Siena 1, Milan 4: Sunday Afternoon Stroll

What started out to be a little bit like our past several games – a lethargic midfield, sloppy passing, and making opportunities for our opponents – turned into a return to the dominating form we all love and a pretty easy Sunday Afternoon Stroll. Maybe not quite a stroll in the park, but a comfortable win and a confidence builder amidst so much pressure in the final stretch of the season. Thanks, guys!

So much Antonio

Siena vs. Milan: Game On!

Siena-Milan Preview: Under the Tuscan Sun

Perhaps the only thing this match will have in common with whatever that chick flick was all about is that it takes place in Tuscany. Well, and being played at 3pm local time, it is possible that there may be sunlight. But while most people associate Tuscany with beautiful countryside and villas and whatever, this weekend I see it in black and white: the black and white stripes of Siena, that is. The little team that could, and a team that stands in the way of another Scudetto for us. The only plot I’m worried about is the final score.

A beautiful place to win three points.

Milan 1, Genoa 0: Live to Fight Another Day

It wasn’t pretty. But it also wasn’t as ugly as Genoa’s fans on Sunday. Somewhere in between those two places we played 90 minutes of football. And somehow managed to win. That in and of itself seems miraculous if you watched the first 85 minutes of the match. But not quite so much when you consider we played a relegation-threatened team with the most goals conceded in the league and who finished on 10 men. Okay, so maybe it was closer to the ugly side. But I am not pretentious enough to care how we win, only that we do. And with the top of the table rivals also pulling off a 1-0 win away to Cesena, we live to fight another day.

Milan vs. Genoa: Game On!

Milan-Genoa Preview Part II: Biting the Hand that Feeds You

It’s not often that I have to write 2 previews for one match. But so much has changed in the past 10-12 days, the previous post seems barely relevant, even though it is the same matchup. For one, we’ve already played the round that was supposed to happen after this one, and both of us had less than desirable results. Secondly, they don’t even have the same coach as they did 2 weeks ago. But most importantly, with all that has transpired since then, this match has even greater significance for both teams. Should we win, we will truly be biting the hand that feeds us.

Milan 1, Bologna 1: Foiled Again

A game like this would have stung when we were top of the table. It would have hurt midseason. But at the end of the season, 1 point behind Juventus, this match had all of the tenderness of a concrete block to the face.  And that’s taking into consideration that we barely grabbed the draw, it could have been worse.

Ibra misinterprets the term "sitter."

Milan vs. Bologna: Game On!

Let's grind them into the pitch... for Mother Earth.

Forza Milan!

Milan vs. Bologna

Sunday, April 22 • 15:00 CEST (9am EDT)

This match will only be shown on ESPN3 in the U.S.

Milan-Bologna Preview: No Surprises

When we met Bologna in December, the biggest talking point of the match was the referee. From that match, Rocchi rightly got a couple of games suspension, as his decisions seemed to scream “I love you, Milan.” Without his “help,” though, I am not sure we would have shared the points, the 2-2 draw was a bit unfair to a Bologna side who outplayed us. So here’s hoping we can welcome Bologna to the San Siro with a fair ref but still relieve them of all 3 points, fair and square. No surprises.

No pressure, De Marco, but we want a fair game this time.

Sulley Muntari: Man or Monster?

Before you answer the question, please consider the man, not just his reputation. Of course, he does share a nickname with a certain loveable blue monster from Pixar’s "Monsters, Inc." But although he is only on loan for 6 months, beware, you may grow as attached to him as you might the big blue furry version.

Sulley the man? or Sully the monster?

The Scudetto Race: A Tale of Two Clubs

With the race for the Scudetto down to just two clubs and six more games, I thought I would take a very brief look at the two clubs and see if we can decide who deserves to win. There is too much history and too many events and nuances to write in a single post, so I will focus on just a few points here. It’s a rivalry that is always heated, with both clubs emotionally invested well beyond the pitch.

"Italian Gothic" 

Special thanks to my Juventino half, Sposato al nemico, for this killer pic

Are We Doing Something Wrong?

With no Serie A this weekend to occupy ourselves with, we cannot help but reflect on why: the untimely death of Piermario Morosini. A young, seemingly healthy 25 year-old playing football collapsed on the field from an apparent heart attack. And he was not the first. Despite grueling medical testing and daily fitness regimes, a very strict and healthy diet, and the regular care of fitness and medical experts, tragedy still strikes on the pitch. Are we doing something wrong? Or are we doing all we realistically can do?

Piermario Morosini: Could his death have been prevented?

Milan vs. Genoa: Game On!

Scudetto dreams vs. relegation fears... may the best team win.

Forza Milan!

Milan vs. Genoa

Saturday, April 14 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)

This match will be shown on FSC, RAI International,

and ESPN3 in the U.S.

Milan vs. Genoa Preview: Family Feud

Other than our cross-city dirty cousins, Genoa may be the next closest thing Milan have to family in Serie A. Okay, they’re more like a Milan feeder club. Or maybe that friend that always lets you borrow money. But however you classify them, on Saturday they are our enemy. We must win every match to have hope of the Scudetto now. And with relegation a real possibility for them, winning is their only option, too.

Cassano, the comedian of the family

Chievo 0, Milan 1: Hail Mary

Tonight was not going to be easy. With last minute fitness concerns and starting some players who hadn’t seen playing time in a while, it was going to be an uphill battle. Chievo were hungry, and wanting to atone for the 4-0 drubbing we’d given them back in November, so the odds were truly stacked against us, but for one brilliant strike, a bit of a Hail Mary, if you will.

A Sulleybration

Chievo vs. Milan: Game On!

Under aerial attack? Bring out the reserves.

Forza Milan!

Chievo vs. Milan

Tuesday, April 10th • 20:45 CEST (2:45 EDT)

This match will be shown on ESPN3 in the U.S. 

Chievo-Milan Preview: On a Wing and a Prayer

Despite our boys’ best efforts, disappointment has reigned these past 10 days or so. Which literally adds insult to injury, as with 12 players out injured vs. Fiorentina, we now also have three suspended. Now we are going away to play a gritty little team who have clawed their way to 9th in the table, coming off of two straight wins. Even though it seems ridiculous after pummeling these Flying Donkeys 4-0 at the San Siro in November, we now head to Verona looking for a win on a wing and a prayer.

Give me your tired, your weary, your injury plagued and battle-tested...

Milan 1, Fiorentina 2: Purple Haze

If you are a conspiracy theorist, you might believe this match was fixed for Juve. The irony of the soft penalty and the late goal by Amauri, of all people. And with the schedule favoring them, they play later so they know what they need to do. If you believe in Karma, maybe it was that soft penalty and all of those fouls that came back to haunt us. Or if you’re like me, you may believe that a cracked vase can’t hold water forever. Exhaustion and injury have to punish us at some point. Whatever you believe, this match was like a Purple Haze that slowly turned into a nightmare.

Purple Hazing

Milan vs. Fiorentina: Game On!

Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Purple People Eaters

In our first match as just Serie A contenders, it will be important to send a resounding message to Fiorentina and to the rest of the league: We are the Champions, and we will eat you for breakfast. (The breakfast part may just be because the game is on at 6 am for me here, sorry.) In short, this Easter Saturday, we will need to become one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eaters.

Champions League Quarterfinals • Barca 3, Milan 1, Football 0

 I had such high hopes for this match. Well, obviously, I wanted Milan to advance, but even if we didn’t, I just wanted some good football. But I forgot who we were playing and where. I should have known that it wouldn’t have been football that determined this match, but those who play the game in that shadowy moral area of dives and protests, and by a referee who lost sight of his biggest responsibility, to keep control of the game and allow it to be played. Barca 3, Milan 1, Football 0.

"Ibra, come on down here and give me some sugar"

Champions League Quarterfinals • Barca vs. Milan

Never say die.

Forza Milan!

Champions League Quarterfinals • Barcelona vs. Milan

Wednesday, March 28th • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)

This match will be broadcast on FSC in the U.S.

Note: this game is huge. For all of us. Feel free to post drunk or sober, using whatever language suits you today. This is where we share Milan, good times & bad, whether our comments are intelligible or stark raving mad or anywhere in between. Just feel free to let it all out, regardless of the outcome. 

Champions League Quarterfinals • Barca vs. Milan Preview: Tuesday

While our league rivals are still patting themselves on the back from a win on the weekend, Milan will be in another country, playing a Champions League Quarterfinals match against The Greatest Team in the World. We don’t have time to sit around and congratulate or condemn our league performances. We live on the edge, day by day, game by game, changing focus when the final whistle blows. For everyone else, it’s midweek, for us, it’s Tuesday.