Seria A: Ac Milan v Udinese
MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A Week 4 - 17 Sep 2017 (14.00 UK)
Milan - Udinese
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Udinese
Milan
Milan got back on track in the Europa League and now have to prove the Lazio defeat was a blip as they host Udinese.
After a breath-taking summer transfer campaign in which they signed a host of stars such as Mateo Musacchio, Ricardo Rodriguez, Franck Kessie, Lucas Biglia, Nikola Kalinic and Leonardo Bonucci, Milan came crashing back to earth last weekend against Lazio in a crushing 4-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
Perhaps most worrying for the Rossoneri and Coach Vincenzo Montella was the apparent mental collapse after Lazio opened the scoring. The Diavolo thereafter crumbled to lose another three goals inside 12 minutes and render the remaining 40 minutes a case of damage limitation. Montella managed to rebuild confidence and improve the understanding between his newly assembled squad with Thursday’s 5-1 demolition of Austria Vienna, Andre Silva bagging a hat-trick and Kalinic getting his first start.
The move to 3-5-2 was always on the cards once Bonucci arrived from Juventus, but Alessio Romagnoli’s fitness problems meant the implementation was delayed. The key appears to be giving Hakan Calhanoglu a free role to drift behind the strikers, where he excelled in Vienna, providing goals and assists. If he is rested in favour of Jack Bonaventura, then it remains to be seen how the same system works without him.
As for Udinese, they will be far from satisfied with their stuttering start to the campaign. Coach Luigi Del Neri saw his side begin with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Chievo followed up by a 3-2 reverse away to newly promoted Spal. They eventually registered a welcome if unconvincing 1-0 win over Genoa at the Dacia Arena. At least the Zebras can look to the clean sheet as a signal of normal service being resumed, as they have made defensive discipline a bedrock under Del Neri.
Udinese come in to this one with Giuseppe Pezzella suspended, while both Silvan Widmer and Croatian forward Stipe Perica are out through injury. A likely midfield selection of Valon Behrami, Antonin Barak and Jakub Jankto will need to use all their physicality and durability to prevent Milan’s creative play from opening up the Zebras. Del Neri will look to the experience and nous of Maxi Lopez in attack to give him an out ball and ease the pressure defensively.
It’s certainly a tough task for the Friuliani, but far from a hopeless one as they face a Milan side still under construction.
Keep an eye on: Nikola Kalinic (Milan) – He arrived late to the party from Fiorentina and only got his first start on Thursday in Vienna, so will be eager to get in on the goal-scoring action as soon as possible. The hard-working Croatia international brings totally different characteristics to the man he replaced, Carlos Bacca.
Form guide: Milan (L W W - -) Udinese (W L L - -)
Last season: Milan 0-1 Udinese
Stat fact: Udinese have a surprisingly good record against Milan at San Siro in recent times. They have won three and drawn three of their last 10 visits, admittedly two of the victories being in Coppa Italia ties in 2009-10 and 2013-14.
Milan (probable): Donnarumma; Musacchio, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Abate, Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura, Ricardo Rodriguez; Suso, Kalinic
Suspended: None
Udinese (probable): Scuffet; Larsen, Danilo, Nuytinck, Samir; Behrami, Barak, Jankto; Lasagna, Maxi Lopez, De Paul
Suspended: Pezzella
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