Italy
Silvio Berlusconi was all smiles alongside the AC Milan faithful at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening as his side triumphed in unconvincing fashion over Juventus. In a tense outing for Massimiliano Allegri’s men, a controversial first-half penalty from Robinho decided the outcome, as the hosts managed to hold out former playmaker Andrea Pirlo to secure all three points after the interval. While a match between two of Italy’s storied outfits is never predictable, the celebrations from the home supporters and players alike at the final whistle indicated the tables have turned since Milan were crowned champions in 2011.
The Italian owner recently visited the club’s Milanello training ground to motivate the squad after one of their worst starts to a season in over 80 years, and ahead of a run of fixtures that could potentially decide their European and domestic campaigns. Arriving by helicopter twice in fortnight, as he visited for the first time in over a year before the team travelled to take on RSC Anderlecht in the Champions League. Once qualification was assured with a win in Belgium, the former Prime Minister dropped in once more to tackle the visit of the current Italian champions.
Also in attendance was former Rossoneri legend Marco Van Basten, who revealed Berlusconi had approached him to take the role as manager just over two years ago. The Dutchman’s announcement in midweek has not even been the most talked about managerial news around the peninsula, however.
Berlusconi was confronted by the media while departing Milanello last week, and insisted that the club were looking at former Barcelona boss Pepe Guardiola to take over the hot seat from Allegri.
“Faced with a possibility like this, everyone puts the effort in. We know there are some English clubs who are determined to make Guardiola theirs, but we are in the running. We know the situation, and it will be difficult to get him,” concluded Berlusconi to the surprise of a large group of the local press. Despite making it abundantly clear that Allegri had been ‘consulted’ on the option of appointing the former Brescia player as manager, it only intensified the pressure surrounding the Italian tactician ahead of the visit of the Bianconeri.
Allegri was left with no choice but to back Berlusconi’s words in public. “I feel flattered that Milan are looking at Guardiola as my replacement, seeing as he is one if not the best coaches in the world at the moment,” admitted the former Cagliari man in his post-match press conference after the Bianconeri match.
When Vice-President Adriano Galliani was told Allegri has said that the game’s controversial penalty should not have stood, he even quipped that ‘Guardiola would not have said that’.
Despite the off-field narratives, as makeshift captain Riccardo Montolivo led Milan out against Juventus there were concerns on the pitch itself. Injury prone striker Alexandre Pato expressed a desire to move away in January through his agent during the week, and that prompted the Rossoneri supporters to unveil a banner - “Those who have the club in their heart, do not ring their representatives.” First choice full-back Ignazio Abate was also sidelined, forcing holding midfielder Kevin Constant to slot in after a series of cameos in the position.
Juventus had their own issues to contend with, as an incredible display to dispatch the European Champions Chelsea on Tuesday left the starting lineup considerably weakened. Giorgio Chiellini’s absence through injury also hampered their three-man defence, with Martin Caceres his replacement. The signs began to show only half an hour in, with the home side dominating affairs and exploiting Kevin Prince- Boateng as a false No. 9 and giving the opposition backline no point of reference to defend against.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Robinho dropped deep to receive the ball and run at a dogged Leonardo Bonucci, while also closing down Pirlo at every opportunity. Being handed the captaincy with goalkeeper Cristian Abbiati out, Montolivo gave his best performance since arriving from Fiorentina in the summer. Antonio Nocerino and Nigel de Jong also worked tirelessly to peg back Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal from making their trade mark darts into the box.
The credit for a large part of the victory has to go to Milan’s back-four, with Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella and later Sebastian Giovinco not getting any clear chances. The ageing Philippe Mexes and Mario Yepes were superb with several excellent tackle and clearances,while Constant filled in brilliantly and 20-year-old right-back Mattia De Sciglio was arguably the man of the match.
Ultimately the headlines the following day were dedicated to Mauricio Isla’s non-existent handball that led to the penalty and winning strike, when Nocerino actually handled it himself in the built-up. However, Milan thoroughly deserved their victory with Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon one of few travelling back to Turin who admitted the team had fallen due to their own mistakes. Berlusconi can take heart from the win, and may even assume he should take over ahead of any Guardiola character.
Spain
Barcelona demolished Levante with a team spearheaded by players from their La Masia academy. It was the first time history a Barcelona first eleven has been made up entirely of graduates of their youth academy. 10 La Masia graduates started the match for Barcelona and when Brazilian right back Dani Alves was substituted with injury in the fifteenth minute his replacement, Martin Montoya, completed the full eleven of homegrown talent for Barcelona.
Spanish daily Marca even contributed with the headline ‘Levante 0-4 La Masia’. Real Madrid fell 11 points behind the Catalan giants with a defeat to Real Betis. Jose Mourinho insisted the fixture list had gone against his Los Blancos side. Atletico Madrid meanwhile trashed Sevilla to move within three points of top spot, when questioned whether the title race was over Tito Vilanova quipped at the expense of his arch-rivals: “Not at all, Atletico are only a win behind us.”
France
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned from suspension to chip in with a brace and two assists as Paris Saint-Germain dispatched Troyes to stay top. The Parisians supporters booed them throughout despite the victory, insisting they are too reliant on the burly Swede. Marseille beat 10-man Lille by a single goal to stay second with a game in hand. Lyon lost to Toulouse to end a good run of form, while Saint Etienne won on Friday night to leapfrog them into third.
Germany
A fiery weekend of action in the Bundesliga culminated with riots and four red cards in total. Bayern Munich stay top after seeing off Hannover 96 by 5-0 with first goals for Javi Martinez and Dante, despite the fact the visitors had only played in the Europa League 48 hours previously. Borussia Dortmund moved up to second after coming from behind to beat a spirited Mainz 05 away. Schalke 04 dropped points in a top four clash with Eintracht Frankfurt that finished in a stalemate.
