New Milan signing Charles De Ketelaere is expected to start on the bench against Udinese today. Check out the probable line-ups for the first Serie A game of the season.
The Serie A champions host Udinese at San Siro at 17.30 UK time.
Sandro Tonali and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the only players on the sidelines for Stefano Pioli, who will likely start Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic in attack. Olivier Giroud and new signing Divock Origi are not fully fit and the other new face – De Ketelaere – hasn’t trained with his teammates consistently enough to get the nod today.
Diaz scored his last Serie A goal in September 2021.
No draws for Milan in the first league game of the season in the last 10 years.
The Rossoneri have the best defence in Europe since the start of the year (nine goals conceded in 19 games).
Udinese have a new coach: the debutant Andrea Sottil and haven’t changed much during the summer, managing to keep last season’s best scorer Gerard Deulofeu.
Tolgay Arslan, Mato Jajalo and Leonardo Buta are out of action for the Friulani. Doubts in defence and midfield with Walace favourite over Sandi Lavric and Bram Nuytinck over Adam Masina. Udinese won just one debut game in the last six years, in 2019 against Milan.
Milan vs. Udinese – probable line-ups
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Krunic; Messias, Diaz, Leao; Rebic.
Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Nehuen Perez, Nuytinck; Soppy, Pereyra, Walace, Makengo, Udogie; Deulofeu, Success.