TIME MACHINE: UDINESE v AC MILAN

On Serie A matchday 32, we head to Bluenergy Stadium, as AC Milan will take on Udinese on Friday evening. The previous meeting this season went well for the Rossoneri, as they won 1-0 at San Siro thanks to Sammy Chukwueze's first goals of the season. To ramp up the excitement before the match, let's take a look back at Udinese v AC Milan on 22 September 2015, Stadio Friuli - now the Bluenergy Stadium. AC Milan were kitted out in one of our most memorable third kits, transiting from green to yellow on the socks. On the pitch, the game had it all, five goals by five different scorers, a brilliant free-kick, a near comeback a wonder save and a red card at the end of the match. Today's Time Machine takes us back to 2015, with Siniša Mihajlović as coach.

Udinese needed to bounce back after three consecutive defeats, furthermore, they wanted to get back to winning ways following their first win of the season away to Juventus. AC Milan, however, were aiming to build on their win against Palermo, after their losses in the derby and against Fiorentina in the first three games in the league. Mission accomplished for the Rossoneri, as they brought the three points home at the end of the match. Mario Balotelli, Giacomo Bonaventura with a goal and assist, and Cristián Zapata were among the goals. Udinese left it late to show their reaction, as they cut the deficit with two goals in less than ten minutes. It was another 3-2 win for the Rossoneri, hard-fought but no less valuable. At the end of the day, the three points were the only things that mattered. 

There wasn't much to write about in the first half, only AC Milan were on the field. Mario Balotelli had a free-kick in the fifth minute which flew to the right top corner leaving no chance for the wall nor Karnezīs as they watched it hit the net. Just five minutes later, the Rossoneri made another brilliant play: Montolivo delivered a perfect ball to Bonaventura who fired a volley past the goalkeeper. AC Milan were 2-0 up with ten minutes gone. In stoppage time of the first half, Bonaventura was the provider once again, delivering a corner kick which found Cristián Zapata's head: 3-0 at the break. The second half was a different story. It was a tactical revolution from Coach Colantuono which changed Udinese's approach, and the Bianconeri scored two goals within ten minutes. Badu struck first in the 51st minute and Duván Zapata struck in the 58th minute. The final minutes were an all-out assault from Udinese, with Bruno Fernandes nearly pulling off a stunning equaliser from distance, but Diego López pulled off a crucial save. AC Milan left the Friuli with three points and a sigh of relief. 

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