Milan, Juve keep Inter in sight

2009/11/24

ROME: AC Milan edged Cagliari in a 4-3 thriller and Juventus laboured to a 1-0 home win over Udinese on Sunday as both Italian giants kept leaders Inter Milan within their sights.

The champions, who won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday, lead Juve by five points with Milan a further two behind.

The main excitement of the day came at the San Siro as Milan coach Leonardo's continued gamble in playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation paid off as his increasingly exciting team edged a wonderful game full of free-flowing action.

One of the main protagonists, Ronaldinho, who looked close to the form he showed during his halcyon Barcelona days, said Inter were not on their city rivals' minds.

"We're just thinking about ourselves at the moment, Inter are a great team and they have a big lead," he said.

"I've had some good weeks of work behind me, physically I feel good and what's more I'm playing in my best position (on the left of a three-man attack) where I spent many years playing for Barcelona."
Udinese defender Andrea Coda (left) challenges Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero in their Serie A match on Sunday. Juventus won 1-0. — AFPpic
Udinese defender Andrea Coda (left) challenges Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero in their Serie A match on Sunday. Juventus won 1-0. — AFPpic

Leonardo was delighted with his forwards but dismayed by his team's defending.

"Even if we lacked a bit of balance, this team are amazing. They make things a bit difficult but I'm delighted," said the amiable Brazilian.

"The whole defence played badly but in attack we put on an incredible show. Pato scored a stunner, (Marco) Borriello had a great game, (Clarence) Seedorf was a great help at the beginning and Ronaldinho is getting back to his best."

In Turin chances were at a premium for much of a dull game but Diego stung Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's hands early on.

Amauri then failed to turn home a ball on the edge of the six yard box as the first half ended goalless.

But six minutes after the break Christian Poulsen lofted the ball into the area and right-back Martin Caceres crossed for left-back Fabio Grosso to stab home from close range.

Moments later both Alessandro Del Piero and Momo Sissoko made their injury returns to boost the Italians ahead of their crucial trip to Bordeaux in the Champions League in midweek.

"We won a very difficult match and these are three very important points and so I'm very satisfied," said Juve coach Ciro Ferrara. "It was good to get Sissoko and Del Piero on."

In other games, Francesco Totti made a welcome injury return for Roma, scoring a hat-trick in the first half hour as the struggling capital-based side beat Bari 3-1.


And Sampdoria moved back into the top four with a 2-1 home win over 10-man Chievo. -- AFP