AC Milan will hope to continue their winning run when they take on Udinese on Saturday evening.
AC Milan head to the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday evening aiming to record their third successive Serie A victory, but hosts Udinese will put their unbeaten start to the season on the line in this intriguing gameweek four encounter.
After a shock opening-day defeat to Cremonese, Milan have responded with renewed discipline and composure under the returning Massimiliano Allegri. Back-to-back league wins over Lecce and Bologna have steadied the ship, and the Rossoneri’s experienced midfield pairing of Luka Modrić and Adrien Rabiot has brought balance to a side that looked fragile last term.
Last week’s 1-0 success against Bologna showcased both Allegri’s pragmatic approach and Modrić’s enduring class as the Croatian maestro celebrated his 40th birthday by dictating play in trademark fashion. Milan’s defensive organisation has also improved notably, with three clean sheets across their last four matches in all competitions, including August’s Coppa Italia win over Bari.
Chasing a return to the top four after missing out on European qualification, Milan are quietly building momentum. With no continental distractions, Allegri’s men can dedicate full focus to Serie A, where they hope consistency will translate into Champions League football for next season. Their recent record against Udinese bodes well: a comprehensive 4-0 victory in Friuli last year followed by another away triumph means they have scored seven goals across their last two visits.
Udinese, however, enter this contest brimming with confidence after a strong start to the campaign under new coach Kosta Runjaic. Having stunned Inter 2-1 in August, the Friulani now have a chance to claim a famous double over both Milanese heavyweights in the space of a month.
Runjaic’s men have already strung together an unbeaten four-game run across competitions, beginning with a Coppa Italia win over Carrarese before taking six points from their last two Serie A away fixtures. Their most recent success came in Pisa, where a 14th-minute strike from Iker Bravo secured a narrow but deserved 1-0 victory.
Still, home form remains a lingering concern. Udinese are winless in their last six league matches at the Bluenergy Stadium, stretching back to March, and they will need to overcome that burden against one of the most organised sides in Italy.
With momentum and belief on their side, Udinese are hopeful of springing another upset, but Milan’s structure and experience promise a stern test under the Saturday night lights. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Udinese Calcio
Udinese will once again be without first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who remains suspended following his dismissal earlier in the campaign. The absence of the Nigerian shot-stopper is a notable setback, forcing Kosta Runjaic to persist with his backup option between the posts.
Midfielder and vice-captain Sandi Lovric is also unavailable after picking up a calf injury while on international duty with Slovenia earlier this month, leaving a creative void in the Friulani’s midfield engine room. In attack, Vakoun Bayo is considered doubtful due to lingering fitness concerns.
However, there is positive news for Udinese as Keinan Davis has shaken off his own injury troubles. The English forward impressed in the win over Inter, contributing to both goals, and is expected to lead the line once again. He is likely to be partnered by either Nicolo Zaniolo or Iker Bravo, depending on the tactical balance Runjaic prefers.
Tactically, Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Razvan Sava should deputise in goal, shielded by a defensive trio of Nicolo Bertola, Thomas Kristensen, and Oumar Solet. Kingsley Ehizibue and Jordan Zemura will provide width as wing-backs, operating on the right and left flanks respectively, while Jakub Piotrowski, Jesper Karlstrom, and Arthur Atta form a hardworking midfield core.
Up front, Keinan Davis will spearhead the Udinese attack against AC Milan, supported either by Nicolo Zaniolo or Iker Bravo in a dual-striker setup designed to exploit the Rossoneri’s defensive lines.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sava; Bertola, Kristensen, Solet; Ehizibue, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Atta, Zemura; Bravo, Davis
AC Milan
AC Milan arrive in Friuli with several selection concerns, particularly in attack and at the back. Striker Santiago Gimenez is still searching for his first goal of the campaign, having struck the woodwork on three separate occasions, and his place in the starting lineup is under scrutiny. With Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic both pushing for inclusion, and Rafael Leao still sidelined by a calf problem, manager Massimiliano Allegri has some difficult choices to make in the forward areas.
At the other end of the pitch, first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan remains a major doubt after suffering an injury against Bologna, which has kept him out of training sessions this week. Should he fail to recover in time, Pietro Terracciano will be drafted in to deputise between the posts. In central defence, Strahinja Pavlovic is also a concern due to a flexor issue, potentially leaving Allegri light on defensive options.
Despite those setbacks, AC Milan are expected to maintain their 3-4-2-1 system against Udinese. Pietro Terracciano will likely start in goal, marshalled by a three-man defence of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Koni De Winter. On the flanks, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan should provide energy and width as wing-backs, while the experienced duo of Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot will anchor the midfield.
Just ahead of them, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic are set to operate as the creative link players, supplying the attack. Up front, Christopher Nkunku could get the nod to spearhead the attack, offering sharp movement and finishing ability as AC Milan aim to stretch Udinese’s backline.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Terracciano; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Nkunku
Key Stats
-
AC Milan have won their last three Serie A meetings with Udinese, scoring eight goals while conceding just two. The only time Milan recorded a longer winning streak against the Friulani came between 1998 and 2001, when they notched seven straight victories.
-
Milan have won their last two away fixtures in Udine but had previously managed only two wins across seven visits (two draws, three losses). The Rossoneri have not claimed three consecutive away wins against Udinese in Serie A since the 2006-2008 period.
-
For the first time in their history, Udinese are unbeaten in their opening three Serie A games in back-to-back seasons. They could make it four unbeaten to start the campaign for only the fifth time in club history, with previous occurrences in 2024/25, 2011/12, 2000/01, and 1982/83.
-
Victory would give AC Milan two wins from their first two Serie A away matches of the season for just the third time in the past 21 years (after 2023/24 and 2020/21). However, they have only once kept a clean sheet in their first two away matches of a league season since the introduction of three points for a win, back in 2006/07.
-
After defeating Inter 2-1 on August 31, Udinese could secure wins against both Milan clubs in the same half of a Serie A season for the first time since 2012/13, underlining their ability to rise to the occasion against the league’s giants.
Player to Watch
Christopher Nkunku
With Rafael Leao sidelined and Santiago Gimenez still searching for his first goal of the season, Christopher Nkunku has the perfect chance to step into the spotlight for AC Milan. The Frenchman’s versatility allows him to operate across the front line, but his sharp movement and clinical finishing make him a natural fit to spearhead the Rossoneri’s attack in Udine.
Nkunku’s ability to drift between the lines and link play with midfielders like Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot gives Milan a dynamic edge, especially against teams that defend deep. His pace and direct running will be crucial in unsettling Udinese’s back three, while his eye for goal makes him the most likely source of a breakthrough in what could be a tightly contested encounter.
If AC Milan are to extend their winning run and maintain momentum in Serie A, Nkunku’s contribution in the final third could prove decisive.
Prediction
Udinese Calcio 1-2 AC Milan
Udinese enter this contest unbeaten and full of belief after their shock win over Inter and an efficient start to the campaign. Kosta Runjaic’s side have shown defensive organisation and the ability to strike at key moments, with Keinan Davis and Iker Bravo offering a physical and mobile threat up front.
However, their six-game winless streak at home in Serie A remains a concern, and Milan’s discipline under Massimiliano Allegri will pose a serious test. The Rossoneri, meanwhile, appear to be slowly rediscovering their steel.
With Luka Modric orchestrating midfield and Adrien Rabiot providing balance, the struggling Italian giants have become more difficult to break down, keeping three clean sheets in four matches.
Christopher Nkunku’s inclusion adds a new dimension to their forward play, and despite injuries to key players like Mike Maignan and Rafael Leao, the squad has enough depth to compete. Expect Udinese to make life difficult with their intensity and home support, but Milan’s experience, structure, and recent dominance in this fixture give them the upper hand.
