Mario Balotelli scored his first goal for Milan since returning to the club as the Rossoneri edged Udinese 3-2 last night.

The Italy forward, on a season-long loan from Liverpool, started for the first time since rejoining and had an impact early on at the Friuli stadium.

In the fifth minute, Balotelli was fouled and drilled the resulting free-kick into the top-left corner of goal to beat Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

Giacomo Bonaventura doubled Milan’s lead five minutes later when he got on to Riccardo Montolivo’s pass and struck a diagonal effort from the heart of the area past Karnezis.

On the stroke of half-time, Cristian Zapata headed in a corner past Karnezis for a 3-0 half-time lead.

Udinese reduced the arrears in the 51st minute.

Substitute Duvan Zapata’s cross found an unmarked Emmanuel Badu in the area and he drove the ball towards the far post to beat Milan stopper Diego Lopez.

Seven minutes later, Udinese made it 3-2 when Cyril Thereau’s cross towards the far post found Zapata, who got the easy tap-in.

Udinese twice had chances to equalise late in the game.

Lopez kept out a long-range attempt from Bruno Fernandes and soon after, Molla Wague headed Antonio Di Natale’s cross just inches wide of the far post.

Udinese ended the game with 10 men after Fernandes was shown his second yellow card seconds from time for a foul on Montolivo.

Results

Serie A

Udinese 2
Badu 51; D. Zapata 58;
Milan 3
Balotelli 5; Bonaventura 10; C. Zapata 45;

HT: 0-3. Att: 9,000.
Red card: Fernandes (U) 90.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Inter	4	4	0	0	5	1	12
Torino	4	3	1	0	9	4	10
Fiorentina	4	3	0	1	5	3	9
Milan	5	3	0	2	8	8	9
Roma	4	2	2	0	7	4	8
Sassuolo	4	2	2	0	7	5	8
Chievo	4	2	1	1	8	3	7
Sampdoria	4	2	1	1	9	6	7
Palermo	4	2	1	1	6	5	7
Lazio	4	2	0	2	4	10	6
Napoli	4	1	2	1	10	6	5
Atalanta	4	1	2	1	5	4	5
Juventus	4	1	1	2	4	4	4
Empoli	4	1	1	2	6	8	4
Verona	4	0	3	1	4	6	3
Genoa	4	1	0	3	2	4	3
Bologna	4	1	0	3	2	5	3
Udinese	5	1	0	4	4	8	3
Carpi	4	0	1	3	5	10	1
Frosinone	4	0	0	4	1	7	0

Today – 20.45
Carpi vs Napoli
Chievo vs Torino
Fiorentina vs Bologna
Inter vs Verona
Juventus vs Frosinone
Lazio vs Genoa
Palermo vs Sassuolo
Sampdoria vs Roma

Tomorrow
Empoli vs Atalanta - 20.45

Serie B
Avellino vs Novara - 0-0
Brescia vs Pro Vercelli - 2-0
Cesena vs Modena - 2-0
Como vs Trapani - 0-0
Crotone vs Bari - 4-1
Entella vs Cagliari - 1-3
Latina vs Ascoli - 1-0
Pescara vs Salernitana - 1-1
Spezia vs Perugia - 1-0
Lanciano vs Vicenza - 0-0

Leading standings: Livorno 12; Cagliari 10; Cesena 9; Spezia, Crotone 7; Trapani, Latina, Vicenza 6.