Catania vs AC Milan

Catania face off against the red hot AC Milan looking to recover from their loss away to Empoli over the week that sends them farther down the Serie A league table. The rossoneri come into this contest after having secured a dramatic last minute victory over Palermo that lands them in the top 4 of the league.

The home side were beaten on the road in week 24 when they fell by a score of 2-0 to Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The result leaves Catania in 15^th place of the Serie A league table with 25 points. They are now 2 points back of 14^th place Empoli, but only 3 ahead of Parma and the side fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. They are losers of 4 of their last 4 games and have been able to produce just 2 goals scored over that 5 game stretch. They are easily going through their worst part of the season and now face a daunting task when they host AC Milan. Manager Baldini will need to make due without the services of both Tedesco and Morimoto this week.

The rossoneri are at the other end of the spectrum in terms of current form. Their latest victory at home over Palermo by a score of 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza featured late game heroics from Pippo Inzaghi to secure the 3 points. With the victory Carlo Ancelotti’s club are now in 4^th place of the league table with 41 points, 6 back of Juventus and just ahead of 5^th place Fiorentina on goal difference. With this match coming just 3 days after the contest against Palermo it’s getting a bit difficult for Ancelotti to come up with a starting eleven as there are a number of injury concerns. In addition to Nesta, Dida, and Ronaldo who missed the contest against Palermo- it has now been confirmed that both Seedorf and Kaka’ are expected to sit this one out. Bonera, Gourcuff and Gilardino are among those expected to come into the starting eleven.

This will be a very tough contest for Catania. They just haven’t shown any life of late and they will be taking on an AC Milan outfit that have been absolutely superb of late. It is true that Milan have a number of injury concerns this week but the likes of Pato, Ambrosini and Gilardino should have enough to carry the day for the rossoneri.

Prediction: AC Milan (1-2)