Ibrahimovic to Milan’s rescue?

Milan were off to a flying start at the San Siro stadium on Sunday evening as they trounced last season’s Serie B table-toppers Lecce 4-0 in the opening match of the 2010-11 Serie A.

The performance was superb, particularly in the opening half, and the victory was Milan’s most emphatic in a season curtain-raiser since thrashing Fiorentina 4-0 in 1988.

Although a success of similar proportions is always good for the morale of the team, it was the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic by the seven-times European champions that made most of the headlines on Monday morning.

Before signing the Swedish striker from La Liga champions Barcelona on very favourable financial terms, Milan had only acquired the services of utility players Marco Amelia, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kevin Prince Boateng (all from Genoa) and Mario Yepes (free agent).

But Milan, who finished third last season and have not won the scudetto since 2004, still needed other quality signings to bridge the gap with Inter in the Serie A and compete with the best of the breed in Europe.

Up to a week ago, Inter – Italian champions for five years on the trot – were still considered to be heads and shoulders above Juventus, Milan and Roma.

But, some are now contending, that following Milan’s signing of Ibrahimovic, the balance of power could shift to the other half of the Lombardy region capital up north.

Others, though, have a more global view and insist that 2009-10 treble-winners Inter still possess a more equipped squad, stronger in all departments.

The crux of the argument revolves around Ibrahimovic’s qualities.

Is the ex-Ajax and Juventus forward good enough to help Milan win trophies single-handedly?

Will Ibrahimovic fit in Massimiliano Allegri’s playing module or will he be a mere flop like he was with Barcelona last season?

For sure, the lanky striker will help Milan make a quantum leap in quality because he is by far more deadly in front of goal than Marco Borriello.

Ibrahimovic, who won the Italian league title with Inter three times in a row, between 2007 and 2009 and finished the Serie A’s top-marksman in season 2008/09 with 25 goals, will definitely make Milan’s attack more powerful but it is another thing to say that Milan have suddenly become the team to beat in the Serie A.

New coach Allegri is still short of options in certain key positions, like central defence. For instance, who will cover for the injury-prone Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva if they are out injured or suspended?

Same in midfield, who is playmaker Andrea Pirlo’s understudy? And so on.

With Ibrahimovic in their ranks, Milan will surely be a force to reckon with both at home and on the continent. The Rossoneri will be a tough nut to crack this time, definitely more than they were last season. But it is not a foregone conclusion that Ibrahimovic will win his eighth straight domestic championship with Milan.

Only time will tell if the titles Ibra won with Ajax (one), Juventus (two – both revoked), Inter (three) and Barcelona (one) are a reflection of what will happen with Milan.

Statistics

1st coaching change of the season as Bologna fired Franco Colomba a couple of days before their debut at home against Inter. Paolo Magnani took temporary charge of Bologna and led the team to a 0-0 draw.

2 penalties were awarded by referees in the past weekend. Sergio Pellissier converted late on in Chievo’s win over Catania while Antonio Cassano put Sampdoria ahead against Lazio. Lazio’s Edy Reja became the first coach to be ordered off his bench. Meanwhile, Juan Vargas (Fiorentina) and Emanuele Blasi (Napoli) received their marching orders.

3 goalless draws were registered. Apart from Bologna-Inter, Palermo-Cagliari battled it out in another 0-0 draw. This was Cagliari’s first positive result after three straight defeats at the Renzo Barbera Stadium. Newcomers Cesena caused the first upset of the season as they held Roma to a goalless draw.

7th straight home win for Milan against Lecce as the Rossoneri cruised to a 4-0 success. The southerners have, so far, left the San Siro Stadium undefeated on only three occasions – a 2-1 win in season 1997/98 and two draws (0-0 in 1993/94 and 2-2 in 1999/2000).

15 goals were scored on the first day of the 2010/11 season: 12 coming from the hosts and the remaining three from the visitors, who managed one win only. Milan’s Alexandre Pato grabbed the only brace of the day. Giandomenico Mesto of Genoa scored the first goal of the season.