AC Milan vs. Udinese: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
AC Milan take on Udinese at San Siro this Sunday in the aim of extending their winning run to three league games.
Doing so would equal the Rossoneri’s longest winning streak of this season, which they achieved between 25 October and 1 November last year, with consecutive victories over Sassuolo, Chievo and Lazio.
However, Milan’s existing run of form seems more authentic, in part due to the fact it ties in to a longer undefeated sequence of seven matches in all competitions, stretching back to the first fixture after the winter break, which they lost 1-0 at home to Bologna.
In the aftermath of that loss, coach Sinisa Mihajlovic had a haunted look about him. It felt as if time was running out on the tactician to save his job, with pressure mounting on him from above. Now the outlook is far less bleak.
Indeed, Mihajlovic looked positively radiant after his side had won the Derby della Madonnina on January 31, crushing city rivals Inter 3-0. That was followed up by a tricky midweek visit to Sicily, where Milan defeated Palermo 2-0.
After that Wednesday night win, Mihajlovic commented on his team’s reinvigorated displays. “It’s a different Milan to the one we saw in the first half of the season,” he told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia). “We struggled at the start, but now the team is improving.”
Udinese’s situation is the polar opposite to Milan’s. They began their season with a shock away win over reigning champions Juventus, only to gradually slide down the table. As it stands, they haven’t won in five, picking up just two points along the way.
The Zebrette will travel to Milan hoping to arrest that slump, but given the form Mihajlovic’s men have been in of late, that may be too big an ask.
Date: Sunday, 7 February
Time: 2 p.m. GMT (9 a.m. ET)
Venue: San Siro, Milan, Italy
TV Info: BT Sport Extra 2 (UK)
Live Stream: bet365.com
Form Guide
Palermo 0-2 Milan
Milan 3-0 Inter
Alessandria 0-1 Milan (Coppa Italia)
Empoli 2-2 Milan
Milan 2-0 Fiorentina
Empoli 1-1 Udinese
Udinese 0-0 Lazio
Palermo 4-1 Udinese
Udinese 0-4 Juventus
Carpi 2-1 Udinese
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Stefano Colantuono has lined Udinese up in a 3-5-2 shape throughout his first season in charge, and there is no reason to suspect he will change that preference now.
His back three is far from settled, however. Most recently against Empoli, he populated his defence with Felipe, Ivan Piris and Thomas Heurtaux, but in the previous match, he used Danilo and Molla Wague alongside Piris.
The unavailability of experienced 35-year-old centre-back Maurizio Domizzi due to injury shouldn’t be too much of an issue, as Colantuono will most likely opt for athleticism in his backline to counter Carlos Bacca and M’Baye Niang’s pace.
In central midfield, Udinese have a variety of different options to call upon. Colantuono will probably opt for bite by favouring Guilherme over Francesco Lodi at the base, with Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Emil Hallfredsson alongside him.
If Udinese are feeling more adventurous, the selection of Portuguese maestro Bruno Fernandes would add craft to the midfield, though he may be utilised from the bench.
The Zebrette added Ryder Matos to the squad during January’s transfer window. The Brazilian brings pace and trickery up front, but he is unlikely to be preferred to the hard-running Cyril Thereau or the powerful Duvan Zapata for this game.
In order to win, Milan will first have to negate the numerical disadvantages present in midfield and the final third. Mihajlovic is set to continue with his 4-4-2 system, meaning his two central midfielders will be outnumbered, while his two strikers will be up against three Udinese centre-backs.
To counteract these overloads, the movement of Milan’s wide midfielders will be pivotal; though, Giacomo Bonaventura will be evaluated after having to "drop out of training" per Football Italia.
His inclusion or absence could have an integral impact on Sunday afternoon’s game. He has been Milan’s best player this season, something WhoScored.com agree with, and his footwork, technique and dribbling skill are crucial components in the Rossoneri’s ability to open up defences. Without him, Mihajlovic would most likely bring in Kevin-Prince Boateng on the left.
The only real selection uncertainty Mihajlovic has surrounds the centre of defence, where the Serbian must choose between Alex and Cristian Zapata to partner Alessio Romagnoli.
Zapata played well against Palermo, but Alex scored the opener in the win over Inter and has been solid for much of the season. After a rest in midweek, the Brazilian is more likely to get the nod.
Milan (4-4-2)
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Ignazio Abate, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, Luca Antonelli; Keisuke Honda, Juraj Kucka, Riccardo Montolivo, Giacomo Bonaventura; M’Baye Niang, Carlos Bacca
Unavailable: Rodrigo Ely, Diego Lopez, Philippe Mexes (injured)
Udinese (3-5-2)
Orestis Karnezis; Molla Wague, Danilo, Felipe; Silvan Widmer, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Guilherme, Emil Hallfredsson, Edenilson; Duvan Zapata, Cyril Thereau
Unavailable: Maurizio Domizzi, Alex Merkel, Giovanni Pasquale (injured)
Players to Watch
Juraj Kucka has been one of Milan’s most impressive players of late. The dynamic central midfielder was key to the win over Inter with his driving runs and indefatigable work rate.
Speaking after that win, Mihajlovic sung the Slovakian’s praises, telling Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia): “Kucka…is great because he is like a tank, he’s very hard to challenge and goes into every tackle.”
More recently, in an interview with Milan Channel that was published on the club’s official website, Kucka admitted how much playing for the Rossoneri meant to him.
“I supported Milan when I was young…I am really glad to be here,” he affirmed. “I always try to give my all and show that I can start each match.”
While not the most refined midfielder in the squad, Kucka’s effort and energy have made a big difference in recent games, and he will be required to put in a similarly driven display if Milan are to overcome Udinese’s numerical midfield advantage this Sunday.
On the opening day of this season, Cyril Thereau scored against Juventus to seal one of the most stunning Serie A results in recent memory.
Juventus had dominated Udinese for large swathes of the clash, only for Thereau to sneak in at the back post to tap home a high, hopeful cross on 78 minutes and seal a surprising three points for the Zebrette.
Since then, the French forward has added six more league goals to his seasonal tally, and he could prove a handful for Milan’s central defenders with his pace, strength and runs into the wide channels.
Key Battle
Carlos Bacca vs. Orestis Karnezis
Bacca has been in a rich vein of scoring form lately. The Colombian has found the net in each of his last five Milan appearances, cementing his position as the club’s most clinical finisher.
With his quick, darting runs, he is a constant source of headaches for opposition defences. However, on Sunday, he will have to contend with Orestis Karnezis.
Udinese’s 30-year-old shot-stopper may not be one of the division’s glamour goalkeepers, but he is effective; only five players have made more saves than he in Serie A this season, per Squawka.com.
Odds
Milan: 100-189
Udinese: 134-25
Draw: 301-100
All odds kindly provided by Odds Shark.
.jpg?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")