Burying Bari

Aleksader Merkel

A.C.Milan 3 A.S.Bari 0

Scoring goals against Bari has become routine behaviour for most clubs in Italy. Last season, two young boys marshaled the i Galleti defense with remarkable maturity. These boys have moved on and now represent two titans of Italian football. Their departure has had a telling impact on A.S. Bari though. In such short time, this heroic story has become a tale of legends. Bari topple like a pack of cards when exposed to any pressure, one would have to think what benefit did the club have in selling their crown jewels.

Allegri identified the threat that Bari posed and reacted respectably by fielding the most hilarious defense seen in Milan colors in recent times. Roma started in goal, with the back-line comprising of Antonini, Yepes, Nesta and Oddo. Merkel also found himself on the team sheet in his favored position, i.e. in the heart of midfield. As the game progressed, the forwards smacked their lips in delight. Their combination mesmerised everyone including the Bari defense. Cassano's game reflects his sheer joy of being able to play, even if he is played out of his position. Merkel adds a whiff of charisma in midfield which is seldom missing in Allegri's workman like set up. This change is largely refreshing. Merkel also brings about a great deal of fluidity into the middle of the park. Gattuso was in a hurry to see color and picked up a yellow on the 11'. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the 20' after a Bari player's loose pass was picked up by Robinho and sent through to the big Swede. Milan took short corners in the first half, a tactic that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps, the fear of a counter-attack could have bothered Max. Oddo's chances in the first team have been few and far in between this season, but when given a chance, he has pleasantly surprised. He continued to shine in this game too with his endearing work ethic and attacking runs. Merkel scored the second for Milan with a close range finish, his first for the senior team. Performances like these should displace Seedorf of the starting 11 rather comfortably.

Allegri baffled the audience with his half time switch. He brought on Abate for Gattuso. Interesting change one might think, perhaps an experiment of width in the narrow midfield area? Not much later did the team start playing very wide. One must wonder whatever is wrong with Robinho's shooting. He had blown two glorious chances already and was in line for some more eye-popping misses. Merkel wrapped up a fine night with an assist to Robinho on the 65'. Pirlo was thrown into the game with 20 minutes to go and Cassano made way. With the game in the bag, Milan's forwards tried playing fancy football which undoubtedly taunted Ventura's men. Pato replaced Merkel on the 72'. On the 79', Nesta was biting dust as he was shown a fresh pair of heels by a pacy forward. If not for rueful finishing, Nesta's status in the first team would have become a lot closer to the bench. In the final minutes, Milan played at a pedestrian pace, killing the clock and burying Bari in a pile of disgust and failure.

Milan - Ibrahimovic 20', Merkel 46', Robinho 65'
Bari - /