Serie A, Week 34: AC Milan overcome Catania to re-take third place from Fiorentina

They left it late, but Milan have seen off Catania 4-2 at the San Siro to keep themselves in contention for the Champions League. They dominated throughout, though twice allowed Catania to take the lead, only to pin them back and eventually go ahead themselves inside the final 15 minutes.

Milan looked unsurprisingly angry. Storming up the other end, they immediately created a great chance, though Boateng’s shot rattled the bar. A chaotic game of pinball in the Catania box ensued, with the hosts having three stabs at the ball before it was finally cleared away. Frison -- only in goal due to Mariano Andújar’s suspension -- was becoming Milan’s enemy number one, tipping a Balotelli free-kick around the post soon after.

After just ten minutes, Palermo were ahead. Matias Silvestre attempted to clear the ball from inside his own box however he lost his footing and Fabrizio Miccoli was able to scramble in front of him to retrieve the ball. The Palermo captain then laid off for the in-form Josip Ilicic, his shot leaving his compatriot Handanovic rooted to the spot.

If ever a graphic illustration if Inter’s injury woes was needed, it was this match. Faced with a Palermo team battling against relegation, they simply couldn’t break them down and Palermo were being made to look like a very solid defensive unit.

AS Roma Injuries and Suspensions

Dodô, Marquinhos, Marquinho (injured); Mattia Destro (suspended)

Catania haven’t beaten the rossoneri since a Coppa Italia match in 2007. With Milan winning all but one of their home games this calendar year, and the elefanti having won only three times away from the Massimino all season, it’s pretty hard to see anything other than a victory for the hosts.

AC Milan Injuries and Suspensions

They arrived at the Stadio Is Arenas for some grazing and training on Friday evening. It was only there, that it became clear that something was amiss. The wise old Guidolin had been around long enough to sense that the eerie silence in the Is Arenas wasn’t right. A gust of wind blew through the rickety, scaffold stadium. “We’ve been hoodwinked,” he angrily muttered, before throwing his wooly hat to the ground furiously.

He was right. Cagliari had used the same trick they’d used throughout the season, and neglected to tell their opponents where the game would be played. Constantly threatening to move to the other side of Italy and Trieste’s Stadio Nereo Rocco, Guidolin gambled that they were bluffing again. Only this time, they weren’t. Tumbleweed rolled across the trimmed turf.

*however, if Ljaja would rather skip the “metaphorical” part, I’d certainly cheer him on.

Eder and Nenad Krsticic (injured)

The Bianconeri require four points from their final five games to retain their Serie A crown. Should other results go their way over the weekend, then a win could be all that they need.

Torino injuries and suspensions

Cagliari Injuries and Suspensions

Out: Francesco Pisano, Sebastian Eriksson, Andrea Cossu (injured); Daniele Dessena, Albin Ekdal (suspended) In doubt: None