2 vs 1
Played
February 3, 2013 9:45 PM SAST
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee:‬ P. Valeri‎
Attendance:‬ 35152‎
 
25′ Mario Balotelli
Giampiero Pinzi 55′
90+4′ (PG) Mario Balotelli
 

AC Milan-Udinese Preview: Balotelli arrival sparks Rossoneri optimism

Massimiliano Allegri's side at last appear to have put their early season struggles behind them and head into the game on a run of three wins from their last four outings

By Alec Fenn

More On :  AC Milan, Udinese, AC Milan vs Udinese
Milan celebrating
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AC MILAN

Abbiati
Abate, Bonera, Zapata, Constant
Flamini, Montolivo, Boateng
Niang, Pazzini, El Shaarawy
UDINESE
Padelli
Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi, Pasquale
Basta, Pinzi, Allan, Lazzari
Muriel
Di Natale

Regardless of the result on Sunday, in years to come the last seven days will always be remembered for the signing of Mario Balotelli.

The arrival of the former Inter man was a timely and symbolic reminder that AC Milan still have the ambition and allure to attract players of the highest quality to San Siro, at a time when many supporters feared quite the opposite.

Balotelli is likely to start on the bench for the Rossoneri, which means Giampaolo Pazzini will be handed the opportunity to continue his run of three goals in his last three Serie A appearances.

Udinese welcome back Mehdi Benatia from AFCON duty, with the defender set to go straight into the starting XI, while Luis Muriel should partner Antonio Di Natale upfront.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • AC Milan have won six of their last seven league games at San Siro.

  • The Rossoneri splashed out a reported €22 million on Mario Balotelli (right) on Tuesday as they bid to continue their rise up the Serie A table.
  • Massimiliano Allegri's side go into the game sat in fifth spot in the league table and only three points adrift of arch-rivals Inter.

  • Udinese finished third last season but have been inconsistent this term and sit in ninth place ahead of Sunday's trip to San Siro.

  • Antonio Di Natale now has 14 goals for the campaign at the grand age of 35-years-old.
  • The Zebrette were 2-1 winners in the first meeting between the two sides back in September.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • AC Milan 2-0 Udinese
    24.35 %
  • AC Milan 3-1 Udinese
    15.64 %
  • AC Milan 2-1 Udinese
    14.19 %
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 03 Feb 2013 AC Milan 2 - Udinese 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 23 Sep 2012 Udinese 2 - AC Milan 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 11 Feb 2012 Udinese 1 - AC Milan 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 21 Sep 2011 AC Milan 1 - Udinese 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 22 May 2011 Udinese 0 - AC Milan 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
AC Milan
12 May 2013AC Milan 0 - Roma 0ITA1
08 May 2013Pescara 0 - AC Milan 4ITA1
05 May 2013AC Milan 1 - Torino 0ITA1
28 Apr 2013AC Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
21 Apr 2013Juventus 1 - AC Milan 0ITA1
Udinese
12 May 2013Udinese 2 - Atalanta 1ITA1
08 May 2013Palermo 2 - Udinese 3ITA1
05 May 2013Udinese 3 - Sampdoria 1ITA1
27 Apr 2013Cagliari 0 - Udinese 1ITA1
20 Apr 2013Udinese 1 - Lazio 0ITA1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Marco AmeliaGoalkeeper
17Cristian ZapataDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
25Daniele BoneraDefender
8Antonio NocerinoMidfielder
16Mathieu FlaminiMidfielder
18Riccardo MontolivoMidfielder
21Kevin Constant Midfielder
11Giampaolo PazziniStriker
92Stephan El ShaarawyMidfielder
9L. NiangGoalkeeper
45Mario BalotelliStriker
32Christian AbbiatiGoalkeeper
-Lazar PetkovicGoalkeeper
76Mario Alberto YepesDefender
77Luca AntoniniDefender
2Cristian ZaccardoDefender
4Sulley Ali MuntariMidfielder
12Bakaye TraoréMidfielder
23Massimo AmbrosiniMidfielder
7RobinhoStriker
22Bojan KrkicStriker
21Daniele PadelliGoalkeeper
5DaniloDefender
8Dušan BastaDefender
11Maurizio DomizziDefender
34Gabriel SilvaDefender
75Thomas HeurtauxDefender
3AllanMidfielder
21Andrea LazzariMidfielder
66Giampiero PinziMidfielder
10Antonio Di NataleStriker
24MurielStriker
-Alessandro FavaroGoalkeeper
-Simone ScuffetGoalkeeper
4Gabriele AngellaDefender
17Mehdi BenatiaDefender
26Giovanni PasqualeDefender
6Marco FaraoniDefender
37Roberto PereyraMidfielder
-Alexander MerkelMidfielder
77MaicosuelMidfielder
94Piotr ZielinskiMidfielder
13Mathias RanégieStriker
22M. CamposStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli 		28 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese 		22 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma 		16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan 		16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta 		15 5