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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
NOVARA  Ujkani Rinaudo, Centurioni, Garcia Morganella, Jensen, Radovanovic, Gemiti RigoniCaracciolo, Mascara | AC MILAN  Amelia Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini Ambrosini, Van Bommel, NocerinoSeedorf Ibrahimovic, Robinho |
Novara boss Attilio Tesser will be missing a number of defenders as Massimo Paci and Paolo Dellafiore are suspended and Carlalberto Ludi remains injured. However, he can call in several winter transfer window reinforcements as Leandro Rinaudo, Daniel Jensen and new strike duo Andrea Caracciolo and Giuseppe Mascara are all set to start.
Meanwhile, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri received two pieces of bad news this week as Kevin-Prince Boateng (who would have been suspended) and Alexandre Pato have each been sidelined for four weeks due to knocks suffered in recent matches. The former Portsmouth midfielder suffered a thigh problem during the derby defeat to Inter and the young Brazil striker, despite scoring the winning goal in extra-time of their Coppa Italia clash with Novara on Wednesday, picked up a muscle strain - meaning attacking options are fairly limited.
As such, veteran Clarence Seedorf should return to the starting XI in behind the two strikers and Robinho should pip Stephan El Shaarawy to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. Midfielder Alexander Merkel may also get a chance to shine from the bench after returning to the club from Genoa this past week. At the back, Alessandro Nesta is serving a one-match ban, so Philippe Mexes should step in.
Mathieu Flamini, Antonio Cassano, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquiliani, and Mario Yepes are all dealing with long-term injury concerns and unavailable.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- AC Milan have not played Novara in Serie A for over 50 years. The teams last met in league play during the 1955-56 campaign, when the Rossoneri won both matches.
- Milan's loss to Inter last weekend ended a positive run of 12 matches without a defeat in the top flight.
- The champions have the best attack in Serie A this season, having scored 37 goals, four more than closest competitors Napoli.
- Novara have the fewest wins in Serie A, just two, and have not picked up three points in any of their previous six matches. Their last victory was against Parma on November 26.
- The hosts have the worst defensive record in Serie A, conceding a total of 35 goals at an average of 1.94 per match.
- Novara striker Raffaele Rubinho is the only player to have scored in all of Italy's professional divisions with the same club.
The hosts, despite sitting at the very bottom of the Serie A standings, have made some shrewd moves in the winter transfer market and will be hoping that they can start making a run in the league to try to avoid relegation back to Serie B. However, despite Milan's long injury list, Allegri's men should have just enough quality to overcome their spirited opponents.
Editor's Prediction
Novara 1-2 Milan 
