Only victory will do for AC Milan in Serie A’s Friday night kickoff, away to Udinese, as their fading hopes of qualifying for Europe took another hit last week.
Meeting for the 100th time in Italy’s top flight, the clubs are only separated by two spots in the standings, with the hosts enjoying their position of mid-table security.
Match preview
Both embroiled in a multi-club scrap for European places, Milan and Fiorentina clashed in last week’s Saturday night showdown, with the Viola surging into a two-goal lead after just 10 minutes at San Siro.
Once again, the Rossoneri found themselves trailing, but once again they recovered, as Tammy Abraham finished off a sharp give-and-go move to cut the deficit down before half time, and Luka Jovic later scored the leveller against his old club.
Milan have now conceded eight goals during the first 10 minutes of play this season – a trend that has grown since Sergio Conceicao took charge in January.
Since the start of 2025, no team has trailed more times in Serie A – 10, equal to relegation-threatened trio Empoli, Parma and Monza – yet only Bologna have gained more points after falling behind.
Abraham was previously on target as Conceicao’s side fought out a draw in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against old foes Inter Milan, and success in that competition may now offer their best hope of returning to Europe.
Consistently inconsistent, the Rossoneri sit ninth in the table, and even victory in Udine would not take them above eighth-placed Fiorentina with just six rounds remaining.
They also face a battle to overcome other contenders such as Juventus, Lazio, Bologna and Roma, so any more slip-ups cannot be countenanced.
But, as well as conceding twice in all their last four league fixtures on the road, Milan have lost half of their last 16 games away to Udinese – so neither form nor precedent will be on their side this weekend.
After previously recording consecutive wins over the Rossoneri, Udinese have since lost their last two meetings with Milan – including a 1-0 defeat in October’s reverse fixture – and they also endured frustration last week.
The Friulani’s star striker missed a sitter in their 1-0 loss to Genoa, with towering frontman Lorenzo Lucca left ashen-faced as the home side went on to net a late winner at Stadio Ferraris.
So, following a six-match unbeaten run that featured four wins, Udinese have failed to take a point from three subsequent fixtures, leaving their top-half hopes in the balance.
Long safe from danger – in stark contrast to last term’s dramatic escape from relegation – and with no chance of reaching Europe, Kosta Runjaic and co are currently vying with Torino and Genoa to claim a place in Italy’s final top 10.
Having suffered three consecutive league defeats for just a second time under Runjaic, the Bianconeri will now be keen to get back on track at the expense of Milan and overtake Toro in the table.
Capping off a tough start to his Milan career – and perhaps bringing its continuation into some doubt – Manchester City loanee Kyle Walker has undergone surgery on a fractured elbow and could miss the rest of this season.
As Emerson Royal is still sidelined by injury, either Alex Jimenez or Filippo Terracciano should fill in at right-back for the Rossoneri on Friday evening.
Sergio Conceicao must again choose between Santiago Gimenez, Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham to lead his attack, with the latter’s recent goals making him favourite to start.
Abraham has now found the net 29 times in Serie A – trailing only David Platt (31) and Gerry Hitchens (59) in terms of all-time English scorers – and he seems to have surpassed big-money buy Gimenez in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Lucca shoulders the burden in Udinese’s front line, particularly as fellow forwards Keinan Davis, Alexis Sanchez and Florian Thauvin are all expected to miss out.
Iker Bravo deputised alongside Lucca last weekend, while teenage striker Simone Pafundi is in contention too.
Left-back Jordan Zemura, reserve goalkeeper Razvan Sava and long-term absentee Isaak Toure will also watch on from the sidelines.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Ehizibue, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Atta, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp; Bravo, Lucca
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Jimenez, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham
