ARSENAL

Challenge for Milan is to score at least one goal and not concede any.  Can they do it?  YES.

Statistics show that Milan have won all three UEFA CHampions League home games  finishing winners of Group D with a four-point advantage over Celtic.  

 Milan's record  against English teams speak by itself: winning six of the eight fixtures overall.  Apart from their victory against the Gunners in the 1994 UEFA Super Cup, Milan also beat Leeds United AFC 1-0 in the 1972-73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and Liverpool 2-1 in last season's UEFA Champions League in Athens.

Only sour note is the 2005 final in Istanbul they drew 3-3 with Liverpool after extra time only to lose on penalties.  Though Milan recovered the CHAMPIONS last year beating LIVERPOOL.

Talking about statistics.  Milan Striker Filippo Inzaghi has recently made his 300th appearance with the rossoneri in Serie A  Catania-Milan 1-1 and scored his 90th goal in the Milan shirt: a record for him in a single club, after his 89 goals for Juventus. Meanwhile, Rino Gattuso and Ricardo Kaká were on the pitch for all the 630 minutes played so far by Milan in the 2007-2008 Champions League.

Although Pato's debut in the Champions League was negative. His inexperience was obvious even when earning a yellow card for an innocent push.  I am sure he learned his lesson and his teammates will help him mature. He might be a key player tomorrow. Yet, my bet is for striker "Lucky Charm" in International Competitions "SUPER PIPPO INZAGHI."

Kaka and Super Pippo Inzaghi might be the magical DUO. Naturally, Milan's brains "midfielder Andrea Pirlo" will be fundamental to read the match and execute Ancelotti's plan in the field.

Regarding the rival, ARSENAL Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb made his 100th appearance with the Arsenal shirt during the match against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, French winger Gael Clichy took part in all 28 Arsenal's Premier League matches this season. In the EPL,  Arsenal have scored 57 goals and conceded 21. If we consider only the last fifteen minutes the situation changes: 22 goals scored and 3 conceded.

I must agree with Milan defender Massimo Oddo's words in the uefa.com website that "Even though we were a bit lucky in the first leg, especially in the last chances of Arsenal, we have the possibility of playing a great game at the highest level we can express. Being able to do it in front of our crowd, it's a great opportunity for us."

Great advantage for AC MILAN is the superb performance of second goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.  It is obvious that KALAC slowly is earning the post in the starting line up while DIDA recovers from injury. 

Let's send our positive energy to our ROSSONERI.

Bottom line, can Milan win?  ABSOLUTEDLY!  

FORZA RAGAZZI ci siamo con voi (We are with you).

MY PREDICTION:  AC MILAN


Disciplinary Situation:

AC MILAN-  Only one player who is one yellow card away from suspension: Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

ARSENAL -  There are two players: Adebayor e Denilson



   UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST SIXTEEN SECOND  LEG

AC MILAN - ARSENAL
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
San Siro Stadium

11:45 a.m. USA Pacific time

Referee: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Assistants: Egon Bereuter (AUT)
                   Markus Mayr (AUT)

Fourth Official: Gerald Lehner (AUT)

UEFA Delegate: Trygve Borno (NOR)

UEFA Referee Observer: Bo Karlsson (SWE) and Frank Paauw (NED)