Udinese-Milan Preview: Bottom Table Bullies?

Milan have defeated the three teams in the relegation zone this calendar year. Oh, and don’t forget the 11th place team, either, that was amazing. But now we face the 15th place team in their house. Can we pull off another bottom table win? And if so, will we become the bottom table bullies?

Udinese may be having 2-0 flashbacks of these bullies from November

I wouldn’t count on a Milan result tomorrow. Udinese have drawn four of their past six matches, with three of the four of those matches being against teams in the top half of the table. They are a tough little team on a low budget and can never be discounted. Stramaccioni has had some big shoes to fill after Guidolin left, and yet it seems like the young coach has perhaps bitten off more than he can chew. But that doesn't mean his team has no bite.

Udinese drew with 13th place Chievo last week, thanks to an own goal in the second half from Chievo. For that match, Stramaccioni lined up Karnezis; Danilo, Bubjic, Piris; Loureiro, Pasquale, Widmer, Pinzi; Bruno, Kone, and Thereau. However Bruno will be suspended for this match. Also missing due to injuries are Wague, Heurtaux, and Evangelista, with Domizzi also doubtful.

"That thing with the net is a goal" Stramaccioni certainly has his work cut out for him

Inzaghi will still be missing El Shaarawy and Mastour, despite the fact that they’ve both returned to training. Agazzi, Montolivo, and Essien are still out injured, but the best news is that our World Cup Winner has been called up again. That’s right, Zaccardo will be traveling to the Stadio Friuli. Watch out, Udinese. First the man joins Twitter as a service to the people of Italy and the world, now he’s back on the bench for Milan. His selflessness knows no bounds.

The unstoppable Zaccardo

It’s hard to get excited about this match, as no result would shock me. Also because the rumors of a possible sale of either a minority or majority stake in the club as early as the next few days eclipse anything this team can do on the pitch. Still, this is Milan’s best chance for a win from now to the end of the season, so I can’t possibly miss out on the chance for that. We may have become simple bottom table bullies, but Milan is still my heart and my soul. I may be watching this one alone, but I’ll always watch.

This post inspired by the music of The Ramones

Udinese vs. Milan

Saturday, April 25 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)

This match will be shown live on RAI in the U.S.