AC Milan will be aiming to move up the table when they take on Udinese Calcio on Friday night.
Friday night under the lights in Udine sets the stage for a must-win clash as AC Milan make the trip to the Bluenergy Stadium to take on Udinese Calcio in a battle that holds very different stakes for both clubs. For the Rossoneri, the race for Europe is slipping from their grasp. For Udinese, it is about pride, redemption, and a push toward a respectable top-half finish.
It has been a season of frustration and false dawns for AC Milan, who find themselves tangled in Serie A’s congested mid-table with European qualification looking increasingly remote. Last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Fiorentina was emblematic of their recent struggles — falling behind early, showing resilience, yet failing to put the game to bed.
Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic both found the net, salvaging a point, but it was another match where Sergio Conceicao’s side were undone by their now-habitual slow starts. Remarkably, Milan have conceded eight goals in the opening 10 minutes of games this season, more than any other Serie A side. That pattern has been particularly damning since the turn of the year.
Indeed, since January 2025, no team has trailed more often in Serie A than Milan, ten times, a tally they share with struggling clubs like Empoli, Parma, and Monza. Yet, ironically, only Bologna have recovered more points from losing positions, hinting at a fighting spirit within a fragile framework.
The Coppa Italia may yet offer Milan salvation; they remain alive in the semi-finals, but their ninth-place standing in Serie A means that domestic results must dramatically improve. Victory on Friday won’t even lift them above eighth-placed Fiorentina, underscoring the scale of their challenge. With Juventus, Lazio, Roma, and Bologna all ahead in the race, Milan can ill afford another slip.
But history is not on their side. Milan have conceded at least two goals in their last four away games in Serie A and have lost eight of their last 16 trips to Udine. The road has rarely been kind to the Rossoneri in recent years.
For Udinese, the narrative is less fraught, but recent form has raised concern. Kosta Runjaic’s side had pieced together a solid six-game unbeaten streak before suffering three consecutive losses, most recently a 1-0 defeat to Genoa in a match defined by a glaring miss from striker Lorenzo Lucca, followed by a late sucker-punch at the other end.
With no European ambition and relegation fears long buried, Udinese’s remaining motivation comes in the form of a top-half finish. Currently locked in a mini-league with the likes of Torino and Genoa, the Bianconeri will aim to claw their way into the top ten over the final six rounds.
This encounter also marks the 100th top-flight meeting between Udinese and Milan, a milestone that adds historical weight to an otherwise transitional fixture. While Udinese had Milan’s number with back-to-back wins in recent seasons, they have since fallen short in the last two clashes, including a narrow 1-0 defeat at San Siro earlier this campaign.
A victory here would not only stall Milan’s European hopes, it would also provide a timely morale boost to a side that has looked flat and directionless over the past few weeks. 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 manager Kosta Runjaic will have to navigate Friday’s clash with AC Milan without several attacking options, as the club’s injury list continues to grow. Keinan Davis, Alexis Sanchez, and Florian Thauvin are all expected to miss out due to various fitness issues, leaving Lorenzo Lucca to carry the load up front once again.
The tall striker’s recent miss against Genoa was costly, but he remains central to Udinese’s attacking setup. Iker Bravo started alongside him last weekend and is likely to retain his place, though Simone Pafundi, the highly rated teenage forward, is also pushing for minutes.
In addition to their forward-line absences, Jordan Zemura is ruled out at left-back, while reserve goalkeeper Razvan Sava and long-term casualty Isaak Toure will remain sidelined. There are no known suspension concerns for this fixture, allowing Runjaic to maintain consistency across the rest of the squad.
Udinese are expected to set up in a 4-4-2 formation. Maduka Okoye will start in goal, with Kingsley Ehizibue at right-back and Hassane Kamara on the left. The centre-back pairing will likely feature Jaka Bijol alongside Oumar Solet, who has gradually settled into the defensive structure.
In midfield, Arthur Atta will operate wide on the right, while Juraj Kucka’s absence is likely to keep Sandi Lovric and Jesper Karlstrom in central midfield. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp will line up on the left, offering balance and energy in both phases of play.
Up front, Iker Bravo and Lorenzo Lucca will form a physical, direct strike partnership. Lucca will look to hold up play and bring midfielders into the attack, while Bravo’s movement behind could stretch Milan’s back line in transition.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Okoye; Ehizibue, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Atta, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp; Bravo, Lucca
AC Milan
AC Milan have been dealt a further blow in their troubled campaign with confirmation that Kyle Walker — on loan from Manchester City, has undergone surgery for a fractured elbow, casting significant doubt over his availability for the remainder of the season. The experienced right-back had already endured a difficult start to life in Serie A, and this latest injury only deepens Milan’s defensive selection issues.
With Emerson Royal also sidelined due to injury, manager Sergio Conceicao is expected to hand a start at right-back to either Alex Jiménez or Filippo Terracciano, both of whom have deputised previously with varying degrees of success.
There are no new suspensions in the Milan camp, but the main talking point in attack revolves around the continued selection battle between Santiago Gimenez, Luka Jovic, and Tammy Abraham. Given his recent scoring form, Abraham is currently the favourite to lead the line, having netted crucial goals in consecutive matches.
The English striker has now scored 29 goals in Serie A, trailing only David Platt (31) and Gerry Hitchens (59) among Englishmen in Italy’s top flight. Milan are expected to take to the pitch in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Mike Maignan will start in goal, with Alex Jiménez likely to feature at right-back in place of the injured Walker, while Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw partner in central defence. Theo Hernandez will take up his usual role at left-back, offering both defensive cover and forward thrust.
In midfield, Youssouf Fofana and Yunus Musah will form the double pivot, anchoring the side while providing vertical runs and energy. Further forward, Christian Pulisic will occupy the right flank, Tijjani Reijnders will play through the middle as the creative hub, and Rafael Leao will operate from the left wing, where his pace and dribbling can stretch Udinese’s back line.
At the tip of the attack, Tammy Abraham is expected to start as the lone striker, rewarded for his recent clinical form and movement in and around the box. His presence will be key to unlocking a physical Udinese defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham
Key Stats
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Udinese have lost their last two Serie A matches against Milan, and could lose three in a row to the Rossoneri in the top flight for the first time since January/December 2008.
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This will be the 100th Serie A meeting between the two clubs. Milan have drawn more matches against Udinese than any other team — 36 draws — with the last one being a 1-1 result in February 2022.
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Milan have lost eight of their last 16 away games against Udinese in Serie A, a worse record than they had in the previous 33 away matches combined against the Friulani (only 5 defeats). Only Inter Milan (9) and Juventus (10) have inflicted more away defeats on Milan in that timeframe.
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Udinese have lost three straight league matches after a six-game unbeaten run. If they lose again on Friday, it will be the first time they have suffered four consecutive Serie A defeats in one season since the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
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Milan have conceded exactly two goals in each of their last four away league games (D1 L3). It is only the sixth time in Serie A history that the Rossoneri have let in at least two goals in five straight away games, the last such stretch was under Massimiliano Allegri in October 2013.
Player to Watch
Rafael Leao
When AC Milan need a moment of brilliance, more often than not, Rafael Leao is the man to provide it. The Portuguese winger remains Milan’s most dynamic and dangerous attacker, capable of changing a game in an instant with his blistering pace, technical finesse, and ability to glide past defenders in one-on-one situations.
Although Milan’s recent form has been patchy, Leao continues to pose a constant threat on the left flank. His intelligent movement and link-up play, particularly with Theo Hernandez, stretch opposition backlines and create vital openings for teammates. Against an Udinese side that has looked increasingly vulnerable in recent weeks, Leao’s directness could be key in breaking down a disciplined defensive unit.
Leão has also enjoyed success in this fixture before, he was on the scoresheet the last time Milan drew with Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium back in February 2022. With Milan’s European hopes hanging by a thread and goals hard to come by on the road, Rafael Leao will be under the spotlight once again to deliver the spark that could turn Milan’s season back on course.
Prediction
Udinese Calcio 1-1 AC Milan
Milan’s inconsistency, defensive vulnerability, and recent road form make this a tricky fixture to call. Udinese, despite their recent losses, remain a difficult team to beat at home. With both sides needing a spark for different reasons, this has the makings of a tense, cagey contest. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw for Saturday’s clash.
