Vincenzo Montella has done more with Catania in ten weeks, then he did with Roma all last season. Roma chose a path more Barca, and Catania got a guy who has his team undefeated in the last five and carrying the scalp of Inter, Napoli, and a draw to Juventus. This won't be easy, by any means, but add in a rash of injuries and suspensions and what was an attainable three points suddenly becomes mission impossible.
Catania will not be the usual shy park the bus opponent they have been in the past, employing a 4-3-3/5-3-2 formation with discipline wingers, they will not be shy to counter and exploit space left by Milan's attack minded fullbacks. Montella may play conservative away from home and the formation will be defensive when behind ball, but Milan will need to adapt and find space in the attacking third, a job made all the more difficult, missing the key figures of Cassano and Prince. Robinho and Zlatan will most likely lead the attack, and due to the lack of fit players Seedorf will slot in behind. You could make a case for El-Sharaawi in this one, but I have to believe Allegri will lean on the old veteran before a start for the youngster. Seedorf was painfully slow on the ball midweek and even slower in tracking back, two things Catania will surely prey on. The rest of Allegri's lineup will probably appear as follows:
Abbiati; Abate, Silva, Yepes, Taiwo; Aquilani, VanBommel, Ambro; Seedorf; Zlatan, Robinho
Surely not Milan's quickest lineup on paper, but an experienced one. Interested to see if the experience can trump the upstart Catania. Depending on Montella' deployment Milan may have been very patient with the ball and finding the right times to attack. Not conceding will be a good start in this match, especially on defensive miscues. A win here and Milan continue there strong run and five straight wins in the Serie A.