Massimiliano Allegri was outwitted by Antonio Conte in what was described as a cagey encounter last weekend, as AC Milan lost out to Napoli ahead of the visit of Udinese this week. A second-half strike from Matteo Politano ensured the three points for the reigning champions, who assumed the Rossoneri’s second place in the standings.
That defeat to Napoli has more or less ended AC Milan’s slim title hopes, and while they are still reeling from the blow, Allegri must galvanise his team to cement third place now. After going through 24 games without a defeat, Milan have now lost three in their last six, and this is the run of form that needs immediate change.
Milan are closer to fourth and fifth-placed Como and Juventus, respectively, than league leaders Inter Milan heading into the weekend. Dropped points here will accumulate the pressure on Allegri’s men as they might be dragged into an unwanted battle for a Champions League ticket. Ahead of the clash with Udinese, the Rossoneri have won each of their last four games against this opponent.
In fact, those four defeats are the only ones that Udinese have suffered against the Rossoneri in their last 10 meetings, which needs to change ahead of the weekend. Kosta Runjaic’s men halted the progress of high-flying Como last weekend with a gritty goalless draw, which did add spice to the top-four race to an extent.
Udinese have endured a few difficult seasons with consecutive campaigns brushing with relegation, but now they are very much established in mid-table. Heading to Milan, Udinese have kept consecutive clean sheets, and they are on a decent run of form away from home.
Allegri can have a full squad at his disposal, considering defender Matteo Gabbia has returned from injury and is already pencilled in for a starting spot against Udinese. The idea of having a full complement of his players also raises selection headaches, especially in the forward line.
At the moment, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão are the starting choices at centre-forward in Allegri’s system, although the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Niclas Fullkrug and Santiago Gimenez are all vying for a spot in that forward line.
Allegri will persist with a back three including Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi in the wing-back roles. Allegri will continue with Luca Modric at the base of his midfield three, with Youssouf Fofana and Adrien Rabiot keeping their respective places there.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leao
Runjaic will be boosted by the return of key attacker Keinan Davis, who served a suspension the last time out against Como.
He has 10 goals to his name in Serie A this season, and is third in the Capocannoniere charts. Nicolò Zaniolo is likely to join Davis in the attacking zone. The manager is also likely to field his strongest available setup for this game.
The only real doubt for this game comes in the form of Adam Buksa with a calf problem, while Jordan Zemura and Alessandro Zanoli are certainly absent from the Udinese squad ahead of this trip to San Siro to take on AC Milan.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Atta, Kamara; Zaniolo, Davis
Pulisic remains a key starter for Allegri, but his dwindling form in front of goal is becoming a source of concern. The American has gone 13 games without finding the back of the net, and the backup attackers are eyeing his spot with interest.
Pulisic needs to bring his best form to the pitch in the games remaining this season to help Milan cement a Champions League ticket. Moreover, his improvement in form will also prove crucial ahead of the World Cup, and the Udinese clash could be a starting point for the attacker.
Udinese are in a decent vein of form heading to the San Siro, but they are not showing the kind of performances that place them against the odds when facing Milan on Saturday. Runjaic’s men are equipped to put up a fight and make things cagey, as they did against Como, but Allegri may have the solutions to break them down.
Allegri will head into this clash with confidence of getting a win over the line, and given the current form of both teams, Milan are certainly the favourites to do so. Things could change in this game for both sides, but from a prediction standpoint, the Rossoneri look primed to get three points.
