AC Milan vs Juventus preview - Montolivo backing Milan - 7M sport

AC Milan vs Juventus preview - Montolivo backing Milan



Posted Saturday, March 01, 2014 by PA

Captain Riccardo Montolivo believes AC Milan have what it takes to "embarrass" Serie A leaders Juventus at San Siro on Sunday night.

With over two thirds of the season gone, the Rossoneri are still down in ninth place - a distant 31 points behind the reigning Italian champions - and seriously risk failing to secure European football for next season.

Results have, however, improved since Clarence Seedorf replaced Massimiliano Allegri in January and victory over Juve would be Milan's third on the spin in the league.

Montolivo is calling on his team-mates to invoke the spirit of November 2012, when a struggling Milan side beat Antonio Conte's men 1-0 through a Robinho penalty before beginning a climb up the table to finish third.

The Italy midfielder remembers that night fondly and is targeting a repeat performance.

He told acmilan.com: "Last season's fixture was a magical evening. We won the game and went on a run from then.

"Hopefully it will be a good night this time around - a win against one of the big sides would give us a big boost.

"It would give us renewed enthusiasm and self-esteem. We have the quality to embarrass Juventus."

Two of Milan's January loan signings - Adil Rami and Adel Taarabt - have proved inspired captures with the former helping shore up the defence while the Moroccan playmaker scored in last week's 2-0 victory over Sampdoria.

Montolivo welcomes the overdue strengthening of his team's spine.

"Clearly, if we defend better and attack better then the results will come," he said.

"We've seen evidence of that in the last few games and tackling Juventus now offers an excellent test if we are to consolidate our improvement."

Personnel problems continue to plague Milan, though, with Matias Silvestre, Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli and Cristian Zapata all missing due to injury.

Sulley Ali Muntari serves a one-match ban while, in the Juventus camp, influential midfielder Arturo Vidal misses the game through suspension.

Giorgio Chiellini, Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic are on the treatment table back in Turin.

The Bianconeri this week won through to the last 16 of the Europa League, where they will meet Italian rivals Fiorentina, after completing a 4-0 aggregate victory over Trabzonspor.

Dani Osvaldo - on loan from Southampton - scored in Turkey on Thursday night and hopes to notch his first league goal for Juve at San Siro.

"I could have scored more, but that's okay," he told Tuttosport. "Juve needed the victory.

"We started aggressively, dominating most of the match. But now it's time for us to head to Milan."



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.