AC Milan vs Udinese preview - Bonaventura upbeat after derby miss

Posted Saturday, November 29, 2014 by PA

Giacomo Bonaventura is refusing to dwell on what the headlines might have been following his first ever Milan derby had he managed to squeeze home a famous winner.

Jeremy Menez's opener saw AC Milan leading 1-0 and former Atalanta midfielder Bonaventura managed to shave paint off a post when looking for the second goal.

Inter then equalised through Joel Obi and, given Stephan El Shaaraway was unable to convert Bonaventura's clever assist in the final stages, the spoils were shared at San Siro.

Despite his side's stuttering start to the Serie A season, the 25-year-old is enjoying his football and hopes to impress the fans once again when Udinese visit Milan on Sunday.

"I feel I have done well here so far because I am so very close to my team-mates. That makes everything easier and I'm very happy," Bonaventura told Corriere dello Sport.

"I did make a positive impact - I thought for a while I had done my best but actually I could have done more. If you play for Milan then you have to be a winner.

"It would have been nice to score a goal in the derby but (Inter defender Andrea) Ranocchia was so good that he forced me to shoot just wide of the target.

"My assist? If Stephan had scored there then my pass would have been appreciated even more.

"The important thing we have to understand is that the goals will start to come for us in the right places and at the right times."

Captain Riccardo Montolivo is itching to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a long-term injury to make the bench against Inter.

Nigel de Jong, Ignazio Abate and Alex will require late fitness checks while, in the Udinese camp, Albert Riera, Gabriel Silva and Luis Muriel are stricken with injuries.

The Bianconeri have now failed to win in four attempts and were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Chievo last time out.

They are level on points in a share of seventh place with Milan before Sunday's encounter and Thomas Heurtaux is keen to put daylight between the sides with a valuable win.

"It's tough to face Milan just now, but every away match is tricky," said the French defender.

"We really have to pick up some points, though, so we will go there with our heads held high and will go out to get a positive result."