Gattuso desperate to blow Roma away
Gennaro Gattuso’s AC Milan will look to put last weekend’s collapse against Napoli behind them when they host Roma in their first game of the season at the San Siro on Friday.
Roma are also desperate for a win to bury any doubts about their title credentials after battling back to draw 3-3 with Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico last Monday.
Both sides are now in US hands – AC Milan owned by billionaire Paul Singer’s Elliot Management and Roma controlled by American businessman James Pallotta – and need three points to keep pace with Juventus and Napoli, who boast six points apiece after two rounds.
Milan – with a game in hand after their opener against Genoa was postponed – suffered a 3-2 defeat at Serie A runners-up Napoli despite holding a two-goal lead last weekend.
It was a blow for Gattuso in his first match against his former Milan coach, Carlo Ancelotti, and he believes Roma will provide another big test.
“We need to prepare well for Roma because they are a very tough team,” said Gattuso.
“We need to repeat the many positive things we did at Napoli because not every team goes to the San Paolo and plays the way we did, with courage.”
Roma, on the other side, battled back from a nightmare first half against Atalanta, with coach Eusebio Di Francesco needing surgery after punching the wall in the dugout during the game and breaking a bone in his left hand.
Passions should be running high again in what is new-look Milan’s first home game of the season in front of about 60,000 expectant fans at the San Siro.
Former club legends Leonardo and Paulo Maldini have joined Gattuso in the club setup with ex-Brazil star Kaka arriving this week with a view to a role in the club.
It will also be a clash between two strike aces in Milan’s Gonzalo Higuain and Roma’s Edin Dzeko – who both scored 16 goals in Serie A last season.
Higuain – with 111 goals altogether in Serie A – moved to Milan on-loan from Italian giants Juventus but is yet to score for his new club.
Dzeko – with 54 Italian league goals – got Roma’s opening matchwinner against Torino.
And Roma forward Patrik Schick has no doubt 30-yearold Higuain will be one of the dangermen.
“They’ve bought Gonzalo Higuain – for me he and Giacomo Bonaventura are their best players,” said Czech international Schick.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking for his first goal as seven-time reigning champions Juventus travel to promoted Parma on Saturday.
The 33-year-old is skipping Portugal’s next two internationals to focus on his new team after moving this summer from Real Madrid.
Two-time Uefa Cup winners Parma are back in the top-flight after three promotions following their demotion to Serie D after bankruptcy.
Inter Milan travel to Bologna looking for their first win after an opening defeat to Sassuolo was followed by a draw against Torino. Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan could play his first game after suffering injury following his signing from Roma.
Ancelotti’s Napoli head to Sampdoria on Saturday, with surprise package SPAL, who battled relegation last season, looking to keep their winning momentum at Torino. Fixtures Friday are:
AC Milan v Roma (8.30pm). Saturday: Bologna v Inter Milan (6pm), Parma v Juventus (8.30pm). Sunday: Fiorentina v Udinese (6pm); Atalanta v Cagliari, Chievo v Empoli, Lazio v Frosinone, Sampdoria v Napoli, Sassuolo v Genoa, Torino v SPAL (all 8.30pm) —
We need to prepare well for Roma because they are a very tough team