Bologna prepare for part two of a gruelling test amid boardroom distraction, whilst Milan arrive amid promises of further improving themselves.
Bologna have been hit this week by an eruption of in-fighting at board level. The total bill to rescue the club from financial ruin last season has amounted to over €1.1m, a figure that many of the club’s members feel is excessive. Coupled with existing friction, Vice-President Maurizio Setti has been called out by shareholder and director Marco Scapoli on television to resign. A six-hour meeting on Thursday saw President Albano Guaraldi uncertainly declare: “We have made peace. Do not ask, though, for how long.”
On the pitch discussion is now focused on Gaston Ramirez and Alessandro Diamanti’s compatibility. Where the issues of a non-functioning partnership between Marco Di Vaio and Robert Acquafresca resulted in the change of formation that brought Diamanti in for Acquafresca to sit behind Di Vaio, criticism is now on his inability to affect play with Ramirez. However, Stefano Pioli has defended the pair at this early stage, suggesting that they are merely more concerned with getting to grips with the defensive coverage of their midfield positions.
Pioli has admitted the three-day test facing his men - Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Thursday before the Rossoneri on Sunday - is perhaps the hardest at the moment given their respective opponents’ form. For describing it as a duel test of his squad’s mentality and physical fitness, Pioli can take comfort from the 120-minute slog in Turin that demonstrated both. It will be interesting, though, to see how part two pans out after such a demanding part one.
Meanwhile, Milan go into the game in search of their seventh League victory from the last eight. Slowly closing in on their best run of form under Massimiliano Allegri - eight wins from nine - a win in Emilia-Romagna will significantly see the team take top spot from Juventus again, with the Bianconeri not in action until Monday evening.
There are some quarters of the Press already suggesting that it is only a matter of time until Milan take and keep hold of first position. Ominously then, Massimiliano Allegri has not only had an extra day than his opponent to prepare for this weekend’s match, but he has promised that Il Diavolo can improve further upon their strengths. Amazingly in a week that sees the club move closer to securing one or both of Carlos Tevez and Maxi Lopez for January, Allegri was talking only about his current selection’s developing strength.
Marco Amelia provided an interesting insight into what one of those specific strengths are and indeed how the team are approaching Bologna. “In Serie A there are no simple games, our strength is in focusing on the qualify of each individual. When we do that there is nothing for our opponents.”
Such targeting on individuals will come without Antonio Nocerino and Alessandro Nesta, though, who are unlikely to be risked having trained separately from the group during the week.
Keep an eye on: Federico Agliardi (Bologna) –Andrea Raggi’s 96th-minute goal may have taken Bologna into extra time with Juventus on Thursday, but the fact the team only needed one goal to do so was down to Agliardi’s heroics at the other end of the pitch. The reserve ‘keeper performed admirably and much to Alessandro Del Piero’s ire to keep the Juve attack out with several high quality saves. For the Rossoblu to take anything away from Milan, the sense is that the No 25 will have to again be on his guard.
Form Guide: Bologna (W L L D W) Milan (W W D W W)
Last season: Bologna 0-3 Milan
Stat fact: It is now over 10 years since Bologna recorded a home win over Milan. Since then, they have failed to even score in five of the six subsequent fixtures at the Renato Dall’Ara.
Bologna (probable): Agliardi; Raggi, Portanova, Cherubin, Morleo; Kone, Mudingayi, Perez; Ramirez, Diamanti; Di Vaio
Milan (probable): Amelia; Abate, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Aquilani, Van Bommel, Ambrosini; Boateng; Ibrahimovic, Pato
