Sunday March 13th 2011, 11.30am GMT (live on ESPN)
While disappointing, AC Milan’s midweek exit from the Champions League at the hands of Tottenham means that they can now concentrate their attentions solely on Serie A and the Coppa Italia. With just 10 games remaining in their domestic league, the Rossoneri will aim to maintain their five-point lead by dispatching with Bari on Sunday.
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Bari, for their part, are desperate for points at the moment. They have occupied the bottom spot in Serie A for quite some time now, and are effectively thirteen points from safety given their goal difference. A Bari win on Sunday would be a huge shock, but the southerners may fancy their chances of upsetting a team still wounded by their Champions League exit.
The last time these sides met was in the Coppa Italia on January 20th. Milan were comfortable 3-0 winners on that occasion, but Bortolo Mutti has taken charge of Bari since, and their defence has become noticeably more resilient. They visited Udinese last Sunday and forced the Bianconeri's normally rampant attackers to rely on a 76th-minute penalty for their victory.
On their day Milan’s front three can dismantle most defences, however they won't relish the task of breaking down a well-organised Bari side in Sunday’s early fixture. Milan will have to work hard for the points at the San Siro, and I don't expect this to be a high-scoring affair.
Prediction – under 2.5 goals – 3pts
Match odds: AC Milan 1/5
Draw 9/2
Bari 14/1
Under 2.5 goals 6/5
AC Milan: Last 5 Serie A Results
05.03.2011 – Juventus 0-1 AC Milan
28.02.2011 – AC Milan 3-0 Napoli
20.02.2011 – Chievo 1-2 AC Milan
12.02.2011 – AC Milan 4-0 Parma
06.02.2011 – Genoa 1-1 AC Milan
Bari: Last 5 Serie A Results
06.03.2011 – Udinese 1-0 Bari
27.02.2011 – Bari 1-1 Fiorentina
20.02.2011 – Lazio 1-0 Bari
13.02.2011 – Bari 0-0 Genoa
06.02.2011 – Brescia 2-0 Bari
