from channel4.com:
Quote:
Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Udinese-Milan
Stadio Friuli
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The spotlight will be on Alexandre Pato once again when Milan take on Udinese at the Stadio Friuli. The young Brazilian sensation marked his competitive debut for the Rossoneri with a goal against Napoli in a 5-2 victory which was their first at San Siro since last April.
It still wasn’t enough to push them out of the bottom half of the table, although Carlo Ancelotti’s men do have three games in hand on most of the rest of Serie A so it seems only a matter of time before they start climbing the ladder. And the Diavolo will fancy their chances of leaving Friuli with the three points as their away form has been impressive this season.
However, if Milan’s Brazilian trident of Kaka, Pato and Ronaldo aren’t firing then breaking through the Zebrette’s rear guard could prove tough, given that Andrea Pirlo is sitting out a one-match suspension. The man to replace calcio’s equivalent of a quarter-back is Gennaro Gattuso, who has plenty of heart but is hardly the man to unlock a defence with a slide-rule pass. That is expected to be the only change to the starting XI which tore Napoli to pieces.
Udinese boss Pasquale Marino has worked wonders since arriving last summer from Catania, pushing the Friuli boys up into contention for a Champions League spot. Despite usually operating with a three-pronged attack, it is actually defence which has been their strong point this term. A solid backline was certainly needed against bottom side Cagliari at the weekend, seeing as the Friuliani had to play with 10 men for an hour after Diaz Felipe’s dismissal. Despite that, Fabio Quagliarella’s seventh goal of the campaign was enough to secure the victory.
Felipe, as you probably guessed, is now suspended so he will be unable to take on the side who have been linked with a move for him in the past – his indiscipline certainly isn’t doing him any favours, as he now has seven yellow cards and two dismissals to his name this term. Andrea Coda benefits from this and will make his 10th appearance of the season. Gokhan Inler, who had previously missed just one game, also sits out a ban so that hands Finnish ace Roman Eremenko an opportunity to stake his claim for a first-team place.
History doesn’t bode too well for Udinese in this fixture though. Milan’s last two trips to the Stadio Friuli have seen them emerge victorious on both occasions, with an aggregate score of 7-0! Add in a 5-1 home win for the Rossoneri in 2005 and the fact that the Zebrette have gone five years without a victory in front of their own fans against Milan and it doesn’t make good reading for Marino and Co. The neutrals, however, can take heart from this statistic – there has been only one goalless draw between the sides since the turn of the century.
Keep an eye on: Alexandre Pato (Milan) – Who else was it going to be? The kid is mustard and is looking more than capable of living up to the hype, so expect more fireworks this weekend.
Last season: Udinese 0-3 Milan
Form guide: Udinese (L W L D W) Milan (D W D L W)
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Udinese (probable): Handanovic; Zapata, Coda, Lukovic; Mesto, D'Agostino, Eremenko, Dossena; Pepe, Di Natale, Quagliarella
Milan (probable): Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini; Kaka; Pato, Ronaldo
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Going to be another cracker, and all eyes will be on our brazilian trident, Quagliarella and mayb Di Natale..
While I am hoping Quag has a good game (so we then end up buying him), I hope that he is subdued enough by Rino and Co. to not cause us too much harm.
This is another stern test for Milan, who are facing yet another team above them in the table, and this time, with or without the 9 points from the as yet unplayed 3 matches missed due to our participation in the World Club Cup.
So, a 6 pointer then, and if my info is accurate, we have no injuries or suspensions to worry about (maybe apart from Marek, who may still not be fit)...
It will be interesting to see if Carlo opts for the 4-1-2-1-2 formation, or if he goes with the Xmas tree...
Somehow, I think after the success of the Ka-Po-Ro partnership, that he will employ it again, at least until we are comfortably in the lead, and I wouldnt object to that policy in the slightest.
Unfortunately, methinks we will only be able to see the game vis streaming (ie those of us in the "New" World at any rate)...as Rai (from whom GolTV and FSC both get their Serie A matches) will be showing the Inter and Juve matches.
Any streaming links for the game would therefore be greately appreciated.
Prediction: Hmmmm this is a close one...I would bet on a draw, were I placing money on the match, but since I am not, I think I will say:
We will win this one, especially if Udine make the mistake of attacking us, instead of counter-attacking...which they may well do, considering that they are playing at home.
FORZA MIIIIIIIIIILAN!!