AC Milan vs Udinese Calcio Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

AC Milan will want to get their Scudetto charge back on track when they face Udinese on Saturday night.

AC Milan threw away a two-goal lead last weekend against defending champions SSC Napoli and will now face Udinese knowing full well that only a win will do.

Stefano Pioli’s men started the 2023/24 campaign well, but there were warning signs everywhere. The stunning loss to Inter Milan and the lack of penetration in the UEFA Champions League group stages are certainly red flags and showcase the work that still needs to be done at San Siro.

Milan have taken just one point from their last two league games and find themselves three points off arch-rivals Inter Milan, who are leading the Serie A standings. Now back in their home surroundings, Pioli will be keen to put the maximum points on the board.

However, while Udinese are in the bottom three, they have largely drawn matches than lose them. Gabrielle Cioffi’s side have proven difficult to beat but lacks the attacking penetration themselves to make it count.

Milan have, at times, struggled to break down sides that defend deep, and that will be put to the test this weekend. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

AC Milan

Stefano Pioli has seen his side struggle with injuries this season and defender Pierre Kalulu became the latest addition to that list when he was taken off with a knee issue against Napoli. With Kalulu now out till 2024, the AC Milan boss has decisions to make.

The list of players currently unavailable for the Rossoneri include Marco Sportiello, Ismael Bennacer, Mattia Caldara and Marco Pellegrino. The trio of Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Kjaer and Christian Pulisic are all a doubtful to start, adding further concerns for Pioli.

Milan are expected to retain their 4-3-3 formation, however. Mike Maignan should continue in goal behind the back four of  Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez. The midfield is likely to be protected by Rade Krunic, with Yunus Musah and Tijjani Reijnders providing the forward thrust.

Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud take their natural spots on the left wing and up front, respectively. 18-year-old Luka Romero is expected to start out wide on the right. With a must-win clash against Paris Saint-Germain up next in the UEFA Champions League next week, Pioli will want to see the game done quickly so that he may rest his star players.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Musah, Krunic, Reijnders, Romero, Giroud, Leao

Udinese Calcio

Le Zebrette continue to struggle and find themselves yet to win a single game in the 2023/24 Serie A campaign. They are one of two teams in the Italian top flight yet to experience a victory with bottom-placed Salernitana the other team on the list.

Gabriele Cioffi rested most of his best players for the midweek Coppa Italia clash against Cagliari and should recall them for the clash on Saturday. However, he will have to do so without the injured quintet of Enzo Ebosse, Kingsley Ehizibue, Gerard Deulofeu, Brenner and Keinan Davis.

The visitors are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Marco Silvestri in goal. He should be protected by the centre-back trio of Nehuen Perez, Jaka Bijol and Christian Kabasele.

Festy Ebosele and Hassane Kamara should start as the full-backs and will drop back to form a back five while defending. Inter Milan-linked Lazar Samardzic should start in the midfield trio alongside Walace and Sandi Lovric. Roberto Pereyra and Lorenzo Lucca should start upfront and will hope to finally fire the visitors to a long-awaited win.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Kabasele; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Kamara; Pereyra, Lucca

Key Stats

• A win on the night will see Udinese win back-to-back games against AC Milan for the first time since 2017.
• Udinese have won just one of their last 16 trips to the San Siro, all the way back in 2016.
• Under Stefano Pioli, AC Milan have managed to score and concede against Udinese in every game they have faced off.
• AC Milan have lost just two of their previous 25 clashes against teams who started the gameweek in the bottom four places in Serie A. Unfortunately for them, both have come in 2023.
• Udinese are the fourth team to have drawn seven or more of their opening ten league games in the three points for a win era. Curiously, the three teams before them have all gone on to draw their 11th match.

Player to Watch

Rafael Leao

Embed from Getty Images

Given the injuries, Leao will need to once again act as the playmaker in chief to make a difference in the Milan frontline. The former Serie A MVP has blown hot and cold of late and will need to rediscover his consistency to lead the San Siro giants to the top.

Udinese are dogged opponents but go into the clash as underdogs. As long as Leao links up well with Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez, the Milan left-hand side should have a field day on the night.

Prediction

AC Milan 2-0 Udinese Calcio

The home side have enough depth to go into the clash as favourites and have match-winners capable of pulling one out of the hat. With home support to boot, Stefano Pioli will want to keep pace with the sides at the top and knows he needs to stem the two-game winless streak in its infancy.

AC Milan are unlikely to be at their best on the night but should have enough in their tank to secure all three points in the game. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-0 win for Stefano Pioli and his charges.