Fall From Grace

Antonio Cassano rubs it in

AC Milan 3 UC Sampdoria 0

Sampdoria, according to many is the worst football team in Italy. In my memory, there isn’t another team that has fallen from grace at such a rapid pace in one season. Not too long ago, Sampdoria had one foot in the Champions League group stage before Dominico Di Carlo suddenly decided to switch to a defensive approach and was duly nailed for doing so. Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, the very heartbeat of this team left the club and were replaced by Massimo Maccarone and Frederico Macheda. The results then on speak for themselves.

Under Gigi Del Neri, Sampdoria were a tough nut to crack. Dogged and efficient in defense, they didn’t let too many teams get past them. This season’s story is starkly different. Alberto Cavasin replaced Di Carlo but he failed to replace the results.

Fielding a 3-5-2 against AC Milan isn’t the wisest thing one can do. Cavasin did. Milan have found Prince Boatang’s most effective position; behind the strikers. His work rate and deft touches seldom go unnoticed and he was at it again. Alex Pato showed great signs of strength after toughening up. He has most certainly bulked up and he is beginning to effectively utilize that strength. Marco Amelia entered the fray on the 19’ after Christian Abbiati injured himself. Amelia finds it hard to keep a clean sheet and watching him guard the sticks would have given Sampdoria a major boost in confidence. The confidence might have shattered a couple of minutes later when Clarence Seedorf hammered home Milan’s opener. Sampdoria turned ultra defensive with 5 players defending deep within their half while the mid three chased shadows. Cavasin realized that this is the San Siro he is playing in and must accordingly adjust his tactics. Pato frustratingly limped off the pitch on the 41’ holding his hamstring. Same old, same old.

With Pato gone, Milan would labor to score from open play. Robinho continued to scuff his chances while Antonio Cassano constantly invented beside him. Cassano struggled to get into the game but became a different animal after he put away the penalty. He appeared more confident and pulled the strings around the team quite brilliantly. Robinho finally put his name on the score sheet while the assist predictably went to Cassano. Milan at this point held 77% of the ball! This night happened to be a special one for Milan with the much awaited return of Andrea Pirlo. The creative peg of AC Milan has been missing in action for much of the season and has finally returned to strengthen Milan’s bid for the title. However, these appearances could be his very last in a Milan jersey given the precarious state of his future at the club.

Milan destroyed Sampdoria but it was far from a complete destruction. The score flatters Sampdoria as they were far worse than the 3-0 suggests. They have Cassano to thank for keeping the score relatively respectable. The primadona missed a few chances in the game which were fairly easy in all honesty. The visiting club didn’t show any character or fight in their performance with the players looking disheartened and disinterested. Sampdoria are headed towards relegation and such performances will only fasten their decline. One can feel sorry for this club. That being said, the players aren’t doing themselves any favors by merely turning up.

AC Milan - Seedorf 20', Cassano 54' pen, Robinho 61'
Sampdoria - /