Kaka’s 100th Goal and Rossoneri Romance

 Upon Kaka’s return to Italy, AC Milan tweeted “some romances never end,” hoping the love story between the once world beating Brazilian and the Rossoneri would once again reach a successful conclusion.

Three months into his second trip, it appears that may have been the case.

After taking a wage cut to return to Serie A, the scoring of the former Real Madrid man’s 100th and 101st goals in the league for Milan was a reaffirmation that he is where he is meant to be at Milan. Kaka has scored five goals and registered two assists in 10 starts in Serie A, having his best game in the 3-0 win over Atalanta with a performance of technique and nostalgic style.

Kaka may have sparked just in time as the football World Cup 2014 will be played in his home country - Brazil.

Kaka has been a lone shaft of light in an otherwise murky, plodding season and while there is no flash of lightning pace like in his first stint for Milan, the touch, guile and finesse are all very much intact. His finish for the century, a fluid combination of a silky first touch and an unconscious, slide rule finish that only he out of the entire Milan side on the pitch bar Mario Balotelli would’ve been able to pull off.  Once again, Kaka is the lead Thespian in the La Scala of Italian football.

The value of a returning hero like Kaka is not something that is measured by statistic, but in the intangible qualities of charisma and leadership a inexperienced and shell-shocked Milan locker room was crying out for, without the absence of the veteran stalwarts maintaining discipline and professionalism.

Kaka - AC Milan v AtalantaThe 3-0 victory against Atalanta saw Kaka directing green-fingered midfielder Bryan Cristante, talking him through positioning and verbally instructing him throughout the game. When the young regista pushed forward and hit a daisy-cutter that evaded Andrea Consigli in the Atalanta goal it was Kaka who the youngster immediately turned to, pointing and embracing.

Whereas the appointed captain Riccardo Montolivo has played like a shadow of his 2012/13 self, perhaps somewhat buried by the pressure and expectancy that accompanies the responsibility of a leadership role in a team he is only in the second year of playing for, Kaka’s comfort with the armband and roles that accompany it speak volumes.

Kaka was the hero as he opened the scoring with his 100th AC Milan goal before adding another as the Rossoneri beat Atalanta 3-0.

The Brazilian held a Milan shirt with his name and No 100 printed on the back after squeezing home from a tight angle.

Hot prospect Bryan Cristante grabbed the third, smashing home from distance, in off the base of the left-hand post.

There is more than a touch of sentimentality when regarding Kaka’s return to Milan and while he has not set Serie A alight since his return, his steady contribution of creativity and technique have rescued a bit of class for a side that has lost it in spades over the last few seasons.

Kaka ©ESPN

There is something right about seeing the number 22, emblazoned on the back of a red and black jersey with a white “C” wrapped around the sleeve. There is something that feels natural about the familiar smile lighting up San Siro, rather than covered by a Real Madrid scarf, lost on a bench.

Like Milan tweeted in September, “some romances never end” and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Just like the first time, football just feels better with Kaka back playing consistent football and the Brazilian at the fulcrum of operations at Via Turati is a gratifying positive in a season where those moments are few and far between.

Andrea Mandorlini's side beat Lazio 4-1 in their last match before the winter break and they were 3-1 victors at Udinese on Monday.

Luca Toni put Hellas on their way with two early goals before Roberto Pereyra pegged one back before the break. Juan Iturbe put the result beyond doubt by knocking in Hellas' third 20 minutes from time.

Genoa ended an almost two-month wait for a win in Serie A by beating Sassuolo, 2-0.

Alberto Gilardino scored the opener from the penalty spot before Alberto Bertolacci made it 2-0 before the interval.

Gilardino then saw another penalty saved by Gianluca Pegolo.

Torino's three-match winning streak came to an end in a 3-1 defeat at Parma.

The hosts' Marco Marchionni cancelled out Ciro Immobile's opener in the 34th minute before goals from Alessandro Lucarelli and Amauri wrapped up the victory for the Parma.

Serie A's bottom club Catania stopped the rot with a 2-0 victory over Bologna.

The victory was their first since November 9.