Milan bounced back from their disappointing recent performances with a 4-1 win over Juventus in the traditional Luigi Berlusconi Trophy.
Milan had a chance to bounce back from their poor performances in recent friendlies as they faced Juventus in front of their home crowd for the traditional Luigi Berlusconi Trophy. And the Rossoneri did not disappoint, giving an impressive performance and winning 4-1 thanks to goals by Marek Jankulovski, captain Massimo Ambrosini (who scored a brace), and Filippo Inzaghi, while Christian Pasquato scored for the visitors.
More than the result, which was perhaps a bit harsh on the Bianconeri, what will worry the fans is the injury to defender Giorgio Chiellini, who will be ruled out for at least a month.
At the start of the match, Juventus dominated as they seemed to continue where they left off after the brilliant performance against Artmedia Bratislava. After just a few minutes, captain Alessandro Del Piero found Zdenek Grygera inside the area with a trademark back-heel, but the defender sliced the ball wide.
In the 18th minute, Del Piero again played a great assist to Amauri, who put the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside. It seemed like a prologue to Juve's opening goal, but instead it was an error by stand-in goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti that changed the course of the game.
In the 21st minute, Marek Jankulovski made one of his trademark runs and fired a shot from 20 meters which was completely misjudged by the veteran keeper. Four minutes later, Milan even doubled their lead, as Clarence Seedorf picked up what seemed to be a lost ball near the goal line, crossed it in, and found captain Massimo Ambrosini who headed the ball into the back of the net.
The 2-0 deficit may have been bad news for Juve, but the worst was still to come: ten minutes before the break Giorgio Chiellini clashed with Gennaro Gattuso and turned his knee around, leading to screams of pain from the defender. It was immediately clear that it was serious and the Italian international was taken off on a stretcher.
He was replaced by Nicola Legrottaglie, who immediately made himself dangerous as he hit the post on a free kick move.
In the second half, Filippo Inzaghi made his season debut and wasted no time making his presence felt as he quickly got back to doing what he does best. In the 52nd minute, Seedorf once again made a great move on the wing and crossed it in for Pippo, who had no problems heading the ball past Alex Manninger, who had replaced Chimenti during the break.
In the meantime, Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri had taken off most of his first team players such as Del Piero, the once again disappointing Tiago, Pavel Nedved, and Mohamed Sissoko, giving a chance to a number of young players. The Bianconeri's pride was somewhat restored with a goal by 19-year-old striker Christian Pasquato, who dribbled past Daniele Bonera and beat Dida with a low left footed shot in the 70th minute.
However, near the end Milan poured more salt on Juve's wounds as they scored a fourth goal through Ambrosini, who was found by Inzaghi on a counterattack and slotted the ball into the top corner of the net in the 80th minute.
This thumping win will undoubtedly lift Milan's spirits after a number of discouraging displays, while Juve go home with their heads held down, although the biggest worry will probably be for star defender Chiellini.
MATCH STATS
MILAN-JUVENTUS 4-1
MILAN (4-4-1-1): Abbiati (46' Dida); Zambrotta (64' Oddo), Bonera (86' Darmian), Favalli, Jankulovski (81' Antonini); Gattuso (64' Brocchi), Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini (84' Cardacio); Seedorf (75' Viudez); Paloschi (46' Inzaghi). Coach: Ancelotti
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Chimenti (46' Manninger); Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini (36' Legrottaglie), Molinaro; Sissoko (62' F. Rossi), Poulsen, Nedved (46' Ekdal); Tiago (62' Esposito); Amauri, Del Piero (17' st Pasquato). Coach: Ranieri
Referee: Rizzoli
Goalscorers: 21' Jankulovski (M), 25' Ambrosini (M), 52' Inzaghi (M), 70' Pasquato (J), 79' Ambrosini (M)
Booked: Ekdal (J)
21′ [1 - 0] M. Jankulovski
25′ [2 - 0] M. Ambrosini
52′ [3 - 0] F. Inzaghi
70′ [3 - 1] C. Pasquato
79′ [4 - 1] M. Ambrosini
21′ [1 - 0] M. Jankulovski
25′ [2 - 0] M. Ambrosini
52′ [3 - 0] F. Inzaghi
70′ [3 - 1] C. Pasquato
79′ [4 - 1] M. Ambrosini
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