MILAN PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE
AC Milan are quite happy playing second fiddle to Juventus, but only until next Wednesday's Champions League final.
Juve wrapped up the Serie A championship for the second consecutive year a fortnight ago, but AC are determined to finish the domestic season as runner-up rather than third behind city rivals Inter Milan.
That is why Saturday's last league game of the season against already relegated Piacenza is so important four days before the European showdown with Juventus at Old Trafford.
"We want a win at Piacenza because we still have a chance to take second place in the league," Rossonero coach Carlo Ancelotti declared on Friday.
Victory against the Piacenza minnows and defeat for Inter Milan by Perugia on Saturday would secure the Rossoneri second spot in the league.
"The important thing is to finish the championship well, to win on Saturday ven if our thoughts are on Wednesday's match against Manchester," said Rossoneri defender Martin Laursen.
Piacenza have yet to come to terms with last weekend's 3-2 loss to Parma which condemned them to Serie B next season.
Gigi Cagni's outfit were leading 2-0 at one stage in the first half but then threw it all away in the last five minutes.
Nevertheless, Piacenza will be trying their hardest for a consolation win over Carlo Ancelotti's Milan at the Leonardo Garilli stadium.
"We must conclude the season well, to try and make our fans forget the harsh defeat against Parma that has cost us salvation," said Cagni.
As expected, Ancelotti will rest many of his key players players although Brazilian striker Rivaldo and Filippo Inzaghi have been told they will be called on.
Cagni indicated he will field a three-man attacking line - Dario Hubner, Marco Marchionni and Bogdan Patrascu.
My question is why woudl anyone want to bet on this game with little interest for either side, one cannot win the title and the other is already relegated. Pick a better game, this on e is pointless.
