European football preview: Kaka set for AC Milan start

AC Milan's Kaka
13 September 2013Last updated at 14:41 GMT


Brazil midfielder Kaka is poised to start for AC Milan this weekend in his first Serie A match since returning to Italy from Real Madrid.
The 2007 World Player of the Year, 31, who rejoined Milan on a two-year deal on 2 September, left for Real in 2009 for a then-world record £56m.
"I think he'll be a starter," said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose sixth-placed side face Torino.
"He's in good physical shape. He's a bit excited for his debut."

Returning hero Kaka

  • Born: 22 April 1982
  • Previous clubs: Sao Paulo, Real Madrid
  • Joined Milan in 2003 for his first spell
  • Made 268 appearances in six seasons at the Rossoneri, scoring 95 goals
  • Honours: one Serie A title, one Uefa Champions League, one Uefa Super Cup, one Fifa Club World Cup
Kaka, who won the Champions League and a league title during a six-year spell with Milan, admits he feels "like a kid" ahead of his return.
And he insists he will be able to fit in to the current team alongside young Italy attacking duo Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy.
"It's been a good week and we're working well," he said. "I've met both Balotelli and El Shaarawy and they seem good guys. We can all play together. There's a lot of respect among the players here."
Milan have one win and one defeat from their opening two league matches, with Roma leading the early-season table after two victories.
The Giallorossi travel to winless Parma on Monday, but the biggest match of the weekend sees Inter Milan host defending champions Juventuson Saturday.
Both teams also boast 100% winning starts, along with Napoli andFiorentina, who face home games against Atlanta and Cagliari respectively.

Spain

Real Madrid
Real Madrid are aiming to extend their winning start to La Liga season to a fourth game when they visit Villarreal in a top-of the-table clash.
And they will have world-record signing Gareth Bale among their ranks after coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Welshman will make his debut on Saturday.
Villarreal, in their first season back among the Spanish top flight,have also won their opening three games and sit in third place, putting them above Real on goal difference.
Leaders Barcelona welcome Sevilla, who have yet to record a victory in their opening three games, to the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Barca boss Gerardo Martino has recalled skipper Xavi and Alexis Sanchez after the pair were rested for the exciting 3-2 win at Valencia.
However, forward Pedro has not been named in the 20-man squad as Martino continues to rotate his squad.
Elsewhere, second-placed Atletico Madrid host newly-promotedAlmeria.

Germany

Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has backed his side to return to winning ways in Saturday's home match against Hannover.
The German treble winners surprisingly dropped their first points of the new Bundesliga season in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg.
Pep Guardiola's men are second after four games and trail arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, who have won all of their opening matches, by two points.
"It's a shame we dropped two points at Freiburg," said Netherlands international Robben.
"We have to make sure we don't leave ourselves open to the counter [against Hannover].

Key European fixtures

Friday
  • Bordeaux v Paris St-Germain (19:30 BST)
Saturday
  • Bayern Munich v Hannover (14:30)
  • Inter Milan v Juventus (17:00)
  • Barcelona v Sevilla (19:00)
  • Torino v AC Milan (19:45)
  • Villarreal v Real Madrid (21:00)
"It's down to us, it's not about Dortmund. Of course we always want to be number one, but to do so we have to win our games."
Robben has shrugged off an ankle injury, while Guardiola is also hoping that Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit after a similar injury.
But the Spanish boss is already without four injured midfielders - Mario Gotze, Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and Jan Kirchoff.
Borussia Dortmund host Hamburg on Saturday with concerns over Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, who injured knee ligaments on international duty.
"It has got better, but it's still not good, it'll be close," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.
Striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to be fit after suffering a knee strain, while midfielder Marco Reus has trained after missing Germany's World Cup qualifier against Faroe Islands on Tuesday with an upset stomach.

France

Laurent Blanc and Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain coach Laurent Blanc makes his first return to the club where he started his coaching career when the French champions faceBordeaux on Friday.
Blanc enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Bordeaux between 2007 and 2010, winning the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup in 2009 and reaching the 2010 Champions League quarter-finals, before leaving to become France coach.
Since replacing Real Madrid-bound Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, Blanc has led PSG to two wins and two draws in their opening four games.
But the fourth-placed side will be without injured pair Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore against Les Girondins.
France forward Menez has yet to make an appearance this season after back surgery, while Argentina midfielder Pastore is suffering from a foot injury.
Table-toppers Monaco, who have taken 10 points in four matchesfollowing their lavish summer spending, host Lorient on Sunday.
On Saturday, second-placed Marseille travel to Toulouse, while third-placed St Etienne visit Valenciennes.
first appeared on bbc.co.uk

European football preview: Kaka set for AC Milan start

AC Milan's Kaka
13 September 2013Last updated at 14:41 GMT


Brazil midfielder Kaka is poised to start for AC Milan this weekend in his first Serie A match since returning to Italy from Real Madrid.
The 2007 World Player of the Year, 31, who rejoined Milan on a two-year deal on 2 September, left for Real in 2009 for a then-world record £56m.
"I think he'll be a starter," said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose sixth-placed side face Torino.
"He's in good physical shape. He's a bit excited for his debut."

Returning hero Kaka

  • Born: 22 April 1982
  • Previous clubs: Sao Paulo, Real Madrid
  • Joined Milan in 2003 for his first spell
  • Made 268 appearances in six seasons at the Rossoneri, scoring 95 goals
  • Honours: one Serie A title, one Uefa Champions League, one Uefa Super Cup, one Fifa Club World Cup
Kaka, who won the Champions League and a league title during a six-year spell with Milan, admits he feels "like a kid" ahead of his return.
And he insists he will be able to fit in to the current team alongside young Italy attacking duo Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy.
"It's been a good week and we're working well," he said. "I've met both Balotelli and El Shaarawy and they seem good guys. We can all play together. There's a lot of respect among the players here."
Milan have one win and one defeat from their opening two league matches, with Roma leading the early-season table after two victories.
The Giallorossi travel to winless Parma on Monday, but the biggest match of the weekend sees Inter Milan host defending champions Juventuson Saturday.
Both teams also boast 100% winning starts, along with Napoli andFiorentina, who face home games against Atlanta and Cagliari respectively.

Spain

Real Madrid
Real Madrid are aiming to extend their winning start to La Liga season to a fourth game when they visit Villarreal in a top-of the-table clash.
And they will have world-record signing Gareth Bale among their ranks after coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Welshman will make his debut on Saturday.
Villarreal, in their first season back among the Spanish top flight,have also won their opening three games and sit in third place, putting them above Real on goal difference.
Leaders Barcelona welcome Sevilla, who have yet to record a victory in their opening three games, to the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Barca boss Gerardo Martino has recalled skipper Xavi and Alexis Sanchez after the pair were rested for the exciting 3-2 win at Valencia.
However, forward Pedro has not been named in the 20-man squad as Martino continues to rotate his squad.
Elsewhere, second-placed Atletico Madrid host newly-promotedAlmeria.

Germany

Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has backed his side to return to winning ways in Saturday's home match against Hannover.
The German treble winners surprisingly dropped their first points of the new Bundesliga season in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg.
Pep Guardiola's men are second after four games and trail arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, who have won all of their opening matches, by two points.
"It's a shame we dropped two points at Freiburg," said Netherlands international Robben.
"We have to make sure we don't leave ourselves open to the counter [against Hannover].

Key European fixtures

Friday
  • Bordeaux v Paris St-Germain (19:30 BST)
Saturday
  • Bayern Munich v Hannover (14:30)
  • Inter Milan v Juventus (17:00)
  • Barcelona v Sevilla (19:00)
  • Torino v AC Milan (19:45)
  • Villarreal v Real Madrid (21:00)
"It's down to us, it's not about Dortmund. Of course we always want to be number one, but to do so we have to win our games."
Robben has shrugged off an ankle injury, while Guardiola is also hoping that Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit after a similar injury.
But the Spanish boss is already without four injured midfielders - Mario Gotze, Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and Jan Kirchoff.
Borussia Dortmund host Hamburg on Saturday with concerns over Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, who injured knee ligaments on international duty.
"It has got better, but it's still not good, it'll be close," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.
Striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to be fit after suffering a knee strain, while midfielder Marco Reus has trained after missing Germany's World Cup qualifier against Faroe Islands on Tuesday with an upset stomach.

France

Laurent Blanc and Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain coach Laurent Blanc makes his first return to the club where he started his coaching career when the French champions faceBordeaux on Friday.
Blanc enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Bordeaux between 2007 and 2010, winning the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup in 2009 and reaching the 2010 Champions League quarter-finals, before leaving to become France coach.
Since replacing Real Madrid-bound Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, Blanc has led PSG to two wins and two draws in their opening four games.
But the fourth-placed side will be without injured pair Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore against Les Girondins.
France forward Menez has yet to make an appearance this season after back surgery, while Argentina midfielder Pastore is suffering from a foot injury.
Table-toppers Monaco, who have taken 10 points in four matchesfollowing their lavish summer spending, host Lorient on Sunday.
On Saturday, second-placed Marseille travel to Toulouse, while third-placed St Etienne visit Valenciennes.
first appeared on bbc.co.uk

Gareth Bale to make Real Madrid debut on Saturday - Ancelotti



World-record signing Gareth Bale will make his debut for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Saturday, coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed.
The 24-year-old joined Real from Tottenham for £85.3m on 1 September but has not played a full match yet this season because of a foot injury.
He managed 32 minutes in Wales' 3-0 defeat by Serbia on Tuesday.

Bale's season-by-season Premier League stats

Gareth Bale
  • 2012-13: Played 33, goals 21, assists four
  • 2011-12: Played 36, goals nine, assists 10
  • 2010-11: Played 30, goals seven, assists one
  • 2009-10: Played 23, goals three, assists five
  • 2008-09: Played 16, goals 0, assists 0
  • 2007-08: Played eight, goals two, assists 0
"Bale will travel and will play. I'm not sure if he will start or come off from the bench," said Ancelotti.
The Italian also confirmed in a media conference on Friday that he plans to play Bale as a right-sided attacker.
"Bale came here without having a normal pre-season, but his condition is not bad," added the ex-Chelsea manager. "He has no injuries, he is excited and very motivated.
"He's arrived full of enthusiasm and he is very happy to be at the team he wanted to join. He is a humble player who likes to be with his team-mates. He fits in well with the squad."
On Thursday, Bale said he hoped to be fit enough to start at Villarreal as visitors Real look to stretch their 100% winning start in La Liga to a fourth match.
"Obviously [after signing] I went straight away on international duty, which probably wasn't the best, but I've been back in the last two days now," he added.
"The boys have been very nice to me and made me settle quickly and it's just an honour to be here.
"I feel good. I've been training with Wales. I've had two good sessions [at Madrid on Wednesday].
"I'm a bit behind everybody else physically but hopefully I can catch up as soon as possible."
Bale's price tag meant he overtook new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's most expensive footballer. The Portuguese joined Real for £80m from Manchester United in 2009.
Of meeting Ronaldo, Bale said: "It was amazing. He's a nice guy, he made me feel welcome just like everybody else did.
"I'm just looking forward to getting on the pitch and doing well."
Real, who have won their first three league matches, visit Turkish side Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.
first appeared on bbc.co.uk