elephants can defend

Kevin Prince Boatang

Milan 1 Catania 1

Catania knew how to approach the game from the beginning. It's never rocket science in Italy for a small team whilst facing a giant. Sit and hit. Milan however intended to attack Catania and played a high line of defense. This made us susceptible to getting caught on the counter. We weren't going to have several clear chances in the game. Therefore Inzaghi's miss was going to come back and bite us on the behind. Allegri's fascination with the 4-3-3 had pushed Zlatan out wide, a position in which he was wasted. Catania organized themselves very well and were defending deep. Our midfield was certain to be run over by the elephants with Boatang and Seedorf pushing up to assist the attack. Catania started to use possession well at times pushing Milan players into their own half. The goal wasn't a product of any such build up play though. It came from a wonder-strike from Catania's left back. As expected Catania were running though our midfield with us providing little or no resistance. Asking Pirlo to hold back these players was like asking a badger to stand up to an army of elephants. Catania had 6 shots on target while Milan had none, with 35 minutes of the game being played. This should give us a fair understanding of the direction of play. Marco Giampaolo knew his tactics; he had two defenders on Ronaldinho at all times. This limited his service and also choked creativity in the final third. Allegri didn't have a lot to choose from with a bench comprising of Zambrotta, Sokratis, Yepes, Gattuso, Abate, Oduamadi. Catania overdid their trick of playing Inzaghi offside when he finally beat the trap to secure the equalizer. This resulted in Ibrahimovic moving from the wing to the centre which turned out to be a bad move as Ibrahimovic and Inzaghi started running into each other. Boatang then covered the right side of midfield, his engine running over-time. Boatang has brought some much needed energy, enthusiasm and strength to the aging, static midfield. His passing is admirable too.

Catania might have had the better share of attack in the first half but Milan came into their own in the second half. AC Milan fullbacks transformed into wingbacks to drive the attack from the wings. Bonera's crossing is atrocious for a right back. All he does going forward is loop in hopeful balls. This was Ibrahimovic's first disappointing game in a Milan shirt. The only positive of the game was a marked improvement by Milan in the second half. Ronaldinho wasn't finding space out wide and drifted into the centre midway through the second half. He therefore brought with him the two tracking defenders to the centre, congesting the midfield and thereby making it harder for Pirlo and Seedorf to find space. Catania played for a draw and succeeded.

Catania, fondly known as Gli Elefanti, were solid at the back. They enjoyed a dream season last year and with performances like this, the dream is likely to last longer than expected. Maxi Lopez has matured into a sharp striker after moving from Spain. Jorge Martinez doesn't feel missed by the Etnei anymore, or so it appears. Milan and Allegri now return to the drawing board.

Catania - Capuano 27'
Milan - Inzaghi 45'