Inter, Bayern seek to recapture spirit of 2010

Inter's 2-0 victory over Bayern at the Bernabeu in last year's final

The last time Inter Milan and Bayern Munich met, they were both 90 minutes away from the perfect season. This time they are just looking for salvation.

The Italian and German champions will contest the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday in a repeat of last year's final.

Inter's 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu that night gave the Nerazzurri the treble of Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League while Bayern were left with the Bundesliga and German Cup double.

Nine months on, both teams are struggling to live up to such high standards.

Bayern's hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title look all but over having dropped 13 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

"It's pretty much impossible for Bayern to win the Bundesliga this season in my opinion," forward Arjen Robben told Kicker magazine.

"I'd say that we have more chance of winning the Champions League than scooping the domestic title."

Inter, who fired Jose Mourinho's replacement Rafael Benitez in December, are third in Serie A, five points behind leaders AC Milan, although they have looked much brighter in attack since ex-AC Milan boss Leonardo took over.

Inter, who fielded eight South Americans in their starting line-up in last May's final, will be missing Argentine forward Diego Milito, who is out with a hamstring strain.

Milito, the scorer of both goals in the final, is likely to be replaced by Goran Pandev, with Samuel Eto'o the other forward.

Wesley Sneijder and Lucio missed Saturday's 1-0 Serie A win over Cagliari with knocks but are expected to return for the Bayern game given its importance, even if the Dutchman will not be 100 percent fit after a groin problem.

Cristian Chivu is available after a domestic ban, and his greater experience means he is likely to come in for Japan's Yuto Nagatomo at left-back.

'Robbery” reliance

Apart from a long-term injury to forward Ivica Olic, Bayern are at full strength, with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both available.

Flamboyant coach Louis van Gaal, however, refused to accept that his team are reliant on the "Robbery" duo, whose injuries were blamed for Bayern's poor first half to the season.

"In my opinion, we are not dependent on Robben and Ribery," Van Gaal said after Saturday's 3-1 win at Mainz 05.

"We have lots of good players and we need them all to play well. Footballers also need a good trainer."

Striker Mario Gomez, the Bundesliga's top scorer this season, said on Monday he was fit despite suffering an ankle injury against Mainz. Goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, who went off at half-time after a blow to the head, should line up for his first Champions League knockout tie.

Inter Milan: 1-Julio Cesar; 13-Maicon, 15-Andrea Ranocchia, 6-Lucio, 26-Cristian Chivu; 4-Javier Zanetti, 19-Esteban Cambiasso, 8-Thiago Motta; 10-Wesley Sneijder; 27-Goran Pandev, 9-Samuel Eto'o

Bayern Munich: 35-Thomas Kraft; 21-Philipp Lahm, 28-Holger Badstuber, 44-Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, 23-Danijel Pranjic; 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 10-Arjen Robben, 7-Franck Ribery, 30-Luiz Gustavo; 25-Thomas Mueller, 33-Mario Gomez.

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Crouch sinks Milan in bad-tempered clash

Tottenham Hotspur's Peter Crouch (3rd L) celebrates with his team mate Niko Kranjcar at the end of the Champions League soccer match against AC Milan at the San Siro stadium in Milan February 15, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's debut season in the Champions League continued to gather momentum after a Peter Crouch goal sank below-par AC Milan in a 1-0 last 16 first-leg victory on Tuesday.

England striker Crouch struck 10 minutes from time following a swift counter-attack at a rain-soaked San Siro, extending Milan's poor recent home record in European competition to just one win in 10 games.

Serie A leaders Milan, seven-times European champions, struggled to impose themselves in a niggly encounter that flared up at various stages.

Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini was lucky just to be booked for a crude two-footed lunge that forced Vedran Corluka out of the game and Gennaro Gattuso is likely to face UEFA repercussions after appearing to headbutt Spurs assistant manager Joe Jordan after the final whistle.

Gattuso had to be pulled away from Jordan and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp branded the Italian firebrand "crazy".

"I lost control," Gattuso told reporters. "There is no excuse for what I have done. I take my responsibilities for that. I was nervous. I didn't want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done."

Redknapp also blasted Flamini, calling his challenge on Corluka a "horrendous".

"It was a deliberate tackle. He could have broken his leg. A referee should have red-carded him," an angry Redknapp told a news conference.

Crouch, who finished with aplomb from 10 meters after a lightning break from Aaron Lennon, said Spurs were the better side.

"I thought we deserved to win, we limited them to a few chances... defended magnificently.

"It was a great win, it's a fantastic achievement to beat Milan in the San Siro but the job is not finished."

The Premier League side, who lost 4-3 at the San Siro to Milan's city rivals Inter in the group stage in October, were the better side in the first half before Milan improved after the break.

Spurs had an early shout for a penalty turned down when the fit-again Rafael van der Vaart's effort appeared to strike Alessandro Nesta on the arm.

 

AC Milan's Mathieu Flamini (2nd R) argues with Tottenham Hotspur's Rafael van der Vaart after his tackle on Vedran Corluka (L) during their Champions League soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan February 15, 2011

Head injury

The home side lost goalkeeper Christian Abbiati after 18 minutes with a head injury. Abbiati went to hospital for checks on concussion and his replacement Marco Amelia had to touch a fierce Van der Vaart shot over the bar after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had fired a free kick wide in Milan's first meaningful chance.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, with several midfielders such as Andrea Pirlo injured and the likes of Antonio Cassano ineligible, sent out a defensive-looking team with centre back Thiago Silva in midfield and in the first half it showed.

He threw on Brazil forward Alexandre Pato at the break and Milan's Mario Yepes had two headers well-saved by Heurelho Gomes.

Robinho had a close-range shot deflected wide and Milan thought they had equalized late in stoppage time but Ibrahimovic's spectacular overhead strike was ruled out for a push.

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Milan give Serie A priority over Spurs clash

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan

If Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur is not going well, AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri may look to the players in the stands and think what might have been.

Two league draws in a row for the Serie A leaders were followed by Saturday's 4-0 romp against Parma, with cut-price January recruits Antonio Cassano and Mark van Bommel playing a part in the victory.

The pair, along with former Ajax Amsterdam player Urby Emanuelson, are ineligible to play for the seven-times winners in the Champions League having featured in earlier rounds with Sampdoria and Bayern Munich.

Milan knew this when they signed them but the pursuit of their first Scudetto since 2004 takes precedence over European competition this season.

"We're first in the championship for the first time in years so it's logical to think Milan's objective is the league title," Allegri told reporters.

No joker

Cassano's absence means Allegri is forced to play Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Alexandre Pato as his front three, with no 'joker' on the bench to allow the coach to shuffle the pack if goals are not forthcoming.

Midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini miss out due to injury and the combative Van Bommel could at least have patrolled the area in front of the back four even if pinging 60-metre Pirlo-esque passes is not his strong point.

Spurs, preparing for the biggest game in their first Champions League campaign, have problems too with left winger Gareth Bale missing because of a back injury and two more creative influences doubtful.

Bale lit up the San Siro with a hat-trick in the 4-3 defeat at holders Inter Milan in the group stage and was relishing a return although with AC Milan among the clubs casting an eye, his absence may be a blessing in disguise if Spurs want to keep him.

Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric are also key pieces in manager Harry Redknapp's jigsaw but missed the 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

"They're struggling at the moment. Luka's had his appendix operation and has just started jogging. Rafa's got a calf strain," said Redknapp who has Jermaine Jenas suspended.

"Hopefully they won't be too long. It's difficult to know."

Probable teams:

AC Milan: 32-Christian Abbiati; 17-Massimo Oddo, 33-Thiago Silva, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 77-Luca Antonini; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 16-Mathieu Flamini, 10-Clarence Seedorf; 70-Robinho; 11-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 7-Alexandre Pato

Tottenham Hotspur: 1-Heurelho Gomes; 22-Vedran Corluka, 20-Michael Dawson, 13-William Gallas, 32-Benoit Assou-Ekotto; 7-Aaron Lennon, 12-Wilson Palacios, 40-Steven Pienaar, 21-Niko Kranjcar; 15-Peter Crouch, 18-Jermain Defoe

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)

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Inter, Roma clash to stay in Serie A title hunt

37 minutes ago .
Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder (top) is tackled by AS Bari Kamil Glik during their Serie A match at San Nicola Stadium in Bari, on February 3

Photo: AFP

ROME – Champions Inter Milan and Roma face a crucial clash at the San Siro this weekend as both sides try to stay in the scudetto hunt.

Inter pipped Roma to the title by two points last year as they finished as the top two for the fourth time in five years -- with Inter winning the championship every time.

But this time around both have been left lagging in leaders AC Milan's wake and defeat in Sunday's game could prove terminal for either side's trophy hopes.

With just 15 games left, this would be a bad time to start losing touch with the teams above but Roma club captain Francesco Totti insists there is still a long way to go.

Asked about his own lack of goals this season -- he has scored just three times in 19 league games -- Totti claimed he would soon click into gear.

"There's still a long way to go in the championship and my goals will come," he said.

"It's a vital match, if we get a result on Sunday we'll be able to remain hot on AC Milan's heels, even though right now we're nine points back with a game in hand."

Milan have stumbled several times since the turn of the year but both Roma and third-placed Inter have failed to take full advantage, themselves slipping up when there was the opporunity to close the gap.

However, things are going a lot better for both of them than for Italy's most successful side, Juventus.

Following the disaster of last season when Juve finished seventh and went through two coaches, they spent big in the summer and hired Luigi Delneri to revive the club's fortunes.

Things started out well enough this season but they have completely lost their way since the turn of the year.

Milan travel to Genoa looking to maintain the five-point lead at the top they extended in midweek despite a 0-0 draw at home to Lazio.

Napoli failed to capitalise as they produced a listless display in losing 2-0 at Chievo.

However, they return home to host struggling Cesena on Sunday while Lazio entertain

Chievo.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):

Sunday

Bologna v Catania (1130), Brescia v Bari, Genoa v AC Milan, Lazio v Chievo, Lecce v Palermo, Napoli v Cesena, Parma v Fiorentina, Inter Milan v Roma (1945)

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Milan sign City's Robinho as Borriello joins Roma

Manchester City's Robinho applauds the crowd while warming up during their English Premier League soccer match against Fulham in Manchester April 12, 2009

Photo: Reuters

AC Milan snapped up Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho on transfer deadline day on Tuesday, the latest piece in a jigsaw which the Rossoneri hope will bring them the Serie A title.

"The player has signed a four-year contract," Milan said in a statement without giving details on the permanent transfer.

Milan's capture of Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona last week prompted Marco Borriello, who started upfront in Sunday's 4-0 win over Lecce, to quit for AS Roma in a deal which was only just concluded before the deadline.

"AC Milan announce that Marco Borriello has joined AS Roma on loan," a second statement said.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar earlier made further room at the San Siro by leaving for Schalke 04.

Milan had been quiet at the start of the transfer window but some limp pre-season displays persuaded owner Silvio Berlusconi to drop his frugal spending policy and bring in former Inter Milan forward Ibrahimovic on an initial loan and sign Robinho.

The 26-year-old Robinho joined City from Real Madrid in 2008 in a big-money deal but never really settled in the Premier League and spent the second half of last season on loan at former club Santos.

"I want to make history with this club. I will give so much happiness to my fans," Robinho told Milan's official website (ww.acmilan.com).

The tricky player will struggle to hold down a first team place with new Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri saying he expects to play a forward trident of Ibrahimovic with Brazilians Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato.

Robinho has been bought as a deputy for Ronaldinho and Pato but Borriello and Huntelaar's exits mean only 37-year-old Filippo Inzaghi remains as a spare targetman in case of injury or suspension to Ibrahimovic.

Milan have not won Serie A since 2004 and have watched Inter win the last five titles and last term's Champions League.

However, Italian pundits believe their late double-dip into the transfer market makes them clear favourites to be Inter's major rivals this term having finished a lacklustre third behind AS Roma last season.

Cash-strapped Roma swooped for striker Borriello given other new recruit Adriano is out injured.

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