Udinese – AC Milan
A game is coming up in Udine that should be a real test of where both teams stand: Udinese is hosting AC Milan on Friday evening in the Bluenergy Stadium. While the Friulians are stuck in 11th place after three defeats in the last four games and urgently need points, Milan, with 48 points in ninth place, are already four points behind Fiorentina. The Rossoneri have recently had mixed results, including a 2-2 draw against Florence, in which they were able to catch up from an early 0-2 deficit. The recent history of their encounters is also interesting: in October, Milan narrowly beat them 1-0, although goals often went both ways in the two teams’ meetings. Udinese, on the other hand, are still smarting from the unlucky 1-0 defeat to Genoa, in which a late equalizer was disallowed by VAR – a setback that should provide added motivation.
With this in mind, the game promises some explosive duels – especially as Udinese want to avoid a crash towards the bottom of the table and Milan need a turnaround to avoid being left behind in the fight for the international places.
Udinese – AC Milan Infos
- Stadium: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
- Date and Time: 11.04.2025, 20:45
- Competition: Serie A, Matchday 32
Udinese Form & Record Check
Udinese’s form is currently a cause for concern. Under coach Kosta Runjaic, they have only managed one win in their last five matches. Three defeats in a row illustrate the uncertainties that were also visible in the most recent away game against Genoa (0-1): strong defensive work was not enough because the offense remained too harmless. A missed shot from close range by Lorenzo Lucca and the disallowed equalizer by Rui Modesto in the 93rd minute via VAR speak volumes.
The goal drought after the break is particularly critical: Udinese have not scored a single goal in the second half in five games. In none of these games did the Friulians score more than once per game. In addition, around 80% of their most recent games ended with fewer than 2.5 goals – a clear indication of a lack of firepower. The injury to Florian Thauvin, whose precision would be important in offense, further exacerbates the situation. Now it’s up to them to send a signal against Milan and stop the negative streak.
Udinese are expected to line up in a classic 4-4-2. Coach Kosta Runjaic is likely to stick with a tried and tested formation after the narrow defeat against Genoa, with Lucca and Bravo in attack to provide the goal threat. However, the experienced Alexis Sánchez is still out with a muscular injury. The ailing Thauvin is also unable to play, leaving an additional gap in the offensive game.
In midfield, Zarraga and Karlström are the central points of contact, while Atta and Ekkelenkamp could provide width on the wings. The Friulians will therefore have to improvise to compensate for the injuries and still be able to create chances.
AC Milan form & record check
AC Milan continue to be plagued by inconsistency. Although the Rossoneri are in 9th place with 48 points, their ups and downs in matches are striking: sluggish first halves are often followed by furious second halves, as in the recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, when they equalized an early 0-2 deficit.
In their last five games, Milan have recorded two wins and two draws, with one defeat. While the offense is scoring reliably – Leão, Reijnders and Pulišić are repeatedly standing out – the defense has not yet found any security. Missed passes like Thiaw’s against Fiorentina show that coach Sérgio Conceição still has work to do in terms of stability. With a four-point gap to Fiorentina, Milan urgently need to find some success to keep them in the upper reaches of the table.
AC Milan are expected to field their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Sérgio Conceição is likely to start with Maignan in goal, with Tomori and Thiaw forming the center of defense. Florenzi and captain Hernández could play on the wing-back positions.
In defensive midfield, Loftus-Cheek (after an appendectomy) is out and therefore unavailable as an option, which is why Fofana and Musah are likely to act as a double six. In front of them, Reijnders is expected to take on the role of playmaker behind striker Abraham. On the wings, Pulišić and Leão can be expected to provide danger with their speed and dribbling skills.
Udinese vs AC Milan Head to Head Statics
A glance at the head-to-head duels shows a somewhat even picture, with Milan slightly ahead with three wins in their last five meetings. Interestingly, there has not been a draw in this span, with both teams always seeing their matches through to a clear winner.
The October 2024 clash went 1-0 to the Rossoneri, while Milan won narrowly 3-2 in Udine in January of the same year. However, Udinese managed to pull off an unexpected 1-0 win in Milan in November 2023, breaking the Rossoneri’s winning streak. In general, goals were scored on both sides in 80% of these duels, which speaks for the offensive urge of both teams. Udinese’s home strength against Milan should not be underestimated either, as the 3-1 in March 2023 impressively proved.
