UDINESE v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

With their Champions League journey over, Stefano Pioli’s AC Milan are ready to dive back into league action knowing that they’re very well-placed at the top. Next up for the Rossoneri is an away match against Udinese, a dangerous team looking to improve their position in the Serie A standings. The game will be played at the Dacia Arena, where the Diavolo have had mixed fortunes in recent years. As we wait for tonight’s 20:45 CET kick-off, our Match Preview provides all the information that you need to know.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Coach Pioli will have one more option compared to the matches against Salernitana and Liverpool, with Samu Castillejo having recovered from injury. The next target for those who remain unavailable is the big showdown against Napoli, for which no one is currently at risk of suspension. In the team’s 4-2-3-1 formation, there could be changes to the starting line-up: Florenzi may be preferred to Kalulu in the right-back role, while Saelemaekers and Bennacer are also in contention to play from the beginning.

"We’re a strong team that can think big," said Junior Messias. "It’ll be difficult against Udinese, just like every match is: when teams face AC Milan, they try to play the game of their lives. We need to play like we know we can."

LATEST FROM UDINESE
Two big players will be missing from the Friulani’s line-up: in addition to the injured Pereyra, centre-back Samir, the only player to have played every minute of Udinese’s 16 league matches so far, is suspended. However, South Americans Molina and Walace are back for a side that have had a turbulent week. Indeed, Monday’s defeat to Empoli cost Luca Gotti his job.

Despite the change of coach, it’s quite conceivable that Udinese will continue with the same tactical setup as in the last few outings. The Friulani could line up as follows: Silvestri between the sticks; Pèrez, Nuytinck and Becão in defence; Molina, Arslan, Walace and Udogie in midfield; Deulofeu and one of Success or Pussetto behind Beto up front.

"The match against AC Milan is another reason to want to win," said Udinese caretaker coach Gabriele Cioffi. "The team have great potential; however, the transition from being a team with great potential to becoming a strong one is achieved by having the right attitude."

PRE-MATCH
Udinese and AC Milan have met 92 times in Serie A: there have been 41 Rossoneri wins and 17 Friulani victories (34 draws). Things are a bit more even when only games played in Udine are considered: 16 wins for AC Milan, twelve for Udinese, 18 draws). While the Diavolo come into the game on the back of victories against Genoa and Salernitana, the Bianconeri have picked up just two points from their last four fixtures, with their last success coming on 7 November (Udinese 3-2 Torino). Nevertheless, they’re undoubtedly a tough team to face and have given AC Milan a tough time in recent years, including last season. Indeed, in 2020/21, the Rossoneri needed late goals against the Friulani to add to their points tally: Ibrahimović’s bicycle kick in a 2-1 win away from home and a penalty from Kessie to rescue a 1-1 draw deep into stoppage time at San Siro.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
37-year-old Francesco Fourneau will be in charge of Udinese v AC Milan. He’s refereed 19 Serie A matches and been the man in the middle for one game involving the Bianconeri, with the same applying to the Rossoneri. Both of these fixtures were played during the 2020/21 campaign (Fiorentina 3-2 Udinese and AC Milan 2-2 Parma). The linesmen will be Paganessi and Schirru, while Di Martino will perform the role of fourth official. Together with Valeriani, Banti will oversee VAR.

Matchday 17 kicked off with Genoa 1-3 Sampdoria yesterday evening. Today, in addition to Udinese v AC Milan, Fiorentina v Salernitana (15:00 CET) and Venezia v Juventus (18:00 CET) are in store. Tomorrow, Torino v Bologna (12:30 CET), Hellas Verona v Atalanta (15:00 CET), Sassuolo v Lazio (18:00 CET), Napoli v Empoli (18:00 CET) and Inter v Cagliari (20:45 CET) will all take place. Finally, Roma v Spezia is scheduled for 20:45 CET on Monday.

This is the current Serie A table: AC Milan 38; Inter 37; Napoli 36; Atalanta 34; Juventus, Fiorentina 27; Lazio, Roma 25; Bologna 24, Hellas Verona, Empoli 23; Sassuolo 20; Torino 19; Sampdoria* 18; Udinese 16; Venezia 15; Spezia 12; Genoa*, Cagliari 10; Salernitana 8. (* = additional game played)

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