Mario hits Milan winner

Mario Balotelli signed off his AC Milan debut by scoring the winner with the last kick of the match as Udinese were defeated 2-1 amid controversial scenes at the San Siro on Sunday night.

Watch Serie A highlights HERE

All eyes were on the mercurial Italy striker following his £19million arrival from Manchester City and he duly delivered a clinical brace, his first goal arriving in the 24th minute.

Gianpiero Pinzi pulled Udinese level in the second half and as Milan drifted towards a draw, Balotelli's head appeared to drop. But he snatched up the ball with glee when Stephan El Shaarawy won a suspicious penalty from Thomas Heurtaux in the final minute of injury time.

Despite Udinese's angry protestations - Heurtaux appeared to make a clean tackle - Balotelli kept his head from the spot to fire his new employers into fourth place in Serie A.

Earlier, Juventus went three points clear at the top of the standings thanks to a 2-1 victory at Chievo.

An early strike by Alessandro Matri was followed by a second just before the break from Stephan Lichtsteiner, before Cyril Thereau reduced the arrears in the second half. New signing Nicolas Anelka was an unused substitute for Juventus.

Siena climbed off the bottom of the table with a shock 3-1 home victory over Inter Milan, who have now failed to win on the road since November.

Debutant Innocent Emeghara, recently signed from Lorient, stunned the Nerazzurri with his first Siena goal, only for Antonio Cassano to equalise inside 60 seconds.

An Alessio Sestu goal ensured Giuseppe Iachini's hosts led at the break.

The second half might have been a different story for Inter had Cristian Chivu not seen red for a professional foul, with Alessandro Rosina converting the resulting penalty.

A last-gasp goal from debutant Marco Rigoni secured a 3-2 victory over Lazio that lifted Genoa out of the relegation zone.

It was a well-deserved first win for new Genoa coach Davide Ballardini, whose side built a two-goal lead inside 21 minutes through Marco Borriello and Andrea Bertolacci.

Sergio Floccari and Stefano Mauri dragged Lazio back into the game, only for deadline-day signing Rigoni to fire in a bullet header for Genoa at the death.

Fiorentina got back to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Parma.

Vincenzo Montella's men were chasing a first win in five games to restore their bid for a Champions League place and Luca Toni put them on track with the opener.

The visitors, who are sliding down the league table, were condemned to a second straight defeat when Stevan Jovetic scored five minutes into the second half.

Pescara dropped into the relegation zone after losing 3-2 at home to Bologna in an eventful contest featuring three penalties in the space of 16 first-half minutes.

The home side twice took the lead from the spot through Vladimir Weiss and Gaetano D'Agostino, with Alessandro Diamanti initially equalising with a penalty for the visitors.

Diamanti then set up a second equaliser for Alberto Gilardino before Panagiotis Kone scored the winner for Bologna midway through the second half.

Watch Serie A highlights

Palermo's rash of January signings were unable to change their fortunes at the foot of the table as they lost 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Atalanta.

Palermo signed a total of 10 players in January, with Diego Fabbrini and Alejandro Faurlin the last to arrive on deadline day.



They both made their debuts but ended in a losing cause as second-half goals from Carlos Carmona and German Denis put Atalanta in control before Nelson's late consolation.

Ronaldo ready for facing Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo always wanted to face Manchester United in the Champions League and thinks his return to Old Trafford will be like a family reunion.

Ronaldo set to face Man United for the first time since moving to Real Madrid

The two world-renowned clubs are getting ready to face off in the last 16 of Europe, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on 13th February before a second meeting in England on 5th March.



Ronaldo will as a result face United for the first time since his record-breaking £80million transfer to Spain in the summer of 2009.



Redknapp - Heroes welcome for Ronaldo

And the Portuguese superstar said in The Sun: "On the day of the draw, I was out training and I had this strong feeling that we were going to get Manchester United.

"And when the draw was made, I was very happy. It's a tough match, of course. Madrid and United are the two biggest clubs in the world and it's a real 50-50. It could go either way.



"But, for me, it will be a pleasure, a real pleasure. Of course, I know there will be a lot of attention on me but for me there is no pressure, no pressure at all.



"It is only a game, just a football match against my old club. I'm not going to war, I'm going home and I am really looking forward to it."



Ronaldo, who scored an own goal in Real's 1-0 La Liga defeat by Granada on Saturday night, added: "Manchester was my home and still is in my heart.



"I love it. Because when people treat you very well, you never forget that. And I will never forget United, the people who work there and the supporters.



"So I am so happy to be going back to Manchester.



"I will go and see my old house and see my Manchester friends. They're a kind of a family to me there and it will be great. It will be fun."




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Mancini has summer targets

Roberto Mancini admits he is already in the process of drawing up summer transfer plans at Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini has revealed his admiration for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

It is being suggested that City are plotting an elaborate spending spree, with it likely that there will be a number of comings and goings at the Etihad Stadium.

Mancini is said to have been left frustrated by the club's failure to land their top targets during the last two transfer windows, and he is now looking for considerable backing.

He is confident he will get that, with City having already identified those they will be setting their sights on.

Mancini said: "It's difficult in January to find really good players for us.

"Clubs don't want to sell now, but maybe they will in the summer. We need to work now, so that it is not like last year.

"Last year we didn't work well. It's important we start now. Now's the time we can close in on some good players for the summer.



"I have meetings with Txiki (Begiristain) every week and we talk about the summer.

"It will be easier to get players in the summer if we work hard, well and quickly now.

"You can't start looking at players in May because all the good ones are gone and it becomes impossible."

Mancini has been linked with a move for Suarez in the summer as he looks to bring in a replacement for Mario Balotelli.

Suarez will come up against Mancini this weekend and the City boss is a big fan of the Uruguayan forward.

"Suarez for me is a top player," Mancini said. "I like him because he is strong and he works hard.

"For me, he is one of the best in England."

Asked if he would like to sign Suarez, Mancini laughed: "Suarez? But he plays for Liverpool.

"Yeah I like his quality. He has quality and he is strong."

Suarez recently pledged his future to Liverpool saying he would stay at Anfield even if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Allardyce: Carroll was a key

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce hopes there is more to come from Andy Carroll after the striker's man of the match performance against Swansea City.



The on-loan Liverpool forward started his first game since November after injury and scored the winner to earn his temporary club just a third Premier League win in two months.

And Allardyce thought Carroll, who could join West Ham on a permanent basis in the summer, was the best player against Swansea despite not being fully fit.

"I think Andy has made the difference today, no disrespect to [Marouane] Chamakh and Carlton Cole," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"He is a big strong lad with a lot of ability. As we saw today, it was not just about his heading ability, even though that was the winning goal.

"It was about his hold-up play, his movement and the trouble he caused Swansea. I think everybody else could build off Andy and we created numerous chances."

West Ham were denied by excellent Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel on several occasions but Allardyce was at least pleased to see his struggling team making opportunities.



"It has been a great day from that point of view and, as long as we keep creating the chances - particularly at home, we will sooner or later start putting more in the back of the net," he said.

Owen facing FA rap

Michael Owen could face action from the Football Association after reacting badly to a challenge by Mikel Arteta during Stoke City's defeat at Arsenal.



Owen appeared to thump Arsenal midfielder Arteta on the back towards the end of the 1-0 defeat at the Emirates.

The striker was not booked but the FA could investigate after it was caught on camera.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "Arteta's challenge was poor, but Michael should not do that."

The Potters had fallen behind to Lukas Podolski's deflected free-kick when Arteta challenged Stoke substitute Owen.

Former England international Owen reacted angrily and appeared to lash out at the Spaniard, but referee Chris Foy did not book the 33-year-old.

"If Michael has done what he has done and they look at it, then they will deal with it," added Pulis.



"We'll see what they say. Obviously I am going to be biased as it is my football team."

Eriksson : 'Absolute leader '

Former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has picked Steven Gerrard as his favourite for the Player of the Year award.



At St. George's Park on Sunday night, all 24 England teams will be a part of the inaugural FA England Awards.



And Three Lions captain Gerrard is in line for one of the eleven prizes up for grabs.



The Liverpool midfielder was on the five-man shortlist in the running for the Senior's Player of 2012. Fans voted for their choice via an online poll on TheFA.com throughout December and early January, but we have to wait until Sunday to find out who's claimed the trophy.



Eriksson, who was in charge of England for 67 games from 2001-2006, handed Gerrard the England armband for the first time when they faced Sweden in 2004.



He believes that Gerrard's leadership in 2012 would make him the perfect choice for the award.



“It would be Steven Gerrard for me, he is the captain of the team and played very well last year for England," Eriksson told TheFA.com



“It was very easy for me as England Manager to have Steven Gerrard in my team, to work with him was very easy.

Gerrard gets Sven's vote for the 'Player Of The Year' Prize.

"He is a fantastic football player, he can attack, his passing is outstanding and he can score goals. He is very good at defending and is one of the best midfielders you can find in the world."



Eriksson added: “Steven was captain for the first time under me, against Sweden, and he has grown from that moment.



"He is a leader, absolutely. When he speaks everyone listens, no doubts about that.”

Evening paper talk A round-up

Evening paper talk A round-up of the news making the back pages of today's regional newspapers :-

Peter Odemwingie has revealed he offered to pay back £300,000 in bonuses to West Brom in a desperate bid to force through a move to QPR - (LONDON EVENING STANDARD)



Tottenham are confident they can finally conclude a deal for Leandro Damiao next summer after yet another failed attempt to sign the Brazil forward - (LONDON EVENING STANDARD)



Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal only signed Nacho Monreal after learning Kieran Gibbs could be out for six weeks with a thigh injury - (LONDON EVENING STANDARD)



QPR believe they got fabulous cut-price deals after signing Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend from Tottenham - (FULHAM CHRONICLE)



Fulham defender Chris Baird saw a potential move to West Brom fall through on transfer deadline day - (FULHAM CHRONICLE)



Napoli striker Edinson Cavani has put Manchester City on alert by hinting that clubs should not be put off by his release clause - (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS)



Chris Smalling admits Manchester United blew the title last season - but he insists there will be no repeat this time around - (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS)



Lucas Leiva believes compatriot Philippe Coutinho has all the qualities required to be a big success at Liverpool - (LIVERPOOL ECHO)



Daniel Sturridge says he's loving life at Anfield after a flying start to his Liverpool career - (LIVERPOOL ECHO)



Leighton Baines believes he is doing all he can to get a regular place in the England team, but admits he will soon face more than just Ashley Cole for competition - (LIVERPOOL ECHO)



Alan Pardew says Newcastle will turn their attention to a new striker in the summer transfer window - (NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE)



Deadline-day recruit Danny Graham has set his sights on helping Sunderland break into the Premier League's top 10 - (NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE)



Yohan Cabaye has warned close pal Demba Ba he will be regarded as his worst enemy for 90 minutes only on Saturday - (NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE)



Titus Bramble warns Sunderland cannot afford to take resurgent Reading lightly this weekend - (NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE)



Alan Pardew believes Mike Ashley's January transfer blitz has teed Newcastle up to emulate Everton by storming the second half of the Premier League season - (THE JOURNAL)



Michael Laudrup has revealed for the first time how much he is enjoying life as Swansea City boss and declared: "Why should I leave?" - (SOUTH WALES EVENING POST)



Adam Lallana insists Southampton are gunning for revenge against Wigan on Saturday after being 'taught a footballing lesson' by the Latics earlier this season - (DAILY ECHO)



Ian Harte has warned Reading's Premier League rivals there will be no easy points on offer at Madejski Stadium for the remainder of the season - (READING POST)



Mark Davies will make his return to full training in the next few days after spending the last six weeks on the sidelines - (THE BOLTON NEWS)



Defender Mark Reynolds and striker Jarrod Kyle have left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent - (THE STAR)



Tony Mowbray admits Kevin Thomson's Middlesbrough career was blighted by injuries after allowing the midfielder to leave the club - (EVENING GAZETTE)



Peter Odemwingie says West Brom are to blame for the QPR debacle and that he will leave the club eventually - (BIRMINGHAM MAIL)



Wolves manager Dean Saunders insists his side will stay up despite dropping to their lowest position of the season with a 2-1 defeat at Leicester - (EXPRESS & STAR)



Steve Morison has vowed to fill the void left by Luciano Becchio at Leeds after stepping into the Argentinian's boots on transfer deadline day - (YORKSHIRE EVENING POST)



Celtic boss Neil Lennon admits he is celebrating surviving the transfer window without losing any of his big guns - EVENING TIMES



Rangers star Lee Wallace has revealed his pride at returning to the Scotland set-up - (THE SCOTSMAN)