Balotelli's brilliant debut adds to optimism at AC Milan

Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy gelled with instant effect

Michael Lintorn reflects on the remarkable turnaround at AC Milan, further enhanced by Mario Balotelli's arrival...

A couple of smart saves from Udinese's reserve goalkeeper Daniele Padelli that were ultimately hat-trick-thwarting aside, Mario Balotelli's AC Milan debut could not have gone better.

The 19 million January recruit wasn't even supposed to start but was on the scoresheet within 25 minutes after Giampaolo Pazzini withdrew injured in the warm-up.

Then, as Udinese threatened to steal an unlikely draw, Stephan El Shaarawy won a contentious injury-time penalty. Balotelli, who scored only one league goal for Manchester City in the first half of the season, never misses from 12 yards and was so relaxed that he performed kick-ups on the spot during the delay, before calmly converting the winner with the game's last touch.

More notable than his performance was the maturity shown throughout, an early indicator that being thrust into the spotlight as the integral striker - a pressure he relished for Italy at Euro 2012 but never experienced in England - could be his making.

Though just 22, he is the veteran of AC Milan's exciting front three. Fellow mohicanites El Shaarawy and M'Baye Niang are 20 and 18 respectively and in their first seasons as starters at this level. It was notable how Balotelli congratulated El Shaarawy on his contribution at full time, and didn't berate Niang on the few occasions that he shot when a pass was preferable.

The Rossoneri's transformation since beating Juventus in November has been staggering. Whereas the decision to remove almost every 30-something as well as selling Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva in the summer initially looked suicidal and suggested banishment to mid-table, it suddenly appears inspired.

Mattia De Sciglio, El Shaarawy and Niang have been afforded an unexpected opportunity to establish themselves and have unquestionably seized it. Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who was ridiculed during their dismal start and could still be axed post-season, deserves huge credit for riding the storm and moulding an entertaining new side in a 4-3-3 formation more viable long-term than his old 4-3-1-2.

It is now eight wins and a draw in 10 Serie A matches for AC Milan and, from as low as 12th in November, they have surfaced in fourth, above faltering neighbours Inter - who lost away to bottom team Siena on Sunday - and the much applauded Fiorentina of Vincenzo Montella.

Far more crucially, they are within three points of Lazio in the third and final Champions League place, fully capitalising on the Biancocelesti's successive defeats to Chievo and Genoa. The capital club have surrendered Champions League-paying positions in the past two campaigns and risk a gruesome hat-trick.

From 12 points off the pace on November 19, AC Milan are backable at 2.35/4 to dine at the top table in 2013/14. With Balotelli ineligible, they are 110.0109/1 to see off Barcelona and win this year's edition though.