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| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
| AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Nocerino, van Bommel, Seedorf; Aquilani; Pato, Cassano |
Coach Massimiliano Allegri continues to be faced with a mounting injury list, which sees the young tactician still without the services of Mathieu Flamini, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However, Daniele Bonera is expected to be dropped in favour of Luca Antonini at left-back, despite Taye Taiwo being in contention once again. Filippo Inzaghi could also feature at some point during proceedings on Wednesday.
| Udinese (3-5-1-1): Handanovic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Agyemang-Badu, Pinzi, Isla, Armero; Torje; Di Natale |
The Zebrette are likely to be without Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, who picked up a knock during their impressive 2-0 win over Fiorentina at the weekend, so Mauricio Isla will move to the middle, with Dusan Basta taking up the reins on the right-hand side of midfield. In addition to their injury woes, Damiano Ferronetti, Giovanni Pasquale and Antonio Floro Flores still have a further week until their respective comebacks.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
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Milan have won just one of their past five meetings with Udinese in Serie A.
- The 3-1 loss to Napoli last week was only Milan's second during the calendar year in the league.
- Only once in the past 13 seasons had the Diavolo previously failed to win any of their first two games.
- However, Milan remain unbeaten at home in Serie A throughout 2011, winning seven times and drawing four.
- Currently, Milan have the joint-worst defensive record in domestic matters, having conceded five.
- This is in stark contrast to Udinese, who have kept clean sheets in their first two games.
- The Zebrette are unbeaten in the last five league matches, including a 100 per cent record so far this season.
- The last time Udinese won their first two games of the season was in 2005-06, with wins against Empoli and Roma.
- Udinese have failed to win in their past four clashes against Milan in all competitions.
Udinese won't have a better chance of beating the Serie A champions for the forseeable future, so what better time to do it than three games into the new season. Milan's lack of mobility and movement in the middle of the park could be heavily exposed by the tenacious Badu, Isla and Asamoah. Also, Torje and Di Natale are beginning to strike up a deadly partnership for the Zebrette, in stark contrast to Milan, who are suffering from a lack of first-choice attackers in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng, so it should make for a fascinating encounter, but in the favour of Francesco Guidolin's side.
Editor's Prediction
AC Milan 1-2 Udinese 
