Sports Mole preview Saturday’s Serie A clash between AC Milan and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
After winning the Scudetto in May for the first time in over a decade, AC Milan start defending her crown against Udinese Saturday night.
San Siro will host the champion’s competitive debut for the 2022-23 season, with the Rossoneri under pressure to start with a win.
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To make up for failing to keep up the pace 12 months earlier, Milan scored six straight wins at the end of last season to keep arch-rivals Inter at bay and clinch their first league title in 11 years.
Popular trainer Stefan Pioli was the architect of a largely youthful team – spearheaded by a handful of wily veterans – that helped the former Lazio manager win his first major title after many years of trying.
Pioli managed to do this on a budget too, and despite his success last season – and money from a long-overdue Champions League campaign – there was no summer generosity at the San Siro.
Influential midfielder Frank Kessy left to join the revolution in Barcelona while Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out until next year after knee surgery. In response, the Rossoneri hierarchy sanctioned the Liverpool signings Divock Origi and another Belgian star, Charles De Ketelaere.
The latter joins Milanello for a budget-busting £30m but Milan still have a thinner squad than possible title rivals Inter or Juventus – even Roma are building a larger selection this year Jose Mourinho.
Nonetheless, the pre-season went smoothly for the champions as they warmed up to defend their title by winning four out of five games and bringing home 17 goals.
Milan have also lost just one of their last 10 league games against Udinese, so start as heavy favorites to start the new season on the right foot.
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After February’s win share at the San Siro, Udinese have actually beaten their Rossonero rivals with straight 1-1 draws, but they’ve also won just one of their last six Serie A games on the opening day.
The Fruilani start 2022-23 in similar form to most years after several players elsewhere agreed terms, with unannounced substitutes being drawn from far and wide.
Nahuel MolinaIn his impressive season, the Argentina international secured a move to Atletico Madrid – where he became captain Rodrigo de Paul went last year – during Gerard Deulofeu could still leave, although a move to Napoli did not materialize. More positive however, talented full-back destiny udogie will sign for Tottenham Hotspur but stays at Udine for a year on loan.
Undoubtedly Udinese – 12th most recently – remain a sales side content to avoid relegation without jeopardizing European places. However, they have moved on to their third manager within a few months Luca Gotti was fired in December and replaced by an assistant Gabrielle Coffi.
When Verona approached Cioffi as a replacement for ex-coach Udinese Igor Tudor former Bianconeri defender this summer Andrea Sotil takes his place on the coaching bench after spending a productive stint in Friuli around the turn of the century.
In Sottil’s competitive debut last Friday, Udinese edged past Serie C’s Feralpisalo in the Coppa Italia. After a 2-1 win, they face either Monza or Frosinone in the second round in October.
Form of AC Milan (all competitions):
Udinese form (all competitions):
Team News
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Since Franck Kessie still has to be replaced and Sandro Tonali misses the season opener due to injury, Milan has to improvise in midfield, with Rad Krunik and the return Tommaso Pobega to be the top contenders to replace the latter.
Tonali has been training individually with long-term absentee Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Milanello, while new signing Divock Origi has also just returned from injury.
Because of this, Oliver Giroud should lead the line forward, but Ant Rebic is back on standby as a centre-forward after having played there several times. Star signing Charles De Ketelaere will hope to back the frontman but his Serie A career is expected to start on the bench.
Although new Udinese coach Andrea Sottil has historically favored a back four, the visitors played in their familiar 3-5-2 formation against Feralpisalo in last week’s Coppa Italia and should do the same at the San Siro.
Like Milan, the Bianconeri will field a similar starting XI to last season, with Destiny Udogie still working down the left flank and Gerard Deulofeu the biggest attacking threat after scoring 13 goals in 34 Serie A games in 2021-22.
From the newcomers Jaka Bijol (from CSKA Moscow) and Adam Masina (Watford) will most likely start with an Irish couple Festive Ebosele and James Abankwah both content themselves with a place among the substitutes.
AC Milan possible starting line-up:
Maignan; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Krunic; Messiah, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
Udinese possible starting line-up:
Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Masina; Soppy, Pereyra, Walace, Makengo, Udogie; Deulofeu, success
We say AC Milan 2-1 Udinese
Milan may have been underwhelmed in the transfer market but they have a well-defined style of play that has proven effective over the past two years.
A home game against relatively modest opponents should therefore be a gift to start the new season, but Udinese can be a tricky customer and are not easily dealt with.
For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, goal scores and more for this game, please click here.
top tip
Our experienced tipsters at Sporita.com predict a home win in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their football best tips.Home win: data