Lazio, Milan Resume Champions League Play
By: Martha | September 18th, 2007
Two of the four — Count ‘em, four! — Italian teams in the Champions League group stages open their play today, with Milan hosting Benfica and Lazio traveling to Greek champions Olympiakos.
The Milan match holds an added interest for Rossoneri fans because it marks the return to the San Siro of Rui Costa, a former key figure at the club and also one of the classiest, most awesome men in football. (And I’m not saying that just because he’s Portuguese. But still, I’m so excited about this game I can hardly see, and you know it’s not because I love Milan.) Despite the crummy performance against Siena at the weekend and Benfica’s good form, Milan will be clear favorites, with Ricky Kaka, Rino Gattuso and Andea Pirlo all returning to the midfield, and Dida resolving not to screw up spectacularly again, at least not in the first half. At least on paper, though, the Rossoneri aren’t taking the Portuguese side lightly — they’re expected to put out a fully first-choice team, and since Gila is on the bench they have a half-chance of actually scoring.
Lazio, meanwhile, head to Greece pretty much needing three points if they hope to have any chance to get out of the group (what with Real Madrid and Werder Bremen looming ahead and all). The capital side are still having all sorts of injury problems, but do now have a keeper who’s a)under 90, and b)an actual, first-team-type player, neither of which could possibly hurt. Given how dire they looked against Empoli on the weekend, though, it’s hard to sustain much hope about Lazio’s chances, not only in this match but in the CL in general. Is it at least safe to hope that at least their fans will behave? No, you’re right. Probably not.
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Comments
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speaking of gila, I read his girlfriend is expecting. It’s good to know that only on the pitch is gila impotent.
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Damn, Jamie. I read that story too and didn’t even see the chance for that awesome line in it — well done.
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I think the real question is: If Rui Costa scores against Milan, will he cry?
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United States -
That’s a tough one, Chris. Benfica are more his club than Milan, I’m guessing any tears will be tears of joy, not remorse.
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Missing a stab at Gilardino is eating you up inside, isn’t it Martha. Poor Gila, if only he weren’t shooting blanks on the field…
Ok enough.
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Marco, I’m terribly off my game. It’s killing me! (I’m jsut glad he didn’t score on the field today — that would have made it that much worse.)
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