1-0 19′ Alexandre Pato
1-1 23′ Busce
2-1 86′ Massimo Ambrosini
3-1 89′ Ricardo Kaka

Empoli came into this game without leading scorer Nicola Pozzi, who was out for the rest of the season. The Milan-owned Lino Marzoratti, and Davide Moro were both suspended, but Felice Piccolo returned from a ban. Luca Saudati was employed as the lone striker.

Milan were without Gennaro Gattuso, who was serving a one-game suspension, as well as the injured Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Serginho and Ronaldo. Alexandre Pato started up-front alongside Alberto Gilardino.

There was a tense start to the game with neither side able to get their passing game going. The first shot of the game came from Ignazio Abate but it was well over. Young starlet Sebastian Giovinco then charged into the penalty area and went down under pressure from Massimo Ambrosini but the referee was not interested.

On 17 minutes Milan finally showed some life as Kaka cut the ball back to Alexandre Pato on the edge of the area, and the teenager forced Davide Bassi into a tip around the post.

This was a sign of things to come, as just 90 seconds later Milan were ahead. Massimo Oddo crossed from the right, and Bassi made a terrible mistake, dropping the ball, and Pato was there to turn the loose ball in from close range.

It could have been two soon after as Kaka cut the ball back for Gilardino, but the striker missed his kick from just yards out..

This proved costly as on 22 minutes Empoli were level. A cross from the left from Luca Antonini missed out both Saudati and Abate, but stand-in captain Antonio Busce was at the back post to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

Empoli Coach Alberto Malesani then said something out of turn, possibly claiming that a penalty should have been given in the build-up to the goal, and was banished from the touchline by the referee.

Gilardino has the ball in the back of the net moments later, following a chipped Gourcuff pass, but it was correctly disallowed for offside.

The Milan defence was all over the place, and Saudati wasted a great three-on-one situation with some selfish play.

On 32 minutes Gilardino spurned an excellent chance to put his side back ahead. Andrea Pirlo chipped a brilliant pass over the defence to put Gila through, but the striker’s first touch let him down, and his weak shot was parried away by Bassi.

Empoli then took charge for the remainder of the half, and missed a host of wonderful opportunities. A corner from the left located Francesco Pratali but the centre back somehow fired over the bar from just two yards out.

On 36 minutes Busce left Giuseppe Favalli for dead down the right, crossed to the near post, and Saudati got in front of his man but headed wide.

Saudati’s finishing was costing his side, as he took the ball down excellently inside the area, turned his man, before shooting agonizingly wide of Kalac’s right-hand post.

Milan just couldn’t cope with the outstanding Abate, and the Italian Under-21 international broke from midfield again, and fired over from outside the area.

Pato was the only Milan player showing any spark. He was brought down outside the area, and Kaka attempted a quick potshot but it was easy for Bassi.

Carlo Ancelotti realized that his side were struggling and made two changes at half-time. Daniele Bonera came on for Oddo, while Christian Brocchi replaced the hugely disappointing Gourcuff.

Bonera’s introduction almost paid immediate dividends, as two of his crosses from the right led to both Pato and Gilardino going close with headers.

Empoli then received a big blow as the game’s best player up until that point, Abate, was forced off injured, and was replaced by Francesco Marianini.

On 56 minutes the home side were desperately unlucky not to take the lead as Claudio Marchisio let fly with a brilliant swerving drive from 30 yards that crashed off the post with Kalac a statue on his line.

The heavens then opened, which made the conditions on the field very difficult for both teams to pass the ball.

The game entered a spell of few chances or goalmouth action but on 71 minutes Marianini burst forward from midfield and let fly from distance but it was comfortably wide. Down the other end Pato picked up the ball 25 yards out and curled the ball with his left-foot but the teenager didn’t get it right, and it finished high and wide.

Alberto Gilardino was making no impact up-front whatsoever and Ancelotti took a gamble by replacing him with Alberto Paloschi.

The game seemed destined to end as a draw but on 85 minutes Milan regained the lead as Kaka crossed from the left, and Ambrosini displayed his aerial prowess with a brilliant header into the bottom corner.

Empoli poured forward looking for an equalizer, and they were caught out as Milan added a third on 89 minutes. Pato fed Paloschi who cut the ball back to Kaka, and the Brazilian stroked the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

This was a crucial win for Milan, and they will be having a double celebration after Champions League rivals Fiorentina lost 1-0 to Siena this afternoon in the Tuscan derby.

Empoli: Bassi, Raggi (Tosto), Piccolo, Pratali, Antonini, Busce, Abate (Marianini), Budel, Giovinco (Giacomazzi), Marchisio, Saudati

Milan: Kalac, Oddo (Bonera), Maldini, Kaladze, Favalli, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Gourcuff (Brocchi), Kaka, Pato, Gilardino (Paloschi)

Fourth Place All That Matters

“Tomorrow the race for the Champions League starts; it has always been our objective and it continues to be,” he said on Saturday evening, also suggesting that their European exit could have a silver lining.

“We shall take advantage from the physical level and from the quality level from the fact that we do not have the Champions League.

“We shall be able to train, we can manage our resources in a better way and we can recover the injured players and all of this must lead us to improve the quality of our game which in this season was not good. The elimination gives disappointment, but also the will to start again.

“The Champions League gave us a lot, it’s fair that for one year other teams can take it. Empoli is a dynamic team, very young, but at Milan we must think about ourselves, about playing better, with more rhythm.

“We have had the time to recover, to forget the disappointment. We are working well and we are preparing things well. We shall return to play well, this is the most important thing.”

More Consistency From Pato

Alexandre Pato has been with the club for over six months now, and playing with the first team for over two of those, but his story has been an alternation of good games with those in which he has looked out of depth.

However, the potential has been there for all to see, and that is what Ancelotti seems to focus on, though he did indicate that he would not mind more consistency.

“Pato’s is the situation of a young player who is gelling himself in the squad, who alternates very good performances to less brilliant ones,” he said.

“He’s a player who has great flashes rather than continuity.”

Dida Not Ready Yet 

Kalac has done well for Milan of late, and Ancelotti is understandably not in a mood to rush Nelson Dida back from injury.

“He is not ready yet, he will be soon,” he added. ”He has recovered from his back problem, but he must still train and do more work, for this reason tomorrow he is not available.

“Tomorrow’s game is a delicate one, because we have not yet improved the quality of our game. I think that tomorrow can arrive a positive sign, for us tomorrow is important to win to look with serenity towards the next games.

“We had many injuries: Kaka, Nesta, Seedorf and Gattuso, tied to the many games we had in January.”

Coy Over Maldini

On the subject of Maldini possibly carryign on, he said: “I stopped at 33 years of age, so I cannot say anything. Lately he’s managing the knee problems much better than last year.

“This year he manages to train more frequently. I don’t want to say anything with regards to his personal decision. We shall respect any decision.”

Hang In There Collina

Finally, he urged refereeing delegate Pierluigi Collina to not give in to those looking to threaten him.

“This should never happen. If Collina should abandon, it would disappoint me,” he said. ”He’s a designator above everyone else, who started a new activity. He’s a positive person and I think that he must stay in his place. He must not let these threats win.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s future at San Siro is in huge doubt following the team’s disappointing exit from the Champions League earlier in the week.

Marcello Lippi has been heavily linked with replacing Ancelotti, but according to the Corriere dello Sport, he is only prepared to take over if the five following players are signed by the club: Mauro Camoranesi, Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid).

This could pose some problems for a number of reasons. The first is political. Camoranesi and Iaquinta would be difficult to acquire, given the fact that they are playing for rivals Juventus.

The second factor is economic. As Milan only reached the last 16 of the Champions League, and are struggling to reach next season’s competition, it is impossible to begin negotiating summer transfers until they know if they are going to finish in the top four of Serie A.
Failure to do so would certainly rule out the signing of any of these players, with the exception of Zambrotta who it is rumoured has already give his word to a summer transfer.

Carlos Dunga, ct of the national Brazilian one, e` convinced that Ronaldo tornera` to be the Phenomenon.  L`ex gambler of the Florentine one spoke at the microphones of Radio Kiss Kiss:  `Ronaldo e` a large champion and I am certain that soon tornera` in field, displeases for l’ accident but I am convinced that the carichera` to return the levels that all we know.  Ronaldo soon tornera` F.

From Ronaldo to another Brazilian that garment the knitting rossonera:  I suffer.  `Pato e` a gambler from the large talent - said the technician of the verdeoro - played little entries but has gia` a large experience in the soccer.  It has to calm star, is necessary to leave play it and not to load it of r: alone cosi` riuscira` to express itself to large like all levels wait for themselves.  And’ a gambler that has the qualita` to play like point also in a soccer difficult like that Italian, with the markings that there are.  A lot should grow still and it has of it them p, pero` puts not too pressure over he.

Dunga on Amauri:  Choice `La of the National one in which to play risqué alone to him.  In Brazil there are a lot young football player and everyone its avra` space.  I appraise all the career of a gambler: if wanted to convene all of the football player that in you are months do five goal, sarei ruined.  And’ obvious, p, that there they are able to be some exceptions but we should go there plan without to hasten them c.

Finally a beaten on the Milan:  `E’ natural that a squad very slowly has to lower l’ middle eta` of the squad”.

Arsenal started boldly, at a high tempo, and were superb throughout a first-half they dominated, yet couldn’t find the vital breakthrough goal. Passing the ball smartly and at impressive speed, and winning the ball back with some crisp tackling when Milan gained possession, it was an impressive statement of unity, enthusiasm and skill from Arsene Wenger’s side.

But although Cesc Fabregas hit the bar following another incisive Arsenal attack, Milan would have been relieved to go in at the break on level terms, having been left chasing shadows at times in the first-half.

Pre-match, Wenger opted for Emmanuel Adebayor to play as a lone striker, supported from midfield by Alexander Hleb. Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie were on the bench, with Abou Diaby keeping his place on the left and Emmanuel Eboue, currently serving a domestic suspension, coming back on the right of midfield.

Milan had never lost to an English team at home, beat Manchester United 3-0 at the San Siro last season, and were defending the title of European champions they won last season. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had World Player of the Year Kaka in his starting XI after the Brazilian playmaker shrugged off a knee injury, while veteran skipper Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Filippo Inzaghi and Alexandre Pato all started. But Dutch international Clarence Seedorf missed out with a hamstring injury.

Arsenal started with intent, Adebayor attacking Milan central-defensive unit at pace. But the Gunners had an early scare when, on eight minutes, Maldini’s header came off Adebayor’s knee and was heading for the net until Fabregas cleared it off the line.

Five minutes later, Fabregas won the ball with a superb tackle and immediately set Adebayor on his way. The Togo striker outstripped the Rossoneri defence for pace, then checked his run and played the ball into the path of Diaby, who curled his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Milan showed their threat when Inzaghi shot weakly straight at Almunia from just inside the Arsenal area, and Kaka sprinted through the Arsenal midfield menacingly before picking out Pato with a superb cross, but the younger Brazilian chose the wrong option and knocked the ball gently into the arms of Almunia. Then Kaka cut inside from the right and shot quickly towards the near post with his left foot. It hit the side netting from 20 yards though Almunia had it covered.

But in general Arsenal were bossing the play, William Gallas at last leading by example at the back, ably assisted by Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini working tirelessly in midfield, Fabregas pulling the creative strings and Adebayor posing a persistent threat to Milan’s back-line.

Maldini gifted Arsenal possession in the final third and Adebayor nearly made him pay, but his shot was just touched over the bar by Kalac for a corner. The Gunners then created space for Fabregas, but his shot was deflected wide for another corner. Then Eboue hit an inviting cross right across the face of the goal but no Arsenal player could get on the end of it.

At hat stage it was all Arsenal, with players lining up to shoot. Ludicrously, Hleb was booked by the referee on 33 minutes for diving when he was clearly fouled by Nesta right on the edge of the area.

Arsenal responded by Fabregas hitting the bar from the edge of the box as the visitors continued to dominate all over the pitch. Adebayor received the ball just inside the Milan area after another flowing Arsenal attack, but he took a touch too many and the Rossoneri won the ball back.

Milan relieved the pressure with a counter-attack spear-headed by Kaka, but Flamini made a superb tackle to dispossess the Brazilian. Flamini then produced another excellent tackle on Kaka, before Hleb eventually played in Eboue, who was judged to be marginally offside.

Early in the second-half, Arsenal won a corner from Fabregas that eluded everyone until Senderos stormed in at the far post but sent the ball into the arms of the grateful Kalac.

Pirlo gave the ball away but Eboue shot wastefully wide, before Clichy dealt well with a long through-ball from Ambrosini despite the close attentions of Inzaghi.

Kaka showed his class again when he surged towards the Arsenal goal and let fly with a shot that flashed just wide of the post. Pato volleyed over from 20 yards when the ball sat up kindly for him.

Hleb found space in the Milan area box and tried to find Eboue, who went down, but although the referee said no penalty, Maldini looked to have grabbed him by the arm.

Gilardino replaced Inzaghi on 67 minutes, and a minute later Walcott came on for Eboue.

In the 74th minute, Arsenal created another excellent chance which fell to Walcott whose shot was saved by Kalac, the keeper then diving on the loose ball before Adebayor could reach it.

Although Arsenal were less dominant after the break, they still looked the likelier to break the deadlock. But Pato went close for Milan when he controlled a long ball on his chest, cut inside and unleashed a shot that flew just wide via Senderos.

Finally, on 83 minutes, Arsenal got the goal they so richly deserved. Fabregas almost out of nothing, turned Gattusso and hits a superb early shot from distance that took Kalac by surprise.

With the Arsenal fans in the stadium ecstatic, and many Milan fans streaming out of the ground, Arsenal got the second goal their dominance deserved. Adebayor got his first Champions League goal for the Gunners, thanks to Walcott who made it, leaving Kaladze for dead and playing a perfect ball across the six-yard box for the Togo striker to stick it in the night with unbounded delight.

Teams

AC Milan: Kalac, Maldini, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Alexandre Pato, Kaka, Inzaghi. Subs: Fiori, Emerson, Gilardino, Simic, Favalli, Gourcuff, Bonera

Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Senderos, Gallas, Sagna, Diaby, Fabregas, Flamini, Eboue, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Van Persie, Denilson, Gilbert, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott