It’s been an odd season in Serie A, and one of the more interesting storylines starting to develop in Italy’s top league has been the return of Milan to what actually looks like a pretty decent team. The last few years, Milan have been bad. Really, really bad. This year, though, they’ve actually been pretty decent! They’ve only got two wins and have been shut out in two others, but they have yet to play a truly bad match, and were quite good against Palermo in a 3-2 win this past weekend.
A.C. Milan vs. Udinese 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
An injury plagued Milan are trying to win a second straight match to build much-needed momentum in Serie A.
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Now they’re facing Udinese on short rest and with an injury battered side, but it’s an Udinese that’s lost three straight matches and has looked flat as a pancake all season long. There’s no verve, no life, nothing interesting about Udinese so far this season. If Sinisa Mihajlovic can figure out how to get his hobbled side rolling early, Milan could very well make it two wins in a row, and if they can get rolling, things may finally be looking up again for the rossoneri.
Key player -- Mario Balotelli (Milan)
Balotelli is in line to start his first match of the season thanks to one of Luiz Adriano or Carlos Bacca in line to get a rest in this match. So far his homecoming to Milan has been a good one, with Balotelli making a solid impact as a substitute in two matches since rejoining on loan from Liverpool. He’s seemed more focused, hungry and more willing to do anything and everything needed to get a win than we’ve seen from the big Italian in awhile. If Balotelli can keep that up for a full match, we may see the start of a true resurgence from him in this match.
Key Matchup -- Duvan Zapata (Udinese) vs. Cristian Zapata (Milan)
The Zapata cousins won’t let their familial bond get between them in this match, especially with Cristian being one of the few healthy defenders Milan has at the moment. This matchup is about more than them being family, though, as Cristian will be the man best suited to try to deal with Duvan’s surprisingly athletic play up top. Most people think that since Duvan is so big and strong that he’s slow and not terribly athletic -- and most times when teams play him like that, he shows off surprising speed and technical skills and scores a goal or two. Cristian has kept him in check before, and if anyone in Milan’s battered defense can keep Duvan at bay in this match, it’s him.
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Udinese injuries and suspensions
Out: Panagiotis Kone (suspended), Guilherme (knee), Alexander Merkel (knee) In doubt: none
AC Milan injuries and suspensions
Out: Luca Antonelli (knee), M’Baye Niang (foot), Jeremy Menez (back), Andrea Bertolacci (groin strain), Juraj Kucka (Ankle), Ignazio Abate (hamstring), Mexes (knee) In doubt: none
Milan have a full-blown injury crisis on their hands now that Kucka and Abate have joined an already long injury list. Things are so bad that Mihajlovic has had to call in a pair of teenagers just to carry a full bench in this match. It’s not good.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Stadio Comunale Friuli, Udine, Italy
TV: Sky Calcio 1, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia (Italy), BT Sport Europe (U.K.), RAI International
Online: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.), Sky Go Italia (Italy)
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