online

MILAN, 23 January 2011 - AC Milan limped home (it must be said) but with character with a victory that put them four and six points ahead of Napoli and Roma and widened the gap between them and Inter who slipped back to nine points below them. Their win over a stubborn Cesena side was humble on account of the unexpected injuries to Gattuso and Nesta which ruled out most of their midfield and a part of the defence. They took the lead with an own-goal. But Ibra couldn't help adding poetry to the freezing night with a fantastic goal which raised the temperature.

GATTUSO OUT TOO — The AC Milan midfield players are dropping like flies. First of all it was Pirlo, then Flamini and, in the pre-match warm-up, Gattuso was next to go. Allegri, whose cool nature is one of his best qualities, didn't panic and turned Thiago Silva into a midfielder playing in front of the defence with Ambrosini on his right and young Merkel on the left. Yepes moved into defence beside Nesta. They could feel Napoli and Roma breathing down their necks so Cassano moved up beside Ibra with Robinho in support. If Ficcadenti had the problems Allegri did. Not only did he have to do without Lauro and Nagatomo, but also Giaccherini and Jimenez and fielded a courageous 4-3-3 with Schelotto, Budan and Malonga in attack.

MALONGA — He couldn't have picked a more appropriate side, because Cesena got off to a great start and surprised the Rossoneri with their speed and skill. In the 3rd minute Malonga aimed at the near post where Abbiati was well positioned to save but not without some difficulty. In the 11th Ambrosini cleared a shot on-the-turn from Malonga for a corner. The 22-year-old Frenchman was handy with his feet and became a thorn in the side for AC Milan. He tried fromm all over the place, while Ibra and Co struggled to put a move together. Without their flowing play or logical build-ups the top of the class struggled to get into the game, as did the Swede and Cassano.

NESTA INJURED — On 17 minutes Antonini paused on the ball on the edge of the penalty box and Schelotto, whipped the ball away from him and shot towards the near post where Abbiati workrd a miracle. Nesta cleared for another corner. Things got harder and harder for the Rossoneri. Antonini was having trouble keeping tabs on Schelotto and, ironically it was Nesta who picked up a shoulder injury in the 23rd minute and was taken of to hospital for further tests (following the initial fears it was revealed that it wasn't a fracture and that he would probably be back in three weeks or so, without having to undergo surgery). Sokratis took over from him.