Great spirit from this Milan side but it has all come too late! Desperate defending from the hosts and they just manage to clear their lines late on with El Shaarawy lurking. What a game this has been!
90'
Roma are all over the place! Bojan has made a real difference since coming on and he feints his way past a few Roma defenders on the edge of the box but a white Milan shirt cannot turn in his dangerous cross. Zeman's side hanging on!
88'
Bojan Krkić has scored a goal for AC Milan!
MILAN SCORE ANOTHER!!! What a finish we have in store! Almost straight from the kick-off, Milan win the ball back and El Shaarawy whips in a superb cross from the left, picking out Pazzini whose header from close range forces a world-class reflex save from Goicoechea, but Bojan is on hand to slot home the rebound against his former club. Late drama here at the Stadio Olimpico!
87'
Penalty goal scored by G. Pazzini for AC Milan!
M. Goicoechea gets yellow.
MILAN PULL ONE BACK! Sulley Muntari's piledriver is parried by Goicoechea and Pazzini responds quickest, taking the ball around the goalkeeper before being hauled down. The Uruguayan is fortunate not to be dismissed and from the resulting spotkick, Pazzini picks himself up to smash it down the middle. Surely just a consolation?
86'
That sums up Milan's night! The Rossoneri win a corner and with bodies in the middle, El Shaarawy decides to clip it back to the edge of the box but he miscues his effort and the opportunity breaks down.
84'
Four goals ahead, Miralem Pjanic dismisses the advice of De Rossi and decides to take on a freekick from distance. He strikes the ball with venom but it cannot beat the wall and Sulley Muntari subsequently receives treatment as the ball strikes him in the face.
82'
To a chorus of boos, Bojan looks to inflict damage against his former club but his teasing cutback from the byline cannot find a teammate in the box.
81'
P. Mexès gets yellow.
Philippe Mexes picks up a yellow card which means that he will now be suspended for the clash against Siena in January.
80'
A. Romagnoli enters the game and replaces F. Totti.
Francesco Totti receives a standing ovation as he is sacrificed in place of 17-year-old defender Alessio Romagnoli. Zeman clearly not willing to take any risks.
78'
Marquinhos goes off after a red card!
MARQUINHOS SENT OFF! The 18-year-old Brazilian has dealt with El Shaarawy excellently today but he receives his marching orders when the referee deems that his deliberate handball prevents a clear goalscoring opportunity. It looks harsh but the Milan striker was bearing down on goal. Surely too late for the Rossoneri though?
Minute
Description
77'
S. Muntari enters the game and replaces M. Ambrosini.
Massimo Ambrosini caps off a miserable evening by being substituted. He is replaced by Ghanaian international Sulley Muntari.
75'
Milan are refusing to give up hope and Pazzini looks to pull one back from the edge of the box but his low drive is too close to Goicoechea and the clean sheet remains intact.
74'
ANOTHER GREAT SAVE FROM GOICOECHEA! It's understandable why this man is keeping Stekelenburg out of the team with this performance. Yepes forces the ball behind the Roma backline for Bojan but the striker is denied a goal on his return to the Stadio Olimpico when his low drive is prevented by the outstretched fingertips of the Uruguayan.
72'
MILAN HIT THE POST! Bojan almost makes an instant impact when he drifts in behind Piris and sends a cross to the back post. Boateng's initial downward header is well saved by Goicoechea and his rebound crashes back off the post before Montolivo tests the Uruguayan again with a low drive. Brilliant goalkeeping from the man on loan from Danubio.
70'
Bojan Krkić enters the game and replaces Robinho.
Milan make a change of their own with former-Roma striker Bojan being introduced in place of Robinho. The Spaniard notched seven goals in 33 appearances for the Italian capital side.
69'
M. Destro enters the game and replaces D. Osvaldo.
Double substitution for Roma and it is two of the goalscorers who are withdrawn. Erik Lamela will not have the chance to secure his hattrick as he is replaced by Alessando Florenzi. Pablo Osvaldo makes way for Mattia Destro.
68'
A. Florenzi enters the game and replaces É. Lamela.
67'
Milan are being completely overrun in the midfield and with Totti dropping deep, they just cannot contain these claret shirts. Milan are really missing the presence of an enforcer like De Jong tonight.
65'
WHAT A GOAL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN! Totti is really enjoying himself out there tonight and he plays a wonderful outside-of-the-foot cross to Pjanic but the Bosnian's sweetly-struck volley swerves just past the far post.
63'
MILAN NEARLY SCORE A CONSOLATION! Robinho finds space on the left-side of the box, jinking inside Pjanic and firing a fizzing effort towards goal which is parried by Goicoechea but Boateng cannot capitalise from the follow up and the Uruguayan saves again.
61'
É. Lamela has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by F. Balzaretti.
LAMELA SCORES AGAIN!! Game over. Totti spots the overlap of Balzaretti on the left wing and the left-back stands up a wonderful cross which Erik Lamela meets with a powerful header into the turf and past Amelia. Yepes and Constant look at each other in embarassment; Milan's defending has been woeful today. 4-0 Roma!
60'
Robinho spots the run of Pazzini and plays an inch-perfect cross but Burdisso gets across expertly to block his effort.
59'
Massimo Ambrosini is the latest man to enter the referee's notebook for a strong challenge on Erik Lamela. He's looked a bit leggy today, the Milan captain.
58'
M. Ambrosini gets yellow.
El Shaarawy switches the play brilliantly to Boateng on the right side of the box, but the Ghanaian's low drive is well blocked by Balzaretti. The Italian international has been solid so far.
56'
G. Pazzini enters the game and replaces A. Nocerino.
Attacking move from Allegri as he sends on Pazzini for Nocerino. Perhaps that will allow Boateng to drop back into the midfield.
54'
N. Burdisso gets yellow.
Nicolas Burdisso picks up a yellow card when he brings down Stephan El Shaarawy on the edge of the box. Robinho steps up to take the freekick but sends it wastefully wide of the far post.
52'
Milan cause Roma problems with a smart free-kick routine but Mario Yepes cannot keep his header down at the backpost. A real sense of urgency from the away side at the moment but they are just lacking that quality in the final third.
50'
IT SHOULD BE FOUR! The Milan backline once again looks clueless as Osvaldo splits the defence with a neat pass but Totti's shot across goal squirms narrowly wide of the post. You expect a man of his calibre to score from there!
48'
Philippe Mexes looks to trick his way past Balzaretti in an unfamiliar right-wing position and is duly greeted with a loud chorus of boos. The former Giallorossi star certainly didn't leave in the most harmonious of circumstances. Milan pressing early in the second half.
46'
You feel that Milan have to strike early if they are to salvage anything from this match. They will need to put more pressure on the midfield though if they are to improve on their first-half display.
45'
Milan win a corner in the dying embers of the first but De Sciglio's delivery is headed clear. With that, Gianluca Rocchi calls time on a pulsating first half.
43'
Francesco Totti looks to get in on the act with a cheeky freekick but his curling effort is well stopped by Marco Amelia.
42'
Daniele De Rossi is enjoying a fine game in the heart of the Roma midfield and he looks to pick out Lamela with a smart ball over the top but Constant backpeddles excellently to produce a crucial header.
40'
Five minutes remaining until the break, can Milan pull one back? If not, it's going to have to be one hell of a half-time team-talk if Massimiliano Allegri is to turn this game around. Milan are being completely overrun in the midfield. That El Shaarawy miss is looking very costly right now. In contrast, Roma have been devastatingly clinical.
38'
Roma sense that there are more goals in this and Balzaretti dinks a ball into Osvaldo but the Argentine's volley from the edge of the box is well blocked by Yepes.
36'
GREAT CHANCE FOR MILAN! Kevin Prince Boateng's low cross somehow manages to find its way to Robinho on the back post. The Brazilian looks to shuffle his way past Ivan Piris before laying the ball back for Stephan El Shaarawy twelve yards out, but the striker's effort is excellently blocked by Nicolas Burdisso.
34'
Stephan El Shaarawy looks to jink his way past Marquinhos in a threating position for Milan but the 18-year-old defender produces a brilliant interception to hault the young striker. It just is not going Milan's way at the moment.
32'
Milan are all over the place at the back and Ivan Piris clips a cross to the edge of the box for Erik Lamela but the Argentine's shot is deflected into the gloves of Amelia.
30'
É. Lamela has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by D. De Rossi.
ROMA ARE RAMPANT!! We have barely reached the half-hour mark and it is 3-0 to Roma! Milan lose possession sloppily and Daniele De Rossi picks up the ball before guiding a beautifully-disguised reverse pass into the path of Erik Lamela who smashes the ball high into the net past Amelia from close range. That is the 20-year-old's ninth league goal of the season. Can Milan respond?
27'
Milan just cannot string together their passes at the moment and Roma are looking comfortable in holding onto possession. Massimo Ambrosini is fortunate not to be cautioned when he catches Totti with a crunching challenge.
25'
Roma's tails are up now and they look to take advantage of a shellshocked Milan when Erik Lamela bursts forward but he cannot slip the ball through for Osvaldo.
24'
D. Osvaldo has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by F. Totti.
2-0 ROMA!!! Federico Balzaretti and Francesco Totti exchange passes down the left wing and the veteran midfielder is allowed time to execute an inch-perfect cross into the middle which Pablo Osvaldo meets with a header which crashes in off the post. Fantastic cross by Totti but where was the marking? Mario Yepes was nowhere to be seen!
21'
Milan have responded really well to going behind and they have penned back the Roma attack. Mattia De Sciglio and Kevin Constant are looking to get forward to provide an outlet at every available opportunity. Zdenek Zeman looks on anxiously from the bench.
19'
Robinho has had a very lively start here and he is looking the most likely to inspire Milan to find a route back into the match. The Brazilian sends a teasing freekick towards the back post but Ivan Piris gets above Mario Yepes to head the ball clear.
17'
MILAN SHOULD BE LEVEL! Robinho splits the Roma defence with a superb through ball and El Shaarawy is all alone for a one-on-one against Goicoechea. The Serie A top goalscorer fakes to shoot and tries to round the Uruguayan goalkeeper but Goicoechea stands strong to smother the ball. Fantastic goalkeeping but El Shaarawy will be rueing that decision not to shoot.
15'
M. Yepes gets yellow.
First yellow card of the game is awarded to Mario Yepes after he hauls down Francesco Totti on a Roma counterattack.
13'
N. Burdisso has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by M. Pjanić.
1-0 ROMA!!! The home side take the lead and it's a wonderful header from Nicolas Burdisso. Pjanic whips in the corner from the right and the former-Inter man gets between Ambrosini and Yepes to send a thumping header into the corner of the net with Amelia stranded. Great start for the Giallorossi!
12'
BRILLIANT SAVE FROM AMELIA! Miralem Pjanic plays a wonderful pass into the path of Osvaldo who had made space on the edge of the box and the Argentine striker unleashes a curling effort which is headed for the top right-hand corner but he is denied by Amelia who produces a superb fingertipped save.
11'
Milan are looking vulnerable from the long ball over the top and Osvaldo is nearly through on goal, but his first touch lets him down and the chance goes begging.
10'
Roma attack straight back down the other end with Totti and he looks to feed Osvaldo with a low cross from the left, but Yepes tracks the Argentine excellently and produces a timely sliding challenge.
9'
It's been a frantic start at the Stadio Olimpico and there are no signs of that stopping. Kevin Prince Boateng looks to poke a ball in behind the Roma backline but the young Brazilian defender Marquinhos reacts well and clears.
8'
GREAT RUN FROM DE ROSSI! The midfielder embarks on a marauding run, taking it past three Milan players before his eventual shot is well saved by Amelia.
7'
Federico Balzaretti storms forward from left-back and looks to play a one-two with Pablo Osvaldo, but the Argentine striker's return pass is overhit and the ball runs into the hands of Marco Amelia.
6'
Here's a fun fact for you...Roma are the team which Milan have beaten the most in the history of the Serie A! 71 wins for Milan, 38 for Roma and 45 draws.
5'
Bright start from both sides who are looking to get the ball down and play some attacking football. Miralem Pjanic is seeing plenty of the ball in these opening exchanges.
3'
OH DEAR! Francesco Totti tries to play a short corner but manages to kick the ball out for a throw.
2'
Daniele De Rossi launches a long ball deep into the Milan half which is not dealt with by Yepes and Mexes, allowing Osvaldo to nip in, but Yepes recovers well to knock the ball behind for a corner.
1'
The final Serie A clash of 2012 is underway, let's hope for a game that will end the year in style...
MILAN NEARLY TAKE THE LEAD AFTER 38 SECONDS! Robinho finds Stephan El Shaarawy with a neat pass on the edge of the box and the 20-year-old bends a shot narrowly past the post. Bright start from Milan!
2012 has not been the best year for Roma and AC Milan fans but both sides have the opportunity tonight to end the year in style with a valuable three points. Two of Serie A's in-form sides face-off in the final league match of the calendar year, still in the hunt for a Champions League position. The Rossoneri are currently on a four-match winning streak but they face a Giallorossi outfit who have won four of their last five league matches. With only two points separating the two sides in sixth and seventh place, which team will be ahead over the winter break? My name is Max Bentley and I'll be bringing you all the action from the Stadio Olimpico. Feel free to let me know your thoughts and predictions on the match via Twitter @MaxBentley1. Which players will prove the difference today?
There has been a lot of speculation this week over the future of the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Robinho but both players start this evening. There is no starting berth however for Alexandre Pato, with talks of a potential move to FIFA World Club Cup champions Corinthians, seemingly on the cards. Tonight also sees the return of Philippe Mexes, who won the Coppa Italia for Roma in 2007 and 2008.
Without any further ado, here are tonight's lineups...
ROMA (4-3-3): Goicoechea; Piris, Marquinhos, Burdisso, Balzaretti; Bradley, De Rossi, Pjanic; Lamela, Osvaldo, Totti.
MILAN (4-3-3): Amelia; De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant; Montolivo, Ambrosini, Nocerino; Robinho, El Shaarawy, Boateng.
Stephan El Shaarawy has notched 14 goals in 17 league matches for Milan this season, the highest in the division. Pablo Osvaldo and Erik Lamela lead the goalscoring charts for Roma with eight goals apiece.
In this fixture last season, Milan claimed a 3-2 victory courtesy of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic double. Bojan was on the scoresheet for Roma that day but the Spaniard has to settle for a place on the Milan bench this evening.
Milan haven't won consecutive away games against Roma since 2005. Can Allegri's side end that run this evening? Feel free to tweet me throughout the match @MaxBentley1.
Fantastic atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico with the official Roma anthem booming around the stadium and plenty of wave-flagging from the home fans. It's Zeman vs Allegri, who will come out on top today?
Gianluca Rocchi is the man in charge of tonight's clash. He sent off Daniele De Rossi in the Rome derby against Lazio earlier this season.
HALF TIME: ROMA 3 - 0 MILAN. Zdenek Zeman's side are providing their fans with an early Christmas present with three first-half goals from their Argentine trio. Nicolas Burdisso nodded the home side in front on 13 minutes before Stephan El Shaarawy missed a guilt-edged chance to level the scoreline. Pablo Osvaldo demostrated his aerial prowess to double the Giallorossi's lead before Erik Lamela's ninth league goal of the season made it three. Daniele De Rossi and Michael Bradley have been imperious in the heart of midfield although the home side have shown glimpses of vulnerability at the back. Can Milan stage a comeback in the second half? Let me know your thoughts via Twitter @MaxBentley1.
The home crowd give their players a standing ovation as they return to the pitch for the second half. No signs of any substitutions for Milan although Giampaolo Pazzini enjoyed a long warm-up during the interval.
FULL TIME: ROMA 4 - 2 MILAN. Relief around the Stadio Olimpico as Gianluca Rocchi calls time on one of the matches of the season. Four goals up, Roma were making a mockery of this Milan side but Marquinhos' red card set up a late scare for the hosts who could have been reduced to nine men when Mauro Goicoechea brought down Giampaolo Pazzini in the box in the 87th minute. The striker's penalty and a goal for Bojan on his return to his former club set up a shaky finale but Zdenek Zeman's side clung on for a valuable three points which moves them five points ahead of Milan. Daniele De Rossi and Michael Bradley were imperious in the Roma midfield whilst Erik Lamela once again showed why he is becoming one of the hottest young prospects in European football.
Massimiliano Allegri will be disappointed to end 2012 with a defeat but it now gives him an opportunity to dip into the transfer market and bolster his squad for when the Serie A recommences on January 6. On tonight's showing, a centre-back and a central midfielder would certainly help!
That's all from me, Max Bentley, on what has been a wonderful advert for Italian football. Have yourselves a wonderful Christmas. Until next time, goodbye!
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