The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 127 Who needs Ibrahimovic
  On August 2009, 8, the focus of the second round of the Italian Football League, the Milan Derby in the first leg of the new season, started at San Siro!
  It is very surprising that Pandev, who has just joined the Nerazzurri for a week, is able to start the game!

Leo was not surprised by Pandev's start.

From daily training, he noticed Mourinho's love for the Macedonians.

Pandev has solid skills and can pass and dribble. His finishing ability is slightly weak but he can always score key goals.

He is fast, has good awareness and is active in running.

But the most important thing is that he can resolutely implement the tactics arranged by the head coach.

This is what Mourinho admires most about him, otherwise he would not have put him in the starting lineup so quickly.

Leo looked helplessly at Balotelli, who was laughing and joking. He couldn't help it, he really couldn't help it.

Even if Bashen is more talented than others, it doesn't matter. As a head coach, he will definitely prefer Pandev who can perform stably, rather than a time bomb that needs to be coaxed to play the game.

I hope this kid can mature a little.

Against his rival in the same city, Mourinho deployed a starting lineup of four, three, and three.

Judging from the position on the field, Milito is in the middle, with Pandev and Eto'o on the left and right.

The midfield three is Leo slightly further up the pitch, with Zanetti and Thiago Motta behind him.

The left back is Chivu, the right back is Maicon, the center back is Samuel and Lucio, and the goalkeeper is Cesar.

Leo knows very well that except for the midfielder, which may be slightly changed, the other positions are likely to be Inter Milan's strongest lineup this season.

As for Balotelli and Thornton, they are only rotation players at most.

As for AC Milan, Leonardo completely followed the four-three-three-three lineup they used in their away win against Siena in the last round.

Ronaldinho, Borriello and Pato partnered as a front three.

Gattuso, Pirlo and Flamini formed the midfield combination.

Left back Jankulovski, right back Gianluca Zambrotta, Nesta partner Thiago Silva, goalkeeper Storari.

Compared with last season, the lineup of the Milan duo has undergone considerable changes.

Inter Milan is missing Ibrahimovic, all three strikers are new players, and AC Milan has also left Kaká.

Fans of both teams felt a little helpless and sad when they watched the derby again today.

Going back a few decades, the world's top players were proud to play in Serie A.

When did it start that even the giants in Serie A can no longer keep their own stars?
  This game is also the first time in the history of Serie A that the Milan Derby is scheduled to be played in August.

In order to avoid the impact of hot weather on the game, San Siro was specially replaced with a more heat-resistant turf before the game, which looked extremely smooth.

Retired Rossoneri legend Maldini once again appeared at the Milan Derby, but he could only sit in the stands.

The referee Rizzoli blew the whistle and the game officially started!

Just two minutes into the game, Leo got rid of Pirlo and went to the left. Pandev accelerated and broke through Gianluca Zambrotta and then crossed!
  Milito's right-footed volley from the outside of the penalty area went over the crossbar.

Although this game is AC Milan's "home court", with the advantage of more home tickets, there are indeed more Roseneris in the stands than Nerazzurri.

However, Inter Milan was not polite at all after the start of the game, and directly "returned to the visitors" to launch an offensive first.

"I hope to see you perform better in this game!"

Mourinho said this to Leo privately before the game because he wanted to see what Inter Milan's current "strongest" lineup would be like against a strong team of AC Milan's level.

Therefore, the process and results of this Milan derby will affect how the Madman continues to adjust the team's tactics in subsequent games.

Needless to say, Leo, who was physically fit enough to run the whole game, led the team in a strong attack from the first minute of the game.

AC Milan, who was unprepared, was at a disadvantage at the start. They could only parry but not fight back.

Although the Rossoneri supporters in the stands tried their best to cheer for the home team, it was to no avail.

Leo showed no fear in the face of Gattuso's fierce defense. With just a tap of his toes, he passed through the last line of defense in Milan's midfield.

“When we played against each other last season, it wasn’t that simple, right?

Am I getting stronger, or is he getting weaker? "

Leaving Gattuso far behind, Leo took the ball in three and two steps to break through to the edge of the penalty area.

Thiago Silva was closely guarding Milito in the penalty area, and Nesta was also diverted by Eto'o, leaving a gap in the middle!
  Without saying a word, Leo shot a low shot from the edge of the penalty area!
  Milan goalkeeper Storari, who was guarding the goal, struggled to hold the ball out with one hand!
  Thinking that their main goalkeeper was away and they could find an opportunity here, Leo shook his head, picked up the ball and ran to the corner flag area.

Leo's corner kick went into the penalty area, and Milito's header from the center was high.

The home team quickly launched a counterattack, but before halftime, the ball at Pirlo's feet was intercepted by the rushing Leo.

AC Milan has not scored a goal since the start of the game and was beaten by Inter Milan.

Leo made a direct pass, and Pandev, who succeeded in countering offside, cut in from the left and volleyed with his right foot!

Storari flew to block the ball, and the ball hit the goal post and bounced out of the baseline.

This time Leo did not take a corner kick, Inter Milan chose a tactical corner kick.

Zanetti made a low pass from the right, and Leo quickly moved forward after passing through the instep of his left foot near the arc of the penalty area in the middle!
  Eto'o received the cross-knock to Milito, and Milito turned his back and blocked Thiago Silva in front of him!
  Jankulovski failed to stop Leo who entered the penalty area! After receiving the ball, Leo took advantage of the situation and curled the ball with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area into the far corner!
  One to zero!

The Nerazzurri scored first!

Leo's goal received cheers and applause from Lazuli.

"Who needs Ibra, we have Leo!"

Seeing the banner pulled out from the stands, Leo couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Fans are pretty cute when they like you.

Playing at home, they conceded a goal first, and the Milan players gradually became anxious.

In the ninth minute, Flamini dribbled the ball near the bottom line on the left side of the penalty area, but due to Maicon's personal interference, the pass was weak and Nerazzurri goalkeeper Cesar got the ball.

Lucio received the hand-thrown ball and was about to pass it to his teammates when he was knocked down in front of his own penalty area by Flamini who was actively counterattacking.

AC Milan midfielder was given a yellow card by Rizzoli.

After taking the lead, Leo wanted to control the rhythm first, but his opponent didn't do it!
  Eto'o received a long pass from Leo and broke through to the right side of the penalty area. Under Nesta's interference, he kicked the goal straight into the arms of Storari.

The Milan goalkeeper drove the goal kick to the frontcourt, Borriello passed the header, and Pato accelerated to throw away Samuel's defense and broke into the penalty area!
  The young Brazilian forward's left-footed shot was blocked by Samuel who came back to defend.

The home team's corner kick was cleared out of the penalty area by Samuel's header, but Gattuso controlled it from the outside.

Lucio made a mistake while defending Pato from the wing and headed over. Pato took the ball and broke through at high speed to the left side of the penalty area and knocked back with his instep!
  Ronaldinho fell to the ground after his left-foot shot in front of the goal flew away. He got up and yelled at Leo.

Leo scratched his ears and said that he could not understand Ronaldinho's Italian with a Portuguese accent.

The Brazilian insisted that Leo had committed a foul behind him, and players from both sides quickly became chaotic.

A derby match, such a small scene is not worth mentioning.

The referee Rizzoli was watching clearly at the time, so he insisted on his decision and did not give a penalty kick in the end.

According to the slow-motion replay, Leo and Ronaldinho had no physical contact at all.

Ronaldinho, who was dissatisfied with the penalty, glared at Leo fiercely. This time, Leo, who was really innocent, shrugged helplessly.

"Let you vent for a while first, and we will counterattack later."

Although Leo had agreed with the head coach before the game that he would go all out today, the game still had to be relaxed.

With Leo's laissez-faire, the Rossoneri finally made several decent cooperations, but they failed to threaten the goal guarded by Cesar.

In the fourteenth minute, Ronaldinho dribbled the ball through the middle, first shook off Thiago Motta, and then ran towards Leo.

Leo didn't tolerate him either, and he fell to the ground with a fierce tackle.

Ronaldinho rolled several times on the turf before stopping.

"I appreciate your talent, but that doesn't mean I will be lenient on the court."

Rizzoli called a foul on Leo and gave AC Milan a free kick nearly thirty meters from the goal.

Leonardo was still dissatisfied and believed that the referee should give Leo a yellow card.

However, Leo touched the ball first during the tackle, and then made a clear movement of closing his feet. The foul can be assessed or not, so there is no need to talk about a yellow card.

Ronaldinho's free kick went directly to the goal and bypassed the wall. Cesar made a mistake in throwing the ball away!
  But luckily the ball didn't fall at the home team's feet and was cleared by Maicon!
  Zambrotta broke through from the right and passed a high ball. Borriello's header in front of the small penalty area went high.

That's almost it. Leo gave the Rossoneri ten minutes, and the home team bombarded them indiscriminately for ten minutes.

Now that the other party is just at a stage where they are neither improving nor falling, it is time to give them a try!
  Leo took the initiative to speed up and suddenly stepped forward to press, causing Flamini's passing error.

In a panic, the French midfielder handed the ball directly to his opponent, and Leo naturally accepted it.

But just when Leo was about to continue dribbling the ball forward, a figure wearing a red and black jersey rushed over.

Leo turned lightly and accelerated to avoid the opponent's flying shovel, but still stopped.

Rizzoli quickly stopped the game, and Milan's team doctor led the medical kit and trotted all the way to Gattuso, who fell to the ground.

Defensive players who move too hard and injure themselves often happen on this green field.

However, Gattuso, an old player with rich defensive experience, really shouldn't do it.

The team doctor's face didn't look good. Gattuso seemed to have injured his left ankle.

Regardless of whether Gattuso can persist, Seedorf started warming up on the sidelines.

But then the "Milan Butcher" did not agree to the head coach's substitution, gritting his teeth and saying that he could still persist.

The team doctor had no choice but to put a bandage on Gattuso's left foot and let him continue to fight with the injury.

Maicon sent a long pass from the right side of the backcourt, and Eto'o made full use of his speed advantage to break through the Rossoneri's defense and break into the right side of the penalty area!

At this time, Gattuso, who was back on defense, pulled Eto'o's shoulder with his left hand from behind, causing him to lose his balance and fall in front of the goal!
  Rizzoli decisively awarded a penalty kick!
  However, the referee believed that Nesta had already returned to defend nearby and Gattuso should not be counted as the last defender, so he only gave Gattuso a yellow card.

This also made Inter Milan head coach Mourinho extremely dissatisfied on the sidelines.

(End of this chapter)