Both teams were coming into this game under some pressure. Milan without a win their last five (four draws and a defeat at home to Palermo) and Udinese without a win in their last four (two defeats and a two draws). Both locked on 18 points and four points away from the Champions League slots. It was crunch time for both teams, who would break their duck and retrieve all three points or will it be honors evenly shared once again for both sides?

This is how the teams lined up:

Milan: Diego Lopez; Rami, Mexes, Bonera, Armero; Van Ginkel, Essien, Bonaventura; Honda, Menez, El Shaarawy

Udinese: Karnezis; Piris, Heurtaux, Danilo, Domizzi; Badu, Allan, Guilherme; Thereau, Di Natale, Kone

Ref: Valeri.

Goal scorers: Milan: Ménez brace.

Milan had started the game well and should of taken the several chances that presented themselves. After 17 minutes had been played Milan could well and truly been in front. Rami's emphatic header looked to have crossed the line but without goal-line technology this was inconclusive in real time. Inzaghi was understandably furious and was making his voice heard to the fourth official, Udinese got away with one in any case. Two chances inside a minute for Milan was to follow. El Shaarawy saw his deflected strike just whistle past the post and Bonaventura's strike went narrowly wide after gathering the ball from a corner. Two minutes later Milan were making their dominance heard when Bonera's stunning cross just missed El Shaarawy's head inside the six yard box. Half and hour into the game Udinese had their first real chance. Skipper, Antonio Di Natale played a good ball to Kone, who couldn't keep his half-volley from sailing over the bar. Milan once again missed a good chance, Honda's knock down found it's way to Jérémy Ménez whose angled drive just went passed the right hand side of Karnezis' goal.

After the interval Udinese were the team on top but couldn't muster up a chance of any significance. Half and hour into the second half saw the first real chance of the half, Honda went down inside the box in dramatic fashion winning his side a penalty and as a result sending off Domizzi as he was stopping a clear goal scoring opportunity. Ménez had to wait a long while for the penalty to be taken as the protest from the Udinese players grew and were surrounding the referee which eventually led to a yellow card for Danilo. However, the Frenchman made no mistake from the spot sending Karnezis the wrong way with an emphatic finish. Just 10 minutes later Milan also went down to 10 men. Essien received his second yellow after he stuck out his arm which connected with the Brazilian Allan, who went down theatrically. That wasn't to affect Milan too much as they doubled their lead four minutes later. Ménez was again on hand to complete his brace. The French international collected the ball from midfield and weaved his way past the Udinese defence to hit his precise finish at the near post.

With two minutes to spear there was just enough time to see the returning skipper, Riccardo Montolivo. This was the Italian international's first appearance since fracturing his leg in a World Cup warm up game against the Republic of Ireland at Craven Cottage. The match ended with Pippo's men on top at the San Siro courtesy of a Ménez's brace.