AC Milan should be able to call on fit-again strike pair Ronaldo and Filippo Inzaghi this weekend as they continue their charge up the Serie A table.
The European champions host Siena tomorrow on the back of five wins in their last six matches, a run that has lifted them up to fifth in the table and just four points off fourth spot and Champions League qualification for next season.
Milan got off to a disastrous start this season, failing to win any of their first seven home league matches and languishing in mid-table until the turn of the year.
Their situation became so desperate that people started to speculate on the possibility that the Italian giants could miss out on qualifying for Europe's premier club competition. But crucial 1-0 victories at Udinese and Fiorentina, as well as a run of 15 points from a possible 18, has left Milan's situation looking a lot more promising. That good feeling was at risk of being derailed following last weekend's victory in Florence when attacking Brazilian pair Pato and Kaka suffered injuries.
With Italy forward Alberto Gilardino suspended for the Siena match, there was a serious risk that Milan would be left without a single attacking player. But the timely return of the World Cup's record goalscorer Ronaldo and European club competition's record goalscorer Inzaghi leaves Milan looking a lot healthier.
Even so, playmaker Kaka is worried about the effect the constant changing of players could have on the team's consistency. "In this team there's a lot of player turn-over," he said. "Pato is out, Ronaldo is back and hopefully also Pippo."
Siena drubbed second-placed Roma 3-0 in their last outing, a result that dropped the capital-based club to eight points behind leaders Inter Milan. Roma host lowly Reggina today and although anything other than a win is unthinkable, such a result could even see Roma being dragged down into the clutch of teams that are battling it out for Champions League football next season.
They are just four points ahead of Juventus, who have a four-point advantage on Fiorentina, after which there are four more points to Milan and Udinese. Sapa-AFP
The European champions host Siena tomorrow on the back of five wins in their last six matches, a run that has lifted them up to fifth in the table and just four points off fourth spot and Champions League qualification for next season.
Milan got off to a disastrous start this season, failing to win any of their first seven home league matches and languishing in mid-table until the turn of the year.
Their situation became so desperate that people started to speculate on the possibility that the Italian giants could miss out on qualifying for Europe's premier club competition. But crucial 1-0 victories at Udinese and Fiorentina, as well as a run of 15 points from a possible 18, has left Milan's situation looking a lot more promising. That good feeling was at risk of being derailed following last weekend's victory in Florence when attacking Brazilian pair Pato and Kaka suffered injuries.
With Italy forward Alberto Gilardino suspended for the Siena match, there was a serious risk that Milan would be left without a single attacking player. But the timely return of the World Cup's record goalscorer Ronaldo and European club competition's record goalscorer Inzaghi leaves Milan looking a lot healthier.
Even so, playmaker Kaka is worried about the effect the constant changing of players could have on the team's consistency. "In this team there's a lot of player turn-over," he said. "Pato is out, Ronaldo is back and hopefully also Pippo."
Siena drubbed second-placed Roma 3-0 in their last outing, a result that dropped the capital-based club to eight points behind leaders Inter Milan. Roma host lowly Reggina today and although anything other than a win is unthinkable, such a result could even see Roma being dragged down into the clutch of teams that are battling it out for Champions League football next season.
They are just four points ahead of Juventus, who have a four-point advantage on Fiorentina, after which there are four more points to Milan and Udinese. Sapa-AFP
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