FEW EMOTIONS
2/7/2010 5:21:00 PM
Bologna-Milan gave few emotions, no goals and few moves from both sides. In the second half the Rossoneri hit the crossbar twice with Ronaldinho and Ambrosini. Bonera did well on his return.
(On the photo, Amantino Mancini, who made his debut, and behind him Daniele Bonera who was one of the best on the pitch today)
MILAN - It finished 0-0 between Milan and Bologna, it's the second consecutive draw for Milan after the one at home against Livorno. The Rossoneri lacked incisiveness, but also luck: the team hit the woodwork twice through Ronaldinho first and Ambrosini later. Milan therefore reached 42 points in the league, distancing Napoli who were beaten by Udinese.
Bologna went on the pitch in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Colombo in the goal, Raggi, Portanova, Moras and Lanna on the defensive line. In midfield Buscé, Mudingayi, Guana and Modesto. In attack coach Franco Colomba played Gimenez and Di Vaio.
Leonardo meanwhile played the Rossoneri with a 4-2-3-1 formation with a few changes in the formation: Dida in goal with Abate and Antonini wide in defence. Bonera (on his league debut after a long stop) and Thiago Silva are the central defensive couple. Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf in midfield and new arrival Mancini with Ronaldinho and Borriello in attack. An unusual outfit for Milan, who wore a white shirt, red socks and white shorts.
A first half without many emotions between the two teams, there was only one shot on goal by Di Vaio which did not trouble Dida, who easily saved the Rossoblu striker's shot. Ignazio Abate also made some good clearences to stop Marco Di Vaio's runs.
In the first half there was also an episode in the Rossoblu's area involving Ambrosini who fell, but with great sportsmanship he admitted he wasn't touched by Colombo, and thereby avoided a yellow card. It was the Rossoneri captain's 300th game in Serie A, his debut coming on 5 November 1995 in Milan-Cagliari 3-2.
The second half at the Dall'Ara stadium started with just one change in Bologna, with Adailton instead of Gimenez. No changes in Milan's team, which started the second half with more conviction. In the 11th minute of the second half Seedorf gave Ronaldinho a chance to bring the team forward, but the Brazilian's overhead kick hit the crossbar.
In the 15th minute Milan made their first change, as Leonardo inserted Huntelaar instead of Seedorf, transforming the system into a 4-3-1-2.
In the 24th minute the first chance for Huntelaar, who found himself one on one with Bologna's goalkeeper, but Moras did well to stop a ball which certainly would've gone in. In the 31st minute Pirlo served Borriello, the striker sent in a ball for Mancini, who didn't beat Colombo from close range. Three minutes later the second change in the Rossoneri's team with the entrance of Beckham for Ronaldinho.
In the second half also Abate gave a good performance and in the 42nd minute made a run on the wing and gave Borriello a difficult ball, but the striker turned around well in the area and once again Colombo did well to save it. Ambrosini hit the woodwork with a header, on an assist by Mancini, on the Rossoneri's last assault before the final whistle.
Among the positive things of the match there was the performance of Daniele Bonera, who came back almost a year after his injury, but these 90 minutes confirmed that the player has completely healed and this splendid performance was the proof.
STATS:
BOLOGNA (4-4-1-1): Colombo; Raggi, Portanova, Moras, Lanna; Buscè, Mudingayi, Guana, Modesto (79' Britos) ; Gimenez (46' Adailton); Di Vaio (45' Succi).
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Dida; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (61' Huntelaar); Mancini, Ronaldinho (79' Beckham), Borriello.
GOALSCORERS: -
BOOKED: -
SENT OFF: -
REFEREE: Mazzoleni of Bergamo Grilli-Rosi/Celi