Udinese-Milan is a match valid for the twenty-first day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 20:45: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
The Scudetto dream, in the Milan household, is still alive. But as long as the two in front of the Rossoneri, Inter and Juventus, keep going at this pace, it will not be easy for Stefano Pioli’s team to reduce the gap in the standings. Right now, the Diavolo has 7 points less than the Bianconeri and 9 compared to the Nerazzurri cousins: the only way to keep believing in the tricolor is to win as many games as possible and hope for one or more missteps by the two historical rivals.
Qualification for the next Champions League, meanwhile, seems secure. Behind Milan, a real gap has been created as the fourth, Fiorentina, ended up -8 from Theo Hernandez and co. A gap that widened further after the last day thanks to the success over Roma (3-1), which then resulted in the exoneration of José Mourinho. It was the third consecutive victory for Milan in the league after those with Sassuolo (1-0) and Empoli (0-3). Since December, the Rossoneri have lost only to Atalanta, who also prevailed in the most recent Coppa Italia challenge, which ended 1-2 for La Dea. Pioli now wants a rematch with Udinese, one of the few teams that has so far managed to beat Milan in front of their home crowd. In November, at the San Siro, a Pereyra penalty (0-1) was decisive.
The Friulians have changed pace with Gabriele Cioffi on the bench but need to improve in lead management. Last Sunday, for the umpteenth time, they got caught up in the final minutes (2-2) after repeatedly wasting the knockout blow against Fiorentina. In any case, it was a good draw with the Viola, the fourth useful result in the last five matches, although the relegation zone is still too close: third-last Verona has only one point less.
Udinese-Milan: latest lineup news
In Udinese, Payero is not at his best, struggling with a muscle problem: in his place Samardzic, always at the center of market rumors, should start from 1′. On the flanks Ebosele and Kamara, Zemura the first alternative. In attack it will be Pereyra’s turn again to support the only Lucca point.
Pioli is not expected to change the eleven that beat Roma a week ago. Gabbia in defense and Adli in the midfield with Reijnders, while on the three-quarter, behind Giroud, the tcenic will deploy starters Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Leao. Out due to injury are Thiaw, Tomori, Kalulu and Pobega; Chukwueze and Bennacer, on the other hand, are engaged in the African Cup of Nations.
The Prediction
Three and a half years ago Milan’s last success in Udine, the only one under Pioli’s management. The Friulians also won the last two previous matches and it has been a year and a half since the last Rossoneri affirmation. The pitfalls, in short, will not be few in this always very hostile away match for Milan, against a Udinese allergic to victories but become more solid in the Cioffi management (defeats only to Roma, Inter and Lazio). If it wants to get back into the Scudetto fight, however, Pioli’s team cannot afford to make mistakes in this kind of match: Rossoneri favored in a match of at least one goal each side.
The probable lineups of Udinese-Milan
UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Okoye; Ferreira, Perez, Kristensen; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca.
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Reijnders, Adli; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
