Serie A: AC Milan v Udinese

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Serie A Week 24 - 7 Feb 2016 (14.00 UK)
Milan - Udinese
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Udinese
Milan

Milan will be hoping to make it three wins on the trot as they welcome Udinese to San Siro this Sunday.

A win over Inter in the Derby della Madonnina was followed up with a hard-fought victory versus Palermo midweek has Siniša Mihajlović’s side – and Rossoneri fans – feeling a bit more confident as they hope to chase down a European football spot. This is only the second time all season that Milan have been able to win back-to-back matches (the first was against Udinese and then Palermo) and they have only earned nine points out of nine on one occasion (against Sassuolo, Chievo, and Lazio).

Victory against Udinese would move them ahead of Roma into fifth – albeit temporarily – and will certainly help to lift the spirits of everyone involved with the fallen giants this season. Two seasons without featuring on the continent have left fans and the management – namely vocal president Silvio Berlusconi – restless and although there are many more games left to play, earning another three points on Sunday will help them to move one step closer towards their objectives at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, gone are the days that Udinese were battling the “bigger sides” for third place. The steam appears to have run out of the Zebrette, who finished in 16th last season and are not doing any better this time around. With just one win so far in 2016, Stefano Colantuono’s troops suffered two back-to-back humiliating losses against Lazio and Palermo and whilst they have bounced back with stalemates in their past two games, the feeling around the Friuli camp is certainly not one of optimism.

Both teams will be gunning for all three points in this fixture for vastly different reasons. For one side, a victory after a long spell of bad results can do wonders in revitalising their season. And for the other, they will need all the positive momentum they can get, especially given that there is a tough clash with Napoli looming on the horizon.

Keep an eye on: Carlos Bacca (Milan) — Whilst most of the focus has been on Gonzalo Higuain’s exploits with Napoli, Carlos Bacca has been quietly proving his worth to the Rossoneri cause. The ex-Sevilla man has netted in the team’s past four league games and appears to be building up a good understanding with youngster M’Baye Niang in attack.

Form guide: Milan (W W D W D) Udinese (D D L L L)

Last season: Milan 2-0 Udinese

Stat fact: Out of Udinese’s 12 away games so far, only two have had them leading at half-time; by contrast, they have been on the losing end at the half-time break in six of their matches.

Milan (probable): Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Honda, Montolivo, Kucka, Boateng; Bacca, Niang

Suspended: None

Udinese (probable): Karnezis; Wague, Danilo, Felipe; Edenilson, Badu, Lodi, Kuzmanovic, Armero; Zapata, Thereau

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Bonaventura injured out. Most likely Boateng to replace him.
Important game, since Fiorentina drew 1-1 with Bologna. good chance to tighten gap to spot 3.