Player Ratings: Juventus 3-2 AC Milan

Juventus pulled off a dramatic victory in a classic encounter between the two most successful clubs in Italian football history.

Zeljko Kalac: 6.5 – Looked slow and awkward on Del Piero’s first goal of the game but made good saves on Grygera and Del Piero in the second half to give his team a fighting chance.

Daniele Bonera: 5.5 - Pushed forward on many occasions and unselfishly slotted the ball across to Inzaghi for an easy tap in. However, left too much space at the back, and to make it all worse, made an absolutely horrendous tackle on Momo Sissoko and was deservedly sent off.

Paolo Maldini: 6 - Started well, but then really showed his age as he was at fault for Juventus’s second goal after he was caught in possession deep in his own territory. Does not seem to have the legs beyond the hour mark.

Giuseppe Favalli: 5 - His best days are past him although he managed to push forward on a couple of occasions in the first half. All change please, as far as the Milan defence is concerned.

Dario Simic: 4 - He was run ragged by Del Piero all evening and committed countless fouls as he could not keep up with the pace of the match. Maybe Ronaldinho and Shevchenko will provide cover next season.

Rino Gattuso: 6 – The normally tenacious bulldog did not make an impact on the match and was outplayed by the gigantic Sissoko.

Massimo Ambrosini: 6.5 – Lumbered forward and won his team a couple of corner kicks, and played a part in one of Inzaghi's goals, but failed to stamp his authority in the middle of the pitch when Juve were in the ascendancy.

Clarence Seedorf: 6.5 - Did very well in the first half, but completely disappeared in the second half and did not pull the strings in the midfield the way Ancelotti would have wanted him to. Turns into a ghost far too often these days.

Andrea Pirlo: 6 - Had a decent first half, but was also quiet for most of the second, with his set pieces disappointing for a player of his technical ability. Gave the ball away quite a few times.

Kaka: 6.5 – Has finally rediscovered some of his form over the last two weeks. Set up his team’s first goal after a beautiful low cross left Inzaghi with the easiest of finishes, and had a couple of good moments in the second half. Not one of his best displays, but a step in the right direction.

Filippo Inzaghi: 8.5 – Poached two goals in the style that he is famous for and gave the Juventus defenders fits, especially in the first half. Was menacing throughout, and could well have completed a hat-trick. Milan's best player on the evening.

Substitutes:

Cafu (67”) 6, Alberto Gilardino (83”) NA, Christian Brocchi (88”) NA

Kaka On Shevchenko Rumours

AC Milan star Kaka would endorse the return of former striker Andrei Shevchenko to the club.

The former European Footballer of the Year had seven glorious seasons for Milan before he joined Chelsea in a £30m deal in 2006, but his career has taken a spectacular nosedive since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

It is no secret that the Ukrainian striker is unhappy off the pitch as the well, and it seems highly likely that Chelsea will allow him to leave this summer, with Milan's management keen to feed the speculation that he is set for an emotional return.

Kaka, for one, would be happy to be reunited with a player that he connected with so well both on the field and off.

"I always talk to him. We are friends from our time at Milan," said the Brazil star.

"I cannot understand what has happened to him in the last two years. For me, he remains a great player.

"It's up to the club to manage his return, but for me it would not be a problem."

He is so cute, thanks for the pics

You're welcome double blush

LET'S DO GOOD TOGETHER

Carlo Ancelotti, Leonardo, and Ricky Kaká, participated to a press conference today to present the new communications company created by Fondazione Milan.

MILANELLO - Inside the conference room of the Milanello sporting center, the General Secretary of Fondazione Milan, Leonardo de Araujo, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, and Golden Ball winner Kaká, today presented the new communications campaign organised by Fondazione Milan.

At the end Ancelotti and Kaká also answered questions made by the journalists on football topics:

CARLO ANCELOTTI:

"Concerning Maldini's condition, at the end of yesterday's training session he had a muscular problem and today he will be examined."

KAKA':

"Concerning what's being said about Gattuso possibly leaving, I think Rino won't leave Milan because he is a symbol of this team, a lot of things can happen of course, but I believe there is no Milan without the Champions League and there is no Milan without Gattuso.

Ronaldinho? We've often played together with the national side. At the 2006 World Cup we didn't do very well for various reasons, but on other occasions we've shown we can play well together. Lately I haven't heard of him, the last time I saw him was in November with the national team for the qualifying games.

Certainly I would like to participate to the Olympics, but if Milan have to play the Champions League preliminaries we'll have to see. It depends on Milan, what the club will decide and everything depends on this last part of the season. If there is the possibility, I would go there with pleasure.

Shevchenko? Here at Milan we have fond memories of him and personally I would be happy if he came back. He hasn't played for two years, if he came back we'd have to understand his motivation, but I don't think there would be any problems with my team mates."

Kaka On Gattuso, Ronaldinho And Sheva

AC Milan megastar Ricardo Kaka has weighed in on the most talked about transfer rumours surrounding his club.

The story grabbing the most headlines this week revolves around unsettled Barcelona icon Ronaldinho, who appears to be edging ever closer to a sensational move to Mila in the summer. Kaka would welcome his compatriot with open arms, and insists that the San Siro is big enough to accomodate the both of them.

“I think he could do very well here," Kaka enthused. " \We can play together and already have done for the Selecao. This is a team that can take many great champions in its line-up, so if more were to arrive that would be even better.”

When an alert journalist asked whether he was referring to Andriy Shevchenko in that comment, the World and European Player of the Year responded: “If Sheva returned then I would be very happy, because he is my friend. For various reasons he has not played consistently for the past two years, but I know he could make his contribution to Milan.”

Finally, Kaka suggested that he would skip the Olympics if they managed to qualify for the Champions League, while saying that he "cannot imagine Milan without Rino [Gattuso]”.

Thanks LuNo

You're welcome

MILAN-REGGINA

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Fiori, Kalac, Offredi;

DEFENDERS: Cafu, Digao, Favalli, Kaladze, Nesta, Serginho, Simic;

MIDFIELDERS: Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Gilardino, Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

MILAN-REGGINA: OFFICIAL FORMATIONS

MILAN: Kalac; Cafu, Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Brocchi; Kakà, Seedorf; Inzaghi.

REGGINA: Campagnolo; Valdez, Cirillo, Aronica; Vigiani, Barreto, Tognozzi, Modesto; Cozza, Brienza; Amoruso.

Kaka was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING today, omg They all have been

AC Milan 5:1 Reggina - match report

Scorers: Kaka pens 8 and 33, 68 (M), Barreto 40 ®, Inzaghi 73 (M), Pato 89 (M)

Kaka proved he is fully recovered with a magnificent performance and hat-trick in this drubbing of Reggina.

There was no room for error as the Rossoneri needed a win to avoid falling seven points behind Fiorentina. Last week's 3-2 defeat at Juventus was a blow, but even worse was their dismal home form, winning just five times at San Siro. Reggina were on a high after beating Sampdoria 1-0, though they remained in the bottom three and had scored just once in their previous six away games. Curiously, this fixture hadn't ended in a draw for nine editions, since the 2-2 in December 1999.

Alexandre Pato returned from a mysterious muscular injury to sit on the bench, though Daniele Bonera and Massimo Ambrosini were banned with Paolo Maldini, Ronaldo, Marek Jankulovski and Emerson sidelined. Reggina made the trip without Emanuele Cascione, Maurizio Lanzaro and Montiel.

In the opening minute Salvatore Aronica and Francesco Modesto collided, allowing Cristian Brocchi to fire a right-foot shot on the bounce on to the side-netting.

The referee pointed to the spot when Modesto tackled Kaka in the box as he was lining up the shot. The Brazilian got back up to send Andrea Campagnolo the wrong way and bury the powerful penalty.

Reggina fought back with a Valdez header testing Zeljko Kalac, but Campagnolo palmed Kaka's cross-shot out from under the bar and parried a Kakha Kaladze angled drive with his feet.

Kaka has now recovered from his injury problems and it showed, as he was swarming around the Amaranto defence. Pippo Inzaghi's backheel set up Kaka for a fierce strike that Campagnolo parried.

The referee awarded a second penalty for a Luca Vigiani trip on Clarence Seedorf and this time Kaka took a different approach, rolling it gently into the other angle.

However, Reggina got back into it with an absolute screamer from Barreto. He controlled a clearance just outside the D and smashed the rocket into the top corner past a helpless Kalac.

A Seedorf rocket skimmed the bar, but after the restart Barreto went off in agony after an accidental clash of knees with Seedorf.

Inzaghi's diving header whistled wide and Campagnolo pushed an Andrea Pirlo piledriver out from under the crossbar.

Kaka's acrobatic backheel sent Inzaghi clear on goal, but the Italian was closed down as he was lining up the shot by some desperate defending. However, some chaotic play at the back almost gifted Reggina an equaliser, as Kaladze had to come sliding in to stop a tap-in from six yards.

Kaka was comfortably man of the match and completed his hat-trick. Brocchi's cross was chested down for a precise low first time finish into the far bottom corner.

There were penalty appeals from Reggina for a Kaladze handling offence on Franco Brienza's cross, but the referee waved play on.

Alexandre Pato made his comeback and created the fourth goal almost immediately. His shot was deflected on to the upright by Campagnolo and Inzaghi was ready to pounce on the loose ball.

Pato got his name on the scoresheet eventually with a powerful header on Yoan Gourcuff's cross from the right.

Milan: Kalac; Cafu (Simic 76), Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso (Gourcuff 80), Pirlo, Brocchi; Kaka, Seedorf (Pato 69); Inzaghi

Reggina: Campagnolo; Valdez (Alvarez 69), Cirillo, Aronica; Vigiani, Barreto (Misiroli 48), Tognozzi, Modesto (Costa 82); Cozza, Brienza; Amoruso

Ref: Farina