By Petar Todorovski
Milan definitely is not the same team from November and early December anymore. They don’t score many goals as before, but they also can’t keep the net clean, so their rivals started to get closer to them. Now their advantage is only three points and can be melted should they loose even in the next round.
The start of the game smelled like another flop for Milan as they couldn’t create any serious chance in first 30 minutes. Allegri sent three strikers on the field but they did nothing.
However, Dario Dainelli left the ball to Alexandre Pato letting him net the ball easily. Without doing anything, Milan had the lead. Then they took the control and could extend the lead but Genoa avoided conceding another goal.
Instead of that, Griffone managed to equalize. In their first real threat toward Christian Abbiati’s goal, Abdoulaye Konko found Antonio Floro Flores in the box and the striker netted into the bottom corner. The goal was scored in the 45th minute so in the few seconds that were remained from the first half the result wasn’t changed.
Rossoneri seemed to be awakened by Genoa’s goal and started the second half much better, putting pressure to Eduardo’s goal from the first minute. Mathieu Flamini and Robinho had some chances but failed to score.
Superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the best scoring opportunity in the second 45 minutes. Daniele Bonera headed the ball to him, but it was too high for the tall Swede and he sent it wide.
Milan kept attacking, but except one free kick by Ibrahimovic they did nothing. Genoa were determined to keep the score leveled in order to win a point that could be vital in eventual relegation battle.
Genoa’s coach Davide Ballardini was certainly delighted by the result. “We battled and played a great game today. Considering the quality of opposition we were up against this afternoon this point is very important to us,” he said.
Massimiliano Allegri were unsatisfied due to the lack of chances in the second half despite the pressure. “In the second half we didn’t play well today as we rushed things and weren’t able to create as much as we usually do,” he told the press. Then he continued commenting about the Scudetto race. “Napoli are breathing down our necks but it would be wrong to say they are a surprise this season. At the beginning this may have been the case, but the Azzurri have proven to be a well organised outfit and are probably playing without the pressure of having to win each week.” Should Milan loose the game against Parma next weekend, Napoli will have the chance to level with him on top.
