66th game AC Milan Vs Torino

Sunday night at 20.30 Milan will host Torino at San Siro for the 66th time in history. The balance of the precedents is favorable to the Rossoneri: the Granata haven't won in Milan since the 1984/1985 season.

On Sunday 19 April at 20.30 Milan will welcome Giancarlo Camolese's Torino at San Siro in the evening match of the 32nd matchday of Serie A.

In total there are 65 precedents in Milan between the two clubs with a balance in favor of the Rossoneri with 37 victories, 17 draws, and 11 defeats. Only 47 goals have been conceded by Milan, against the 114 conceded by the Granata. Nine penalties were given to Ancelotti's side, six against.

The last meeting at San Siro corresponds to the last draw between the two teams and goes back to last season. It was 3 November 2007 and the match on the eleventh matchday of Serie A 2007/2008 finished 0-0. The same result also occurred the previous season when the Granata came to San Siro on the 15th matchday of the 2006/2007 season: it was 10 December 2006 and Milan came close to victory with a penalty won by Alberto Gilardino in the 78th minute, but Gila himself hit the post with his shot.

Milan's last victory was in the preceding encounter, in the 2002/2003 season due to the Granata's relegation to Serie B. It was 6 October 2002 and the Rossoneri won 6-0. These were the goalscorers: 21’ pen. Pirlo (M); 31’, 79’ and86’ Inzaghi (M), 41’ Serginho (M), 84’ own goal Fattori (T).

Torino, meanwhile, haven't won at San Siro since the 1984/1985 season: it was 24 March 1985 and the Rossoneri team coached by Liedholm was beaten 1-0 by the Granata of Radice thanks to Schachner's goal in the 61st minute.

The biggest victory came in the 1949/1950 season. It was 26 February 1950 and Milan won 7-0 with a brace by Burini in the 1st and 36th minutes, Nordahl III's brace in the 6th, 29th and 43rd minutes, and Liedholm's goal in the 90th minute.

HERE ARE THE LAST FIVE MEETINGS AT SAN SIRO

11' MATCHDAY - SEASON 2007/2008
3 November 2007
MILAN-TORINO 0-0

15' MATCHDAY - SEASON 2006/2007
10 December 2006
MILAN-TORINO 0-0

5' MATCHDAY - SEASON 2002/2003
6 Octobre 2002
MILAN-TORINO 6-0
Goalscorers: 21’ pen. Pirlo (M); 31’, 79’ and 86’ Inzaghi (M), 41’ Serginho (M), 84’ o.g. Fattori (T).

27' MATCHDAY - SEASON 2001/2002
17 March 2002
MILAN-TORINO 2-1
Goalscorers: 50' Kaladze (M), 62' pen. Ferrante (T), 79' Ambrosini (M).

13' MATCHDAY - SEASON 1999/2000
11 December 1999
MILAN-TORINO 2-0
Goalscorers: 3' Bierhoff (M), 75' pen. Shevchenko (M).

Maldini simple life

The Rossoneri's captain, Paolo Maldini, gave an interview to daily newspaper 'La Stampa' in which he touched on various themes: his career, his emotions, Milan, his life.

Paolo Maldini, a name, a legend. He has tied his entire career to Milan, the team of his city which saw him mature and grow as a man and a professional. In 1978 he had his first try-out with the Rossoneri, his Serie A debut on 20 January 1985 under Nils Liedhbolm, while he was just sixteen, in a match against Udinese (1-1).

Already the following season, at just 17, Paolo became a first choice in the Rossoneri's formation, with the number 3 shirt of the left back. He scored his first Serie A goal on 4 January 1987 in Como-Milan (0-1). In Europe, his first goal came on 21 October 1992 in Slovan Bratislava-Milan (0-1).

Today Paolo is Milan's captain, husband and father of Christian and Daniel, and holds the record for the most seasons in Serie A with the same team. With 25 consecutive seasons played with Milan, he is the record holder for appearences: 895 official games played, including Cups.

"There are seven games left to the end of the season" - Paolo Maldini said this morning in an interview to Turin daily newspaper 'La Stampa' - I've solved my physical problems, I'd like to get to 900."
The Rossoneri's captain made up a balance of his career on his last season as a player, saying: "As a man and a player I gave my best from when I was 30 to when I turned 40." On which game gave him the most emotions, Maldini answered: "The debut in Udine. Battistini got injured, Liedholm told me during the break in the dressing room."

With Milan's shirt in Italy he won, at national level: 7 Scudetti (1987-1988, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1995-1996, 1998-1999, 2003-2004); 5 Italian Supercups (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004 ) and 1 Coppa Italia (2002-2003); at international level: 5 Champions Cups/Champions League (1988-1989, 1989-1990, 1993-1994, 2002-2003, 2006-2007); 5 UEFA Supercups (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007); 2 Intercontinental Cups (1989, 1990); 1 Club World Cup (2007).

With the national team shirt he debuted at age 19, on 31 March 1988 in Jugoslavia-Italy (1-1) and scored the first of his 7 goals on 20 January 1993 in Florence against Mexico (2-0).

He quit the national team in 2002 at 34 after the World Cup. With the Azzurri's shirt he has played 126 matches (an absolute record), scoring 7 goals. Paolo also holds the record for the amount of matches with the captain's armband: 74. It's also possible that he will wear the Azzurri's shirt one more time in a possible friendly at Pescara in an act of solidarity towards Abruzzo: "It would be magnificent, I would be proud" - Maldini commented.

On 26 June Maldini will turn 41 and he will end this cycle of honors, glories and victories with the Rossoneri shirt, but since a few months a 'new' defender, Thiago Silva, is training alongside him at Milanello, and Paolo gave him his grade: "A very high grade. He's strong and quick. He's worthy of Milan."

All of this is captain Maldini, a unique case in the world and certainly all the Rossoneri fans, and not only them, will have a sad day when he plays his last match at San Siro on 24 May against Roma: "I would have liked to finish at San Siro, but our last match is in Florence. And so I will wave the fans goodbye the Sunday before, on 24 May at home against Roma."

Galliani - Pato suffered fouls a lot

On his arrival at Via Rossellini, headquarters of the Lega Calcio, the general manager of the Rossoneri, Adriano Galliani, replied to the questions of the journalists this morning, speaking about various current issues.

These are the declarations of the Rossoneri's general manager at the entrance of the Lega Calcio, in Via Rossellini in Milan.

ON THE MARKET DECLARATIONS MADE YESTERDAY BY KAKA
"I don't speak about the transfer market. Even though Kaka spoke about the market I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we won't speak about the market before the end of the season. I have very clear ideas in my head, but I won't announce them before May 31."

ON THE SECOND PLACE IN THE STANDINGS
"I don't like making predictions, Juve are just two points ahead of us, but we have Genoa behind us who are doing very well and even Fiorentina, we'll see what happens. It's difficult, but this is football."

ON THE FOULS SUFFERED BY PATO
"On Pato I repeat what I already said: Pato is scientifically fouled as soon as he goes on the pitch, hoping that since he's still young, then he starts staying away from the action, which at times happens. I enjoy watching the games and I saw that in the last two away games Pato was scientifically fouled in the first minutes. If you notice, in the second half, when the lad tries to stay away, he is hit less. The defenders have always hit the attackers, but the treatment towards Pato, in my opinion, is a bit excessive. However, it's up to the referees to verify if this is all good or bad. I think that the referees have the duty not to safeguard, but to stop the violent game and I hope that they do so in the next games."

ON ADRIANO, TO DIVORCE FROM INTER
"No one ever thought about Adriano. Milan does not go into this issue which is of Inter."

Ronaldinho desire Champion League

Ronaldinho feels recovered from his heel injury and ready to do well. The Gaucho is counting on the next games to prepare the match in May against Juventus.

During the break between the morning and afternoon training sessions, Ronaldinho talked to Milan Channel's microphones. The interview was about his and the team's condition.

"What we are going through - Ronaldinho said - is a very important part of the season. I'm happy I'm feeling good in an important moment for the team. I want to get to the end of this week feeling good. I am happy to have recovered from my injury, I feel ready and I hope to give the team a hand. Milan's condition is improving, we are getting important points, and I'm happy about that. The objective of the whole team is the qualification to the Champions League, my objective is to play better and better."

"Now - Ronaldinho continued - we have two matches at San Siro, in front of our fans, whom we need to support us and be present. We have to use this good moment for us at all costs to continue in our road toward the Champions League. In May we will also have some key games, first of all Milan-Juventus, but to get to that match the right way we have to do our best in the next three games. Here at Milan we all have a great desire to play in the Champions League again."

Ancelotti - We must be carefull

As preparations resumed today at Milanello, Carlo Ancelotti talked about the important victory against Chievo and talked about some individual players like Dida, Seedorf, and Kaká, and the fouls suffered by Pato.

Here are the declarations made by Carlo Ancelotti to Milan Channel's microphones, today at Milanello, before the afternoon training session:

Coach Ancelotti, Saturday's victory against Chievo was important...
"Yes, because the three points we obtained in Verona on Saturday are important for the league position. In the high positions no one is giving up and Milan have the duty to keep up with the competition. Even though the team's performance wasn't brilliant, it was important to win to keep the advantage we have over Genoa and Fiorentina, while Roma are now further behind. We have to be careful because a misstep could compromise the advantage we have."

After Saturday night's Juventus defeat, can Milan believe in the second place?
"We have to believe in it because at the moment Juventus are closer. The Bianconeri have to careful just like us, and they have to play on Saturday night against Inter and that is for us an extra reason to try and catch them."

Nelson Dida became the first choice again after Abbiati's injury. How has he been doing?
"Dida is putting to use the work he did while he didn't play: he has recovered physically and he is now as reliable as he used to be. The merit is mostly his for the effort he has made in these last months."

How did you see Clarence Seedorf on Saturday?
"Clarence played a good match, it was important that he scored. Let's say it wasn't a great match from the footballing point of view by Milan, but the team played with attention and concentration. We gave something away, but we got the result thanks to the determination with which we entered the pitch."

How far do you think Kaká is?
"Kaká's performance in Verona is a consequence of his period of inactivity. He was out for a long time and he needs to find his best condition, but Ricky is a player who uses his speed a lot and if he isn't in good shape he is penalised."

Pato always gets fouled by his opponents.
"Pato is a great player and he is destined to get fouled because he is faster than other players and his opponents are forced to foul him because they are too late. He has to vary his play a little and not always receive the ball at his feet, but while running, that way he wouldn't be fouled as much."

Sunday night against Torino in defence Jankulovski will be out suspended.
"We hope to recover Maldini, we have to wait for Bonera, but at the moment the defence is doing well. Even though we have had many injuries this season, the results say that the defence is quite reliable."