s last win was against Roma on January 9th, and their record of 12 defeats, 3 draws and 1 victory in 2011 has seen the Genoa side fall to within a point of the relegation zone in 17th place. Considering these statistics, Sampdoria’s decision in January to sell strikers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini to Milan and Inter respectively appears foolish in the extreme.
All of the above doesn’t bode well for the task which Sampdoria are faced with on Saturday. They must visit the side who have led Serie A for most of the season, and the absence of Ibrahimović will merely provide an opportunity for in-form Alexandre Pato to take the spotlight once again. Cassano, who incidentally became a father on Thursday, may well feature against his former club for his second time in Milan colours.
Expect the Rossoneri to heap further misery upon Sampdoria on Saturday via a comfortable win at the San Siro.
Prediction – AC Milan -1 (handicap betting) – 4pts
Match odds: AC Milan 1/4
Draw 4/1
Sampdoria 11/1
AC Milan -1 5/6
AC Milan: Last 5 Serie A Results
09.04.2011 – Fiorentina 1-2 AC Milan
02.04.2011 – AC Milan 3-0 Inter
19.03.2011 – Palermo 1-0 AC Milan
13.03.2011 – AC Milan 0-0 Bari
05.03.2011 – Juventus 0-1 AC Milan
Sampdoria: Last 5 Serie A Results
10.04.2011 – Sampdoria 1-2 Lecce
03.04.2011 – Chievo 0-0 Sampdoria
20.03.2011 – Sampdoria 0-1 Parma
13.03.2011 – Catania 1-0 Sampdoria
06.03.2011 – Sampdoria 2-3 Cesena
