ROME, Dec 22: AC Milan seemed inspired by the presence of new loan signing David Beckham watching on from the stands as they blew away hapless Udinese 5-1 at the San Siro on Sunday night.

That ensured they moved into the three-week winter break, after which they will be able to call on the services of the former England captain, in third place in Serie A, nine points off leaders Inter Milan.

In between the bitter city rivals stand Juventus who cut Inter’s lead to six points earlier in the day as they won 3-1 at Atalanta.

Pato and Kaka both bagged a brace for for Milan and Dutch veteran Clarence Seedorf rounded things off while Antonio Di Natale replied for Udinese.

Pato opened the scoring after just four minutes as he headed home a cross from Giuseppe Favalli.

The teenage striker turned provider next for his international team-mate Kaka on 13 minutes before Di Natale reduced the deficit with a rasping drive.

But a minute after Udinese’s strike, Pato pushed the lead out again as he converted a cross from Luca Antonini.

The fourth came a couple of minutes before the break as Andrea Pirlo hit the post with a free-kick and Seedorf followed up as Udinese’s hapless defence watched on.

Kaka rounded off the scoring after the ball vroke to him kindly on 52 minutes with Udinese’s defence again at sixes and sevens.

Udinese have now failed to win in eight matches since topping Serie A in October.—AFP