HOME DEFEAT TO UDINESE

AC Milan's poor run continues. The Rossoneri, against Udinese, recorded their second straight home defeat in the league, their third in four games including the Champions League. The Bianconeri won 1-0 at San Siro on matchday 11, their first victory of the season. The game was a tough one, for large swathes the run of play was against the Rossoneri. And when it's not working, it really doesn't work, as AC Milan failed to score again but not for lack of trying. They were, however, very hard done by for Pereyra's penalty on the hour.

The team were hungry but didn't score, not really having got into the right positions. They spurned the odd chance but created very little going forward. This evening sees points dropped that would have been important, keeping AC Milan on 22 points in third place in the Serie A table, six behind Juve - and potentially four behind Juve should they win tomorrow. The Rossoneri needed a lift before Tuesday's Champions League game but got only regret. AC Milan host Paris Saint-Germain at San Siro on matchday 4 in Group F and a win is a must to have any hope of qualifying.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v UDINESE

In the pouring rain, AC Milan controlled possession and pressed hard, looking to get Leão quickly into the game. And it was from the Portuguese player that the first attempt to break the deadlock came about after four minutes, with his inviting cross in for Jović kept out by the keeper. The first golden chance though fell to Udinese on nine minutes after indecision by Florenzi, who knocked the ball into Pereyra’s path, before he shot high over from close range. That possible headache created some confusion for a while, before the home team got back on top and started to push forward searching for the opener, getting into a couple of good situations: on 21 minutes, Krunić’s header failed to hit the target from a corner at the near post, and then Calabria let fly from the edge of the box after 25 minutes, but Silvestri saved well. Further chances came: on 32 minutes, Leão wasted a breakaway, skewing his shot; two minutes later and Musah made Silvestri work, while in-between Samardžić tried his luck without success. Florenzi was frustrated on 38 minutes when he brought down superbly a ball in from Leão, but he couldn’t quite get his shot away from in front of goal. The teams went in 0-0 at the break.

There was a double substitution at the start of the second half, with Adli and Okafor coming on. A fast start saw Kabasele hit his shot over the bar after a corner in the 47th minute. The next action sent Reijnders through - fed by Okafor - but his lob over the onrushing goalkeeper went just wide. The game's turning point came on 55 minutes, when the referee punished Adli for bringing down Ebosele and awarded the visitors a penalty: from the spot, Pereyra scored sending the ball to the right-hand side and sending Maignan the wrong way. The Rossoneri lost their rhythm and energy after going behind, and their nervous reaction halted any attempt top get back into the game. The best chance came to Success in the 70th minute, with Maignan taking care of business. In the 80th minute, Florenzi tried to take it into his own hands, but his volley went over. In a final push, Silvestri took centre stage: in the 90th minute, he produced a miracle save from Giroud's flicked header from just a few yards out, and in the 94th minute, he made a flying one-handed save from Florenzi. Leão also saw his shot from distance finish the wrong side of the post. At the final whistle, it ended 0-1.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 0-1 UDINESE

AC MILAN (4-4-2): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Florenzi; Musah (81' Romero), Krunić (46' Adli), Reijnders (67' Loftus-Cheek), Leão; Jović (46' Okafor), Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Nava; Bartesaghi, Jiménez, Simić; Pobega. Coach: Pioli.

UDINESE (3-5-2): Silvestri; Pérez, Bijol, Kabasele; Ebosele (84' Ferreira), Samardžić (78' Thauvin), Walace, Payero (72' Lovric), Zemura (84' Kamara); Pereyra, Success (84' Lucca). Subs: Okoye, Padelli; Guessand, Masina, Tikvić; Camara, Quina, Zarraga; Aké, Pafundi. Coach: Cioffi.

Referee: Sacchi from Macerata.
Goals: 62' pen. Pereyra (U).
Booked: 18' Krunić (M), 54' Pérez (U), 55' Kabasele (U).

The AC Milan PUMA Kits for 2023/24 are available: buy them now!