Mario Balotelli starts for Milan, as Giampaolo Pazzini picked up an injury in the warm-up, as they take on Udinese.
Mario Balotelli starts for Milan, as Giampaolo Pazzini picked up an injury in the warm-up, as they take on Udinese.
The Rossoneri fans were partying in the streets this week when Balotelli completed his transfer from Manchester City for €20m plus performance-related bonuses.
SuperMario already scored his first goal in a Thursday friendly against a Serie D side and is a lifelong Milan supporter. He had been on the bench, but was promoted to start when Pazzini picked up a muscular problem in the warm-up.
Philippe Mexes, Mattia De Sciglio, Nigel De Jong and Didac Vila are injured, while Christian Abbiati and Kevin-Prince Boateng are suffering from flu symptoms.
Udinese must do without Zeljko Brkic and Emmanuel Badu, though Mehdi Benatia returns from African Cup of Nations duty.
Antonio Di Natale is again supported by Colombian Luis Muriel, but they change to a four-man defence.
This is a very high-scoring fixture. In the last nine Serie A editions, there have been a total 44 goals.
Milan: Amelia; Abate, Zapata, Bonera, Constant; Flamini, Montolivo, Nocerino; Niang, Balotelli, El Shaarawy
Milan bench: Abbiati, Gabriel, Zaccardo, Yepes, Antonini, Ambrosini, Muntari, Boateng, Traorè, Robinho, Bojan, Pazzini
Udinese: Padelli; Heurteaux, Danilo, Domizzi, Gabriel Silva; Basta, Pinzi, Allan, Lazzari; Muriel; Di Natale
Udinese bench: Scuffet, Favaro, Angella, Heurtaux, Faraoni, Pereyra, Merkel, Campos Toro, Maicosuel, Ranegie, Zielinski