Rossoneri go top after come-from-behind win
Youngster Stephan El Shaarawy was the hero as Milan hit back from a goal down to beat Udinese 2-1 yesterday and take over at the top of the Serie A table. The Rossoneri leapfrogged Juventus although they have played two games more than their...
Youngster Stephan El Shaarawy was the hero as Milan hit back from a goal down to beat Udinese 2-1 yesterday and take over at the top of the Serie A table.
The Rossoneri leapfrogged Juventus although they have played two games more than their rivals.
Antonio di Natale had given fourth-placed Udinese, who came into the game unbeaten at home this season, a first-half lead but Maxi Lopez equalised before El Shaarawy snatched the winner five minutes from time.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was understandably delighted with the result, which ended a run of three games without a win, particularly given how the game seemed to be going at half-time.
However, he was coy about the significance this result would have in the title race.
“It was a great game for us, although I don’t know whether it will be decisive (in the title),” he said.
“Everybody played very well, like Maxi Lopez. He gave us depth in attack and he also scored the equaliser. Now we’re top but we have to wait and see what Juventus will do, although we’re now five points above Lazio and six ahead of Udinese.
“In the first half we didn’t manage to create much danger. We were worried about our recent results and the importance of this game. They (Udinese) were much more aggressive but in the second half we showed our true spirit.”
Milan were without star forward and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Allegri insisted this result proved they’re not a one-man band.
“Ibrahimovic is a great player, you notice when he’s there.
“But this time other players with different characteristics have played very well.
“Maxi Lopez was very good, like everyone else and when there’s the right attitude the results follow.”
It was the first time in four years that Milan had won at Udinese who could have joined their opponents in joint-second had they won.
Instead they missed the chance to move into the third and final Champions League qualifying place which is occupied by Lazio, who beat Cesena 3-2 on Thursday.
Matches cancelled
Juve’s match at Bologna tonight has been called off due to heavy snow while Fiorentina’s trip to Parma has also fallen victim to the weather.
The decision in Bologna was taken by the police after talks with security officials and both clubs.
“After verifying the structure and bearing in mind the weather forecast and the huge amount of snow on the stands, it was decided that the game could not go ahead with the necessary safety conditions,” said Bologna’s chief constable Vincenzo Stingone.
For all four teams it is the second time in the space of 10 days that they’ve had a game called off due to the weather.
Juve’s trip to Parma on Jan. 31 and Fiorentina’s to Bologna a day later had also been postponed.
Serie A
Udinese 1
Di Natale 19;
Milan 2
Maxi Lopez 77; El Shaarawy 85;
HT: 1-0. Att: 15,000.
Cagliari 2
Pinilla 56; Dessena 81;
Palermo 1
Hernandez 83 pen;
HT: 0-0. Att: 8,000.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Milan | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 20 | 47 |
| Juventus | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 33 | 13 | 45 |
| Lazio | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 24 | 42 |
| Udinese | 23 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 34 | 22 | 41 |
| Inter | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 34 | 29 | 36 |
| Roma | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 26 | 35 |
| Napoli | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 36 | 24 | 31 |
| Palermo | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 33 | 34 | 31 |
| Cagliari | 23 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 24 | 30 |
| Genoa | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 31 | 38 | 30 |
| Fiorentina | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 19 | 28 |
| Parma | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 34 | 27 |
| Chievo | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 27 |
| Catania | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 24 |
| Atalanta | 21 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 27 | 23 |
| Bologna | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 26 | 22 |
| Siena | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
| Lecce | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 38 | 17 |
| Cesena | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 16 |
| Novara | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 42 | 13 |
Playing today – 15.00
Atalanta vs Lecce
Bologna vs Juventus (postponed)
Catania vs Genoa
Inter vs Novara
Parma vs Fiorentina (postponed)
Tomorrow – 20.45
Napoli vs Chievo
Siena vs Roma
Top scorers
17 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
15 goals: Ibrahimovic (Milan).
12 goals: Denis (Atalanta), Jovetic (Fiorentina), Palacio (Genoa), Milito (Inter), Cavani (Napoli), Klose (Lazio).
Next fixtures
Wednesday: 18.30 Atalanta vs Genoa; Cesena vs Catania; Parma vs Juventus.
Friday: 20.45 Fiorentina vs Napoli; Inter vs Bologna.
Saturday: 20.45 Juventus vs Catania.
Sunday: 12.30 Lecce vs Siena. 15.00 Cesena vs Milan; Genoa vs Chievo; Novara vs Atalanta; Roma vs Parma. 20.45 Palermo vs Lazio; Udinese vs Cagliari.
Serie B
Cittadella 0 - Brescia 2
Crotone 2 - Grosseto 2
Modena p - Padova p
Pescara p - Juve Stabia p
Reggina 3 - Empoli 2
Sampdoria 1 - AlbinoLeffe 0
Torino 3 - Nocerina 1
Varese 1 - Gubbio 0
Verona 2 - Ascoli 0
Playing today (12.30)
Bari vs Sassuolo;
Livorno vs Vicenza.
Standings: Torino 53; Pescara, Verona 51; Sassuolo 50; Padova 45; Varese 44; Reggina 39; Brescia 38; Sampdoria 37; Bari (-2) 36; Cittadella, Grosseto 34; Juve Stabia (-4) 33; Livorno 29; Vicenza, Crotone (-1) 27; Modena 24; Empoli, AlbinoLeffe, Gubbio 23; Ascoli (-7) 22; Nocerina 18.