Coppa Italia: Spezia

Allegri said that Milan would take Coppa Italia very seriously as winning it is our most realistic chance to make it to Europe. I assume the new management will share the same mentality. This should be a straightforward win but judging our misfortunes, I would not be too surprised if lost against these Sere B scrubs. I think we will see the likes of Pazzini, Saponara, Cristante play today. Good chance of being Honda and Rami's full debuts as well.

Straight up win imo, however it won't be a pretty game.

Is it really advantageous for us to get into the Europa League?

Forza wrote:Is it really advantageous for us to get into the Europa League?

Not really. Just a matter of pride.

Saponara is unavailable due to a calf complaint unfortunately, whilst the same is true of De Jong.

This is the available squad: Abbiati, Amelia, Gabriel, Bonera, De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami, Silvestre, Zaccardo, Zapata, Birsa, Cristante, Emanuelson, Honda, Kakà, Montolivo, Nocerino, Poli, Pazzini, Petagna, Robinho.

We'll certainly win, regardless of the club's attitude towards the competition at large, we will not be taking this fixture lightly.

Match has started. This is the line up.

Milan: Abbiati; Zaccardo, Mexes, Rami, De Sciglio; Poli, Montolivo, Cristante; Honda, Robinho; Pazzini

Milan bench: Amelia, Gabriel, Bonera, Silvestre, Zapata, Emanuelson, Nocerino, Birsa, Kakà, Petagna

Spezia: Leali; Baldanzeddu, Bianchetti, Lisuzzo, Migliore; Seymur, Bovo; Schiattarella, Catellani, Rivas; Ferrari

Spezia bench: Valentini, Madonna, Ceccarelli, Ashong, Moretti, Magnusson, Ciurria, Culina, Carrozza, Sammarco, Orsic, Borghese

Unnecessary to risk Abbiati in my opinion, we can't afford him to get injured before Atletico.

Thank goodness that guy couldn't pass because he just roasted the entire right flank.

A vital block from De Sciglio following Abbiati spilling the cross. Our levels of concentration are not what they might be.

Hmm, so the next Buffon Leali is playing for Spezia. Please play like 2013 Confederations Cup Buffon and not 2006 World Cup Buffon.

Spezia struggling to make impact on us yet we aren't doing ourselves any favours. Tassoti as expected has maintained the original structure Allegri's system, with only minor variations.

Honda receives the first yellow card of the match and his Milan career.

Pazzini come on ffs!

Great free kick by Honda.

Incredible miss from Pazzini after the ball falls kindly for him from the free kick. A pity as it would have been excellent for his confidence.

De sciglio 19 shot power.

Pazzini almost.

GOALLLLL ROBINHO!

Pazzini makes amends with an excellent cross which even Robinho could not miss.

Balotelli and Constant watch on together from the stands, the reincarnation of Ibrahimovic sheared in half by cruel fate, searching for silverware that will reforge the two.

GOOOOOOLLLL Robinho

After spurning a great chance set up by Poli's deft touch into space from Honda's ball to the top of the box, Pazzini turns provider with a lovely cross that the keeper can get a hand to but not deflect.

Honda is simply passed the ball by Spezia on the wing and finds Robinho down the left but Spezia recover to fill the box with men and cut out the cross. One feels that we may well get our second by half time.

Excellent goal by Pazzini

Dat creativity overkill.

PAZZIIINNNIIIII. Lovely deft ball over the top from Poli and a beautiful volley to convert from Giampaolo.

Now to wait for Schiattarella to score four goals.

Montolivo stops the ball just before the line after a header from a corner; not certain Abbiati had that covered.

Poli sends the ball to Mars.