Sunday March 17, 2013 Day 29 Finished Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
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Serie A - Balotelli hits brace as Milan beat Palermo
A coolly-taken brace from the imperious Mario Balotelli handed Milan a hard-fought 2-0 win at the San Siro. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- AC Milan
- Palermo
90+3 And that's the game. Milan remain in third place given Napoli's 3-2 triumph over Atalanta, whilst Palermo remain deeply entrenched in the relegation mire. The visitors can take some positives from the game, but overall, the scoreline is a fair reflection of play.- 90+3 Balotelli unleashes a powerful drive from an acute angle. It's a decent strike, but it drifts just over the bar.
- 90+2 Abate bursts down the right and wins a free kick after Aronica is adjudged to have clipped the right back near the corner flag.
- 90+1 Balotelli wins the ball on the right wing, but his cross into the box fails to find a wide-open Niang. Just inches in front of the Frenchman.
- 90' Three minutes of added time here.
- 89' Blood spurts from Fabbrini's mouth after being caught in the face by the knee of Traore. Receiving treatment now and he sheepishly gets back to his feet.
- 88' Some bright play from Illicic off a deep Palermo throw wins his side a corner. He's been a diamond in the rough today.
- 87' Balotelli wins it fairly in the midfield and as the Niang launches into full-stride down the left, the Italian unleashed a half-way line stike on goal. It goes out for a goal kick. Of course.
- 86' Milan knocking it around for fun now as an increasingly lethargic Palermo continue to chase shadows. Ball in the Milan midfield now, with Montolivo dictating the play.
- 85' Loose play by Traore sees Morganella steal the ball, but his cross is cleared to safety by Bonera. Palermo seem to have lost their attacking instinct in the box and it's beginning to look dreary for the travelling support.
84' Boateng wincing in the dugout with an icepack planted on his shoulder. Slightly worrying for the Rossoneri faithful.- 83' But as expected, the ball is cleared. Niang picks it up and makes a galloping 40 yard run before winning a throw deep in the Palermo half.
- 82' Nelson does well to force a corner from Di Sciglio there, as Palermo throw players forward into the box.
80' Double switch here. Boateng is replaced by Traore for Milan, whilst Donati is replaced by Viola for the visitors.- 79' An excellent flick on from Balotelli unleashes Niang down the left channel, before the Frenchman drives a low cross into the box. Boateng is just inches away from making contact and it fizzes into the grateful arms of Sorrentino. Bright play from the youngster.
- 77' Niang launches into an impressive mazy run from the left flank, cutting into space to get a sight of goal. His shot is less exuberant however, and trickles well clear of the upright.
- 76' Game staring to settle now as both teams ease off the pressure. Milan in possession.
- 75' Balotelli clips Munoz flush in the face with a high boot. Palermo free kick.
- 74' Balotelli plays a lazy chip through to Muntari, which is cleared away by Von Bergen. A tad too casual, perhaps.
- 73' Palermo continue to battle though, taking the ball into the Milan half before Bonera makes an interception. Palermo heads drop as Milan bolt into the Palermo half.
- 72' Niang almost picks out Muntari with a threaded ball into the box, but it's collected by Sorrentino. The youngster looking lively.
- 71' Milan searching for a third here as they press high to stifle Palermo's passing game. De Sciglio fouls Nelson, though, to give away a foul.
- 70' Change for Palermo as Kurtic makes way for Fabbrini.
- 69' The San Siro erupts as news comes through of Atalanta's equaliser against Napoli. It's 2-2 there. As things stand, Milan will leapfrog the Azzuri into second place. Chants echo round the stadium.
- 68' Play resumes and Palermo look absolutely shellshocked.
- 66' Niang bounds down the right wing before fizzing a low ball dangerously into the Palermo six yard box. The ball rebounds wickedly between Sorrentino and Aronica before falling kindly to Balotelli, who duly pounds it into the roof of the net.
65' GOAL MILAN. The Rossoneri are deadly on the break and hit back at Palermo with a Mario Balotelli goal. Who else?- 64' Milan bombarded with balls into the box by the Rosanero. Palermo beginning to get a strangehold to smother Milan's flow.
- 63' Illicic's free kick is cleared away, but Palermo still in possession. A decent spell for the visitors now as they begin get a foothold in the game.
- 62' Boateng clears it easily and Palermo reclaim the ball deep into their own half. Morganella is clumsily brought down by Boateng as whistles ring around the San Siro.
- 61' A loose ball from Di Sciglio is picked up by Kurtic, who does exceptionally to win a corner down the left channel.
- 60' Kurtic breaks into acres of space down the right flank, but his delivery is too early for Illicic and the chance goes begging.
- 59' Some neat work from Flamini plays through Abate into the box, but the defender hammers it off a Palermo defender for a corner.
- 58' Free kick to Palermo on the right hand side of the Milan area. It's taken short by Illicic, before Morganella's cross sails into the grateful arms of Abbiati. Illicic duly apologises to his teammates. Wasted chance.
- 57' Niang comes on for El Shaaaway, who has been out-of-sorts today.
- 56' Milan break down the centre, with a brilliant long ball from Balotelli finding Boateng, but the quick thinking Morganella works double-time to cut out the chance. Fine defending.
- 55' Boateng forces Sorrentino into action at the other end, but the chance is comfortably gathered by the Palermo goaltender. Second half coming to the boil.
54' Illicic intercepts a knock-down from Di Sciglio and cuts in before the ball takes a harsh deflection into the path of Dybala. But his effort is hit straight at Abbiati. Superb opportunity, could have been level here.- 53' Di Sciglio chips a ball in for the onrushing Balotelli, but his cross sails haplessly out for a goal kick.
- 52' Game begins to settle with Milan comfortably in possession in midfield. Have to say though, they are not looking as comfortable as expected after the earl goal. Palermo still in this game.
- 51' The ball breaks for the impressive Illicic down the right flank, who then cuts in past De Sciglio before blasting it goalward. The ball takes a wicked deflection off Zapata and forces Abbiati to make a fine reflex save. Close shave for the Rossoneri.
- 50' Balotelli nudges Aronica off the ball for a Palermo free kick deep in their own half.
- 49' Morganella, who has now switched to the left hand-side, bounds down the left wing but his efforts amount to nothing as Milan hunt the ball down to deny the visitors a whiff of goal.
- 48' Palermo responding with a good spell of pressure, but again, they're efforts are confined to the middle of the park as Milan defend stoically.
- 47' Milan come charging out the blocks with some dangerous possession on the fringe of the Palermo box. De Sciglio unleashes a fearsome strike from range but his ambition isn't rewarded as his effort sails wide for a goal kick.
46' And we're underway here at the San Siro!- 46' A Palermo half time change sees Garcia make way for Nelson.
- 45+1 The whistle blows to end a half that Milan will largely pleased with, despite lacking incisiveness somewhat.
- 45' One minute of stoppage time is added on.
- 44' Palermo's glint of revival seems to have subsided for now, with Milan quickly winning back the ball each time they give it away. Palermo in a decent spell of possession currently, though. But most of it is confined to the midfield.
- 43' Boateng felled by Aronica at the half-way line. Clumsy foul there.
- 42' Milan squander a three-on-two situation on the break when El Sharaaway fails to control a rather limp pass from Flamini.
- 41' Montolivo blasts another long range effort toward goal, but its gathered comfortably by Sorrentino.
- 40' Boateng's looping crossfield ball fails to find El Sharaawy, who clips it out for a goal kick. The Italian kicks the ground in frustration, which just about sums up Milan's potency in the final third in the last few minutes.
- 39' De Sciglio catches Morganella with a high foot deep in the Palermo half to hand the visitors a free kick.
- 38' Space opens up for Dybala down the left flank but Bonera makes up ground quickly to close off the opportunity.
- 37' Excellent one to between Morganella and the instrumental Illicic forces Abbiati into a diving save from Morganella's low drive. Milan looking slightly edgy at the moment.
- 36' Kurtic breaks down the left channel before threading it to Illicic in the midfield. Palemo continue to pressure before Dybala's snapshot misses the target by some way.
- 35' El Sharaaway links up well with Balotelli down the left flank to play him in toward the byeline. The youngster wins a corner, which is taken short, but amounts to nothing. Milan now in possession in midfield.
- 34' Montolivo finding his range from far out, unleashing a low, powerful drive that sails inches wide of the upright. Sorrentino at full-stretch.
- 33' The ensuing free kick is blasting straight at the ball by Illicic and is comfortably cleared away by Milan.
- 32' Palermo players remonstrating furiously with the referee, claiming that Zapata's handball denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Illicic. A fair call, to be honest. Milan let off the hook there.
31' Flamini gives the ball away to Kurtic in midfield, befoe Zapata receives a yellow card for handling the ball on the edge of the box.- 30' Milan in cruise control now as Palermo seem to have lost all the attacking impetus they displayed in the opening stages.
- 29' Neat breakaway from Palermo sees Dybala confronted by Zapata one-on-one in the box. But the Palermo striker goes down theatrically under slight pressure. Referee waves away his gesticulations. Right call.
- 28' Muntari shifts it wide to De Sciglio, but the youngsters cross is cleared away comfortably by Von Bergen. Milan not letting up here as they press for a second.
- 27' Boateng receives a hearty shove from Munoz. Free kick is played back to the Milan rearguard.
- 26' Milan ease off the pressure and allow Palermo to rally, but some excellent defending from De Sciglio denies Illicic a clear sight of goal and knocks it out for a throw.
- 25' El Sharaaway's corner is cleared comfortably by Palermo.
- 24' Boateng sweeps it wide to Muntari, before El Sharaawy is played in neatly by the Ghana international. The Milan top-scorer glides through the box before having his effort parried out for a corner. Brilliant play.
- 23' Montolivo's ball is cleared by Donati, before Abate brings down Dybala in the centre-circle for a Palermo free-kick.
- 21' Evidently unshaken by the clash of heads, Balotelli wrong-foots Garcia with some handy trickery before being brought down near the right corner flag. Montolivo to take.
- 21' Boateng attemps a cross from the right flank but it's deflected out for a Milan throw.
- 20' Balotelli is felled by Von Bergen as the two go up to head. The big man currently receiving treatment on the pitch. Looks dazed, but eventually finds his feet and walks meekly off the field.
- 19' A weak effort from Kurtic from wide dribbles impotenty past the left upright. Abate lets it run.
- 18' Abateknocks the ball throgh to El Sharaawy, but Sorrentino is quick off his line to claim the ball. Milan getting a strong foothold in the game here.
- 17' Milan's corner amounts to nothing though, with Balotelli heading helplessly high and wide.
- 16' A lightning break of pace from De Sciglio wins his side a corner.
- 15' Montolivo breaks from midfield, before some slick interplay between El Sharaawy and Boateng results in the latter firing a shot well over the bar.
- 14' Bonera, who is deputising for Mexes today, cuts out a promising opportunity for Palermo on the edge of the box. Superb vision.
- 13' Milan now back in possession, slowing down the pace of the game in the middle of the park.
- 12' Great looping ball from Kurtic frees fellow compatriot Ilicic on the right flank, before Morganello blasts a low drive wide of the goalmouth. Promising chance.
- 11' Palermo composed on the ball considering they trail at the San Siro. Displaying some neat passing at times.
- 10' Some nifty trickery from Balotelli keeps the ball with Milan on the half-way line, before Rios steals the ball on the fringes of the area.
- 9' A dangerous inswinging cross from Munoz fails to find a Palermo shirt in the Milan six yard box. Dangerous delivery there. Signs of fight from the Sicilians.
- 8' And as cool as ever, Balotelli steps up to guide it home into the bottom left corner. A mountain to climb for Palermo here.
- 7' MILAN PENALTY. Aronica grabs a handful of Balotelli's shirt in the area and the big man steps up to take.
- 6' Abate bursts down the right flank before winning a corner after a sliding challenge from Garcia.
- 5' News coming in that Edinson Cavani has put Napoli ahead against Atalanta.
- 4' Flamini penalised for a foul on Garcia deep in the Palermo half.
- 3' Milan controlling the tempo, with Muntari threading a ball harmlessly into the Palermo box for Sorrentino to collect.
- 2' Tentative start here with neither team holding down possession for any meaningful amount of time. Palermo have a free kick at the half way line after Balotelli flicked out a foot at Munoz.
1' And we're underway here at the San Siro!- 13:58 Sebastiano Peruzzo will be officiating today's game.
- 13:55 Palermo can draw inspiration from the two teams' last meeting in October. In that particular encounter, Stephan El Sharaawy's 81st minute equaliser saved his side's blushes as Milan came from 2-0 down to draw level at the Renzo Barbera.
- 13:50 Milan will have their sights firmly on Napoli, who are just two points ahead, and will hope the Azurri slip up at home to Atalanta today so that a win for the Rossoneri will see them claim the second spot. Meanwhile, Palermo will be desperate to bounce back from a crushing 2-1 home defeat against relegation rivals Siena last time out. Serie A League Table
- 13:45 Milan will be keen to atone for their dramatic European exit and will face meagre opposition in Palermo - a side who find themselves in the midst of a crushing 14 games winless streek. In fact, the return of Giuseppe Sannino to the managerial helm makes it four coaching appointments for the Sicilians this year, one more than the number of games they've won all season.
- 13:40 Kevin Constant is suspended for the hosts after being sent off for two bookable offences against Genoa last time out, whilst Balotelli returns to the starting lineup after missing out in the Rossoneri's 4-0 thrasing against Barcelona due to ineligibility. Pazzini is still struggling with an ankle injury he picked up in his last showing.
- 13:35 TEAMS: Milan: Abiatti, Abate, De Sciglio, Bonera, Zapaa, Montolivo, Flamini, Muntari, Baoteng, Balotelli, El Shaarawy; Subs: Amelia, Petkovic, Mexes, Yepes, Antonini, Zaccardo, Nocerino, Traore, Ambrosini, Robinho, Niang, Bojan /// Palermo: Sorrentino, Morganella, Garcia, Aronica, Von Bergen, Munoz, Arevalo Rios, Kurtic, Illicic, Donati, Dybala; Subs: Brichetto, Benussi, Nelson, Viola, Anselmo, Faurlin, Sperduti, Formica, Sanseverino, Fabbrini, Boselli, Malele
- 13:30 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Palermo's trip to the San Siro as Milan look to leapfrog Napoli into the second spot against a Rosanero side entrenched deep in the relegation mire. Kick off at 2.00pm UK.
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Summary
- 65' GOAL MILAN. The Rossoneri are deadly on the break and hit back at Palermo with a Mario Balotelli goal. Who else?
- 54' Illicic intercepts a knock-down from Di Sciglio and cuts in before the ball takes a harsh deflection into the path of Dybala. But his effort is hit straight at Abbiati. Superb opportunity, could have been level here.
- 51' The ball breaks for the impressive Illicic down the right flank, who then cuts in past De Sciglio before blasting it goalward. The ball takes a wicked deflection off Zapata and forces Abbiati to make a fine reflex save. Close shave for the Rossoneri.
- 24' Boateng sweeps it wide to Muntari, before El Sharaawy is played in neatly by the Ghana international. The Milan top-scorer glides through the box before having his effort parried out for a corner. Brilliant play.
- 8' And as cool as ever, Balotelli steps up to guide it home into the bottom left corner. A mountain to climb for Palermo here.
- 7' MILAN PENALTY. Aronica grabs a handful of Balotelli's shirt in the area and the big man steps up to take.
Team Line-up & Ratings
AC MilanManager: Massimiliano Allegri
PalermoManager: Giuseppe Sannino
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- C. Abbiati
- I. Abate
- D. Bonera
- C. Zapata
- M. De Sciglio
- R. Montolivo
- M. Flamini
- S. Muntari
- K. Boateng
- S. El Shaarawy
- M. Balotelli
×2
Subs
Starting line-up
- S. Sorrentino
- E. Muñoz
- S. Von Bergen
- S. Aronica
- E. Arévalo
- J. Kurtic
- M. Morganella
- M. Donati
- S. García
- J. Ilicic
- P. Dybala
Subs
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Rate Players
82′ who cares
A C Milan, why Allegri bench those guys suppose to play ball, as a coach you see that Kevin is not in game all the goal messi scored is by his side, can’t you find another person put there, you are under letting Baca, and you bench muntari and bojan, when dose guys come in don’t you see game change? You suppose to be question well because it looks like you sale that game, it also happened last year against Arsenal, before you bring in Agwulani do you know how many people you kill their mind yesterday In the world?
