Milan vs Fiorentina

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2001/2002

Italian Serie A Fiorentina 1-1 AC Milan 20-01-2002
Italian Serie A AC Milan 5-2 Fiorentina 09-09-2001

2000/2001

Italian Serie A AC Milan 1-2 Fiorentina 17-05-2001
Coppa Italia Fiorentina 2-0 AC Milan 07-02-2001
Coppa Italia AC Milan 2-2 Fiorentina 25-01-2001
Italian Serie A Fiorentina 4-0 AC Milan 13-01-2001

1999/2000

Italian Serie A AC Milan 1-1 Fiorentina 09-04-2000
Italian Serie A Fiorentina 2-1 AC Milan 05-12-1999

1998/1999

Italian Serie A Fiorentina 0-0 AC Milan 07-02-1999
Italian Serie A AC Milan 1-3 Fiorentina 26-09-1998

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League ITALIAN LEAGUE
Match MILAN vs FIORENTINA
Match No. 1303
Sales Close ^ 12/12/04 9:00PM

1X2

Home 1.37
Draw 3.90
Away 7.00

1/2 GOAL

Home MILAN (-1½) 2.30
Away FIORENTINA (+1½) 1.50

TOTAL GOALS

No. of Goals

0 9.50
1 4.10
2 3.60
3 3.80
4 5.50
5 8.50
6 15.00
7 30.00
8 85.00
9+ 115.00

HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE

Selection

H-H 2.05
H-D 13.00
H-A 29.00
D-H 4.00
D-D 6.60
D-A 14.00
A-H 21.00
A-D 16.00
A-A 13.00

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Preview

MILAN, December 11 (Serie A) - Rui Costa admits he will show no sentiment on Sunday when his AC Milan side host Fiorentina, the team where he became one of the hottest properties in world football.

The Portuguese midfielder moved to the San Siro in 2001 as Fiorentina sought to offload their star players in a desperate and vain attempt to stave off the financial crisis that engulfed them a year later.

So highly thought of was Rui Costa when he played with Fiorentina that there was a constant debate in Italy as to whether he was better than Zinedine Zidane, then at Juventus, and whether he deserved the accolade of best playmaker in Italy.

Rui Costa admits he still has a strong affection for the Tuscany-based club.

He told www.acmilan.com: ``Every player who faces one of his previous teams feels emotional when he goes down that road again.

``A bit of emotion can be expected, I still have great respect for the Viola shirt, but now I play for the Rossoneri who have given much to me.

``The best memory I have of Florence is the way they said goodbye to me on the last day. If a whole city bids you such a farewell when you are leaving, then it means that you had a real and important relationship with them.

``Some people in Florence now back Milan because they are still fond of me. My respect for Florence has never ended. On Sunday, I expect the Viola fans just to greet me, nothing particularly special. Now they have to think about their team.''

Fiorentina ceased to exist when in the summer of 2002 the financial crisis reached its zenith only for the club to be relaunched as Florentia Viola in the fourth division.

They earned two promotions on the pitch but also were controversially awarded a special dispensation promotion to Serie B in 2003 by the Lega Calcio.

But they have performed solidly since returning to Serie A and since Sergio Buso replaced the sacked Emiliano Mondonico at the helm they have risen to eighth place in the Serie A table.

Milan are in second and only four points behind leaders Juventus and therefore little sentiment will be shown to Fiorentina on Sunday at the San Siro.

It has been a week to celebrate for AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, who also happens to be Italian prime minister, following his acquittal on bribery charges.

A win for the Italian champions on Sunday would be the perfect way to celebrate for the football-loving premier.

In the Fiorentina side will be veteran campaigner Angelo Di Livio who was part of the great Juve side of the late 1990s but became a legend in Florence for sticking with the club through all its troubles.

In June 2002 he was playing World Cup football for Italy before in July joining up with the newly relaunched Florentia Viola (since renamed Fiorentina) in Serie D.

At 38 Di Livio is now once more a Serie A footballer and he told www.fiorentina.it: ``I will change jerseys at the end with Rui Costa or (Paolo) Maldini.

``Milan are not playing as well as they did last year but they will be fighting it out with Juve for the title right to the end.''

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Serie A Preview: Milan-Fiorentina

Possibly the most intriguing match in Italy this weekend will be when Fiorentina visits the San Siro to play Milan. These teams have been in good form as of late, as they both sit in the top half of the standings.

BACKGROUND

Milan is hot as can be, winning their last three Serie A fixtures. Around this time last month, they defeated bottom-feeders Siena, 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko started the scoring with a goal in the 25th minute. Stefano Argilli answered just six minutes later, but Sheva was not to be outdone, and quickly restored the lead in the 37th to secure the home victory. The next match was a tough 1-0 road win over Chievo of Verona. The goal was supplied by Hernan Crespo, who finally got his first Serie A goal for Milan after jeers had started to come from even the rossoneri supporters. Last Sunday, Milan came on late to defeat struggling Parma 2-1 at the latters Stadio Ennio Tardini. Italian wunderkind Alberto Gilardino grabbed the lead for Parma twenty minutes after the restart, but Kaka leveled a quarter of an hour later in the 82nd. The quintessential deep-lying playmaker, Andrea Pirlo, scored the game-winner for Milan in the 89th minute, and Parma were crushed.

Fiorentina has not quite had the better of the results, but have played very respectfully against some of the supposed Italian giants. On the first weekend of November, the viola played to a hard-fought 1-1 home draw versus Internazionale of Milan. Defender Dario Dainelli gave Fiorentina the lead in the 26th minute, but goal machine Adriano was able to salvage another draw for Inter. Three days later, they went down 1-0 at Serie A leaders Juventus on a second half goal by Ruben Olivera. That was followed by two further 1-1 draws, the first against Livorno at home, then away to Messina. Their most recent result was a home victory, by a 1-0 score line, over Bologna. Enzo Maresca has been credited with the goal, but striker Christian Rigano claims to have gotten an ever so slight touch to the ball before it went in the goal. Whoever did get the final touch gave his side three valuable points in the standings.

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TEAM NEWS

For Milan, Filippo Inzaghi and Jaap Stam are both still out with long-suffered ankle injuries. Striker Jon Dahl Tomasson may also miss out with a back problem.

Fiorentina will have a nearly full side, with the exceptions of midfielders Luca Ariatti and Martin Jorgensen.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kaka (Milan)

This young Brazilian is slowly but surely regaining the form he displayed last season, which in turn saw him compared to every great playmaker to come along before him. He scored last Sunday versus Parma, and the Brazilian in him says to keep scoring.

Dario Dainelli (Fiorentina)

After confidently stating that Fiorentina will go for the three points against Milan, he will be out to back up his words with his play.

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POSSIBLE STARTING XIs

Milan (4-3-1-2):

Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Crespo, Shevchenko

Fiorentina (3-5-1-1):

Lupatelli; Delli Carri, Viali, Dainelli; Piangerelli, Ujfalusi, Obodo, Maresca, Chiellini; Miccoli; Rigano

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MILAN-FIORENTINA: FULL SQUAD

MILANELLO - Carlo Ancelotti has called up the following 18 players for the game againstFiorentina:

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Fiori

DEFENDERS: Cafu, Costacurta, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Pancaro

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Dhorasoo, Gattuso, Kakà, Pirlo, Rui Costa, Seedorf, Serginho

STRIKERS: Crespo, Shevchenko

Brocchi, Coloccini and goalkeeper Forti have been left in reserve

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ANCELOTTI: 'Thinking only of Fiorentina'

MILANELLO - Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the press ahead of the Fiorentina game: 'It's fundamental that we win. That's all we are thinking about. Fiorentina are playing well and have dangerous players who are very dynamic. We will be giving everything and I have told my players not to think about Juventus.'

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ANCELOTTI PRESS CONFERENCE

MILANELLO - Here are the main themes Carlo Ancelotti covered in the press conference ahead of Milan-Fiorentina.

What does it mean to the city of Florence to see their side run out at the San Siro?

They deserve to have a side in Serie A and they are doing well at the moment and have some high-quality players.

How will you approach the game against the Viola?

Fiorentina do not have a certain style but have players who move and change position a lot so well have to watch that. We want to get a positive result ahead of the game with Juve.

Will Rui play?

It is possible, hes available.
It will be a particular day for Sheva
He didnt play for twenty games and just came back and its not yet certain he has won the Golden Ball.

Have you been thinking about Juve?

Its best to think as little as possible.

How is the team at the moment?

They are all fine apart from Serginho who had a problem yesterday but seems to be recovering.

Who would you like to face in the Champions League?

I have a side in mind but I am not saying
You have been conceding goals from set-pieces once again
We have changed the line-up a lot, its a problem of attention and maybe we need to improve that after having such a positive period.

Juve are facing Bologna. Are they more diffuclt opponents than Fiorentina?

Fiorentina are more difficult, they are having a good period unlike Bologna. Fabrizio Miccoli is a difficult opponent, with a great shot, well have to mark him closely.

How is Crespo?

He can improve, he received a knock against Chieva which kept him back but in any case hes in good shape.

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Fiorentina Looking For Win Against Milan

The Viola will not be happy with a draw as they travel to San Siro to defeat the Rossoneri.

Following their latest performances and results, Fiorentina are convinced more than ever that they can achieve a positive result against Milan. This has been confirmed by Viola player Dainelli, who declared that Fiorentina will do their best to beat Ancelottis side in Milan.

Its not obligatory to win in Milan, but we shall do our best to take back home the three points. Then it will depend on the way we play and how they will be on the pitch. Playing against great champions is offers a lotl of motivations.