Udinese vs. AC Milan: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream & TV Info

After a dull derby against Inter, AC Milan goes back to work on Saturday against Andrea Stramaccioni's struggling Udinese side.

Date: Saturday, April 25

Time: 5 p.m. local time/4 p.m. GMT/12 EDT

Venue: Stadio Friuli, Udine

TV Info: No live showings in U.S. or UK.  beIN Sports running taped game at 1 a.m. EDT Sunday.

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

Preamble

Milan's season reached its nadir last week. The Derby della Madonnina is traditionally one of the biggest games of the season. The rivalry between Milan and Inter is such that even when one—or both, as the case is—teams are in a dry spell the game itself is still charged with energy.

But the Milan team that took the field at the San Siro on Sunday was completely flaccid. With the exception of a 15- to 20-minute stretch at the end of the first half they took no initiative in attack. They defended so poorly that it was quite frankly a shock that the Nerazzurri didn't convert one—or more—of the many chances that were presented to them over the course of the second half.

This Milan team needs a complete and total reboot. There is no real inspiration at any position. Young Spaniard Suso produced some promising moments in the derby, particularly with a curling effort from the wing that Samir Handanovic had to sprawl to save it. But besides his efforts there was hardly any spark from a man in a red shirt.

The players in Milan's dugout look utterly defeated. Their will to play looks like it's been sapped away. It will be a supreme test for Filippo Inzaghi to motivate them for the run-in.

Difficult though Milan's season has been, Udinese has had it even harder. After a series of top-five finishes ended with a disappointing 13th last year, longtime coach Francesco Guidolin was reassigned within the organization and Andrea Stramaccioni was brought in in his place.

Strama has worked wonders at the youth level, but it's probably time to start considering the possibility that that is his real calling. His season at Inter a few years ago was an unmitigated disaster, and this year hasn't been much better. The Zebrete have only managed 15th place this year, garnering only 35 points so far and losing 12 times.

The coach has blamed injuries for their current form, which has been particularly bad. They haven't won since a 3-2 triumph over Torino—on March 8. Since then they've drawn four and lost two.

The head-to-head matchup between the two clubs has been quite close over the last few years—a sign of both Udinese's overachievement under Guidolin and Milan's painful decline.  Both teams have won three in their last six.  Two of those have been home victories for the Friuli outfit.

Form Lines

Udinese	AC Milan
D 1-1 @ Chievo	D 0-0 @ Inter
L 3-1 vs Palermo	D 1-1 vs Sampdoria
L 1-0 @ Parma	W 2-1 @ Palermo
D 1-1 @ Genoa	W 3-1 vs Cagliari
D 2-2 vs Fiorentina	L 2-1 @ Fiorentina

Predicted Lineups

Udinese (3-4-2-1)	Milan (4-3-3)
Karnezis	Lopez
Danilo  Piris  Heurtaux	Abate  Alex  Mexes  Antonelli
Widmer  Allan  Guilherme	Poli  De Jong  Van Ginkel
Kone  Pinzi	Bonaventura  Destro  Menez
Di Natale

Players to Watch

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

As it has been since 2004, Udinese starts and ends with Antonio Di Natale.

One of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of Serie A, the two-time Capocannoniere still has it at the age of 37. He has had several flirtations with retirement over the years, and last year was supposed to be his final bow. But after a hat trick in what was supposed to be his final game at home against Sampdoria he found the passion to take one more go.

Still able to create for himself and his teammates from any part of the field, Toto has chalked up 11 goals and six assists this season. Even at his age he will be quick to punish leaky defenses—and that's been one of the best ways to define Milan's back four the last few years. They were lucky to escape the Derby without conceding. If they play the way they did on Sunday against Di Natale, he'll likely make them pay.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

On the other side, the man to watch is the last line of defense against Di Natale's onslaught.

Diego Lopez is one of the few people who has really earned the Milan shirt this season. Were it not for his heroic goalkeeping Milan would be a fair few places lower in the table than they are. He's also had luck on his side—on Sunday a shot from Rodrigo Palacio stayed out when it nearly hit the keeper in the face from close range.

Often left unprotected by defending that ranges from sketchy to downright shambolic, Lopez is sure to face down several dangerous moments. If he can keep his team in the game, they have a shot at points. If he's beaten, the red half of Milan will be hanging their heads again.

Key Matchup

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

Udinese has one of the most underrated midfielders in Serie A running their show in 24-year-old Brazilian Allan. A defensive whiz, his 4.6 tackles per game (according to WhoScored.com) lead the league by half a tackle over the nearest pursuer—who is a center-back.

He's no slouch with the ball either. His own stats on the season record four assists and a pass completion percentage of 80. He's not the kind of scorer that Arturo Vidal, his closest analogue, can be when he's on form, but when he's bossing the midfield, his team can be difficult to beat.

Milan has the perfect man to counter the Brazilian in Nigel de Jong. Along with Lopez he's one of the few people who has really been worthy of the name AC Milan. De Jong is known for his physical prowess but he's still an effective passer—WhoScored records his completion percentage as 88.7.

The Rossoneri won't go very far without De Jong matching the Brazilian tit for tat in the middle of the park.

Odds (according to Odds Shark)

Udinese win: 2/1

Milan win: 5/4

Draw: 2/1