Novara Calcio vs AC Milan preview - Rossoneri suffer Pato blow

Posted Sunday, January 22, 2012 by PA

AC Milan have discovered ahead of the game at Novara they will be without Alexandre Pato for a month because of a muscular injury.

The Brazilian forward, who only last week turned down a move to Paris Saint-Germain, got hurt in Wednesday's Coppa Italia 2-1 triumph over Novara, in which he scored the extra-time winner to earn a 2-1 win.

Test results have confirmed that Pato suffered a muscular injury - his ninth so far this season.

Pato's absence is a blow for coach Massimiliano Allegri considering he will also be without attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who must serve a one-match ban.

The Rossoneri go into their game at Novara with their lead over Inter Milan having been cut to just five points after last weekend's 1-0 loss to their rivals in the San Siro derby.

The result ended Milan's 12-match unbeaten run in Serie A and left Allegri's side second in the standings, one point behind league leaders Juventus.

However, Allegri does not believe his side will be affected by last weekend's disappointment.

"We simply lost the derby and allowed Inter to get back in the scudetto race," Allegri said.

"But I don't believe that loss will hinder my players.

"My players already showed against Novara that they can win games having to suffer and that is good for the team."

Allegri is unlikely to hand midfielder Djamel Mesbah his debut this weekend.

The Algerian international joined Milan on a permanent transfer from Lecce this week.

The visitors will be without suspended defender Alessandro Nesta.

Novara, meanwhile, are desperate to put an end to a poor run of form.

Attilio Tesser's side has collected just two points in their past six league games and the rough patch has seen them fall to the foot of the standings.

With their last victory dating back to November 26, when they beat Parma 2-1, the recent results that followed have proved costly for Novara, who are six points behind safety.

Last weekend's 3-1 defeat at fellow relegation-strugglers Cesena proved a hammer blow for Tesser's side, which showed an improvement in their midweek 2-1 slip at Milan.