[han2503]

Serie A 2006/2007 - Day 37

Milan - Udinese

Saturday, 19th of May, 2007

Time: 17:00 (UK), 18:00 (IT)

This post has been edited by han2503: May 13 2007, 06:38 PM

[misha]

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Milan - Udinese

Milan and Udinese may both have decided their fates for this season, but there will still be plenty of pride at stake when the two sides meet at the San Siro. The Zebretti will be especially keen to cause an upset in the hope that their opponents could have their minds on other things…

The Rossoneri face Liverpool in the Champions League Final next Wednesday and will need to keep on their toes if they are to avoid a humbling in Serie A over the weekend. Coach Ancelotti will want his players to keep their focus, even if there is little still to decide at this late stage of the campaign. And with a place in the starting line-up in the biggest match in European club football at stake no one will want to disappoint Carletto so soon before travelling to Athens. The Diavoli may already be certain of a top-four finish, but don’t expect them to take it easy against the Friulani, especially after drawing their last two games.

Ancelotti is expected to rest several players with one eye on the European Final. Massimo Oddo, Paolo Maldini, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi should all be left out of the starting XI. That means the likes of Daniele Bonera, Kakha Kaladze, Cristian Brocchi and Ricardo Oliveira will all be hoping to impress enough to make a late push for place against Liverpool. Milan will also be without Ronaldo after the Brazilian was ruled out of the end of the season with a thigh strain and Gennaro Gattuso, who is suspended.

Udinese Coach Alberto Malesani’s squad rotation won’t be quite so voluntary though, as the tactician has a number of absences to contend with. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Damiano Zenoni, Dias Felipe, Christian Obodo and Tomas Sivok are all injured, while defender Tomas Zapotocny has picked up a suspension. That should allow youngsters Andrea Coda, Marco Motta and Gaetano D’Agostino to gain some more big-match experience while Gyan Asamoah should keep his place filling in for Iaquinta.

The Bianconeri have now secured a top half finish in Serie A, but European qualification is now beyond their reach. However, after some disappointing recent results, Malesani will be looking to ensure his side keep their concentration. Three consecutive defeats, including losses to relegation battlers Catania and Cagliari, has seen them give up a place in next season’s UEFA Cup, but with several of their star players returning from their suspensions and some of the Zebretti’s impressive youngsters eager to impress they could return to form in Milan.

Man on fire: Gyan Asamoah (Udinese) – The Ghanaian international has grabbed his rare chances in the first team with both hands this season and has taken advantage of Vincenzo Iaquinta’s absence by scoring four goals in his last three starts for the Bianconeri.

Last season: Milan 5-1 Udinese

Form guide: Milan (W W W D D) Udinese (W D L L L)

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Milan (probable): Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Brocchi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Oliveira

Udinese (probable): De Sanctis; Coda, Natali, Zapata; Motta, Pinzi, D’Agostino, Muntari, Dossena; Di Natale, Asamoah

[Portman]

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Milan (probable): Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Brocchi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Oliveira

Udinese (probable): De Sanctis; Coda, Natali, Zapata; Motta, Pinzi, D’Agostino, Muntari, Dossena; Di Natale, Asamoah

Those must rest.