Dubiously Fortunate

Massimo Oddo

Napoli 1 Milan 2

Only Allegri can explain why Gattuso still starts over Flamini. There are no signs to indicate that Flamini is hurt or isn't match fit but he continues to start from the bench and is handed a cameo role for 5 minutes at the end of each game. With Ronaldinho being injured, Allegri lined up a 4-3-3 with a rotating front three. Robinho was handed a rare start and he seemed fired up. Amelia was Milan's best player at the Bernebau and perhaps merited a start, but Allegri favored Abbiati.

The game was quite scrappy in the initial stages. Antonini and Maggio collided into each other while going for the ball resulting in both leaving the pitch. I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity for the highly rated Bruno Montelongo to make his appearance for the club but Allegri opts for Oddo instead! However Oddo immediately responded to the global skepticism with a cut back for Robinho who scored with a superbly placed shot. Pato was poor in front of goal with his dribbling and passing being painfully mediocre. Pazienza continued to flirt with danger and the referee put his misery to rest by sending him off for two consecutive handballs. This became a stimulus for Napoli who started attacking fervently.

We returned from the break with a solitary goal lead having narrowly protected it after Robinho scored in the 22'. Napoli chose to use pace against our weak fullbacks and this resulted in Dossena sending in a few crosses that should have been converted. Ibrahimovic continues to look indifferent and ghostlike in attack. Nesta's positioning sense was receiving a beating as he was caught out of position more than once. Milan chose counters as the only route to score the decisive second but were incredibly passive while given the opportunity. Just when Oddo's influence on the game was fading away, he popped with a delightful cross that Ibrahimovic met with his head. Second goal of the game for Milan and Napoli's efforts perhaps unfairly crushed. Criminal defending on the part of the Napoleans who should have marked Ibrahimovic closely. Instead he was given a free header which he rarely misses. Ibrahimovic was then substituted for Seedorf. Allegri probably had Juventus on his mind while making this move. But still no Flamini. The duel between Sokriris and Lavezzi was a very interesting one. Sokritis used his strength against the front man while Lavezzi used his trickery. Sokritis was fortunate to be on the pitch after a rough challenge on Lavezzi when he was clean through on goal. Sokratis looked most likely to be the sore pin and he didn't let his opposition down. His poor clearance gave Lavezzi the chance to scoop his shot over Abbiati into the back of the net. Suddenly out of nowhere, Napoli were back in the game. They pounded Milan's goal for the rest of the match but Abbiati stood tall. Except a few rather ridiculous flapping efforts, the net minder was solid.

Allegri's dubious choices worked. Had they not, he would have been deeply scrutinized by the media. I assume that most people would have thought that bringing Oddo on for Antonini is a terrible move, yet Oddo assisted with 2 crosses which is highly unexpected of the veteran. Keeping Flamini out for 85 minutes of the game perhaps is a sinful decision but Seedorf helped calm a brawl which Flamini would have contributed to. Starting with Abbiati when Amelia was deservedly crying out for another chance might be harsh, but Abbiati delivered a strong performance. Allegri got his tactics right but there is a sense of fortune to it.

Napoli - Lavezzi 78'
Milan - Robinho 22', Ibrahimovic 72'