Milan-Catania Preview: Stampede

Normally in the jungle, it would be the elephants who stampede. But with gli Elefanti this season, they seem to be the ones getting trampled. However with a change of coach this week, they will certainly be looking to poach a result at the San Siro, so our boys need to be sure to be wary of an unpredictable group of elephants and a potential stampede.

Will Catania have the power of a herd of elephants or will they be more like the mice who frighten them?

Catania are looking at a season in Serie B next year, being dead last in the table. Which is why, I’m sure, that Rolando Maran was sacked for the second time in the same season. New manager Maurizio Pellegrino is not new to the club, he coached them in Serie C1 and as been since working in their youth sector. But whether his appointment of the first team is just preemptive for next season or will actually have an impact in a desperate attempt to stay in Serie A remains to be seen. And unfortunately, we go into that situation blindly, so despite playing a struggling team, we need to be on our best game.

Unfortunately, we also have no idea what Pellegrino will do with the squad on Sunday, either. He is missing keeper Frison and midfielder Almiron to injury, and will definitely miss Peruzzi, as he is suspended for this match. But whether or not he will start the same players as Maran did last week is completely unknown. Those players were: Andujar; Peruzzi, Rolin, Bellusci, Gyomber; Plasil, Lodi, Izco; Bergessio, Monzon, and Barrientos.

Mister Willy Wonka's starting lineups are more circus, less jungle

Seedorf’s lineups are nearly as unpredictable, since his starting lineup is more like a lottery than some kind of traditional squad rotation. But we do know he will still be missing El Shaarawy. Despite finally returning to training this week, rumors are that he will instead play with the Primavera on Sunday, so definitely not available against Catania. Additionally still out are Petagna, De Sciglio, Muntari, and Essien, as well as any other inexplicable muscle injuries incurred between now and then. (If I post this disclaimer, it won’t happen… I hope.)

On paper, this should be an easy win for Milan. But nothing has come easy to Milan this year, and with a new coach and the desperation to stay up, Catania are about as unpredictable as a herd of frightened elephants. But I am hoping Milan field “undici leoni” (eleven lions,) to show these elephants who the king of the jungle really is.

This post inspired by music from “The Jungle Book”

Milan vs. Catania

Sunday, April 13 • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)

This match will be shown on RAI in the US

Check comments for stream links ahead of the match